Pentecost – Page 11 – Barb, poet priest

From Anxiety to Wisdom

From Anxiety to Wisdom Pentecost 16, Proverbs 1:20-33; Mark 8:27-38 I have heard them describing this time as an Age of Anxiety. It would take a conversion of soul to become Wisdom’s Century. There are plenty alive who display technological mastery. Do you know of some sages revered for insightful integrity? Yet the manifest perilsContinue reading “From Anxiety to Wisdom”

The Syrophoenician Woman

The Syrophoenician Woman Pentecost 15, Mark 7:24-37 Celebrate with me this woman, this bold Syrophoenician woman, facing prejudice and limits, walking out alone in public, daring to accost this stranger who was hiding in seclusion. Those offended sneered and muttered slurs that mocked her race and gender, called her “prostitute”, rejecting such impertinent intrusion. CourtesanContinue reading “The Syrophoenician Woman”

My Song of Songs

My Song of Songs Pentecost 14, Song of Songs 2:8-13 What if God who loves is also lover and I and every living thing and even rocks and suns are the Beloved and longing and belonging is our song. And what if Eros and “I AM” are one and I-Thou runs deep in every atomContinue reading “My Song of Songs”

Temples Come Temples Go

Temples Come, Temples Go Pentecost 13, 1 Kings 8:1,6,10-11,22-30,41-43; John 6:56-69 King David imagined a house for the Lord: it would have been visible gift and reward. The prophet came back with God’s word of delay: “Let Solomon take up this dream in his day!” Stone walls lined with cedar encrusted with gold would standContinue reading “Temples Come Temples Go”

Two Sonnets, one new, one old

Two Sonnets – one new, one old Pentecost 12, John 6: 51-58 Flesh to Eat How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Not cannibals, communicants are we! To give his flesh as bread subverts defeat, forgiving our betrayals yet to be. So often he disturbs our literal sense, upsets convention, challenges what’sContinue reading “Two Sonnets, one new, one old”

Living Bread

Living Bread Pentecost 11, John 6:35;41-51 O bread of life, teach me to wait and rise, for I am flat beneath these leaden skies. The words I write are stodgy from the start – no Spirit effervescence of true art. I come to you, but hunger has grown dull; I write of you, but knowContinue reading “Living Bread”

Offering

Offering John 6:1-15 (written c. 2005) His heart went out to them and he fed them, hoping they would recognize: that the satisfaction of hunger lies in leaving accustomed sustenance, and waiting for him to come amongst them, waiting in the open, in emptiness, needing to meet him and share whatever may be on offer.Continue reading “Offering”

Feeding Those Who May Not Gather

Feeding Those Who May Not Gather Pentecost 9, John 6:1-21 Confined to quarters by a covid scare no crowd can gather to be taught or fed – not that they would, for pews are partly bare on any Sunday, and though Jesus bled for all, not many hear that read. And yet a hunger lurksContinue reading “Feeding Those Who May Not Gather”

Our Need of Healing

Our Need of Healing Pentecost 8, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 What might we learn if we gathered to share all we have taught and done? Jesus would listen and help us discern what we have lost and won. Bodies can eat here, but souls are half-starved. We come and go distressed. He says, “Let’s go toContinue reading “Our Need of Healing”