Cast Out Demons of DishonourPentecost 16; James 2:1-10, 14-17; Mark 7:24-37You shall love your neighbouras yourself,yet we project unrecognized shadowsonto others,or make distinctions that favour the rich,dishonour the poor.Historic grievances are ruins that dropharm like bombs.Demonizing difference spreads diseasethrough generations,absorbed like pollution from the environmentand now from social media.Even Jesus, vulnerable human, gone to TyretoContinue reading “Cast Out Demons of Dishonour”
Category Archives: Pentecost
My Song of Songs
My Song of SongsPentecost 15, Song of Songs 2:8-13What ifGod who loves is also loverand I and every living thingand even rocks and sunsare the Belovedand longing and belonging is our song.And what ifEros and “I AM” are oneand I-Thou runs deep in every atomand relationship is all there isand the sacred craving to comeContinue reading “My Song of Songs”
Temples Come Temples Go
Temples Come, Temples GoPentecost 14, 1 Kings 8:1,6,10-11,22-30,41-43; John 6:56-69King 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 goldwould stand as four centuries’ stories unfold.The beauty createdContinue reading “Temples Come Temples Go”
Flesh to Eat
Flesh to EatPentecost 13; John 6:51-58How 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’s right,and then must bear the brunt of our offence,flesh broken, blood poured out, the loomingContinue reading “Flesh to Eat”
Grieving over Lost Sons and Daughters
Grieving Over Lost Sons and DaughtersPentecost 11; 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 14, 31-33; Luke 13:34,35David wept:“O my son Absalom,my son, my son Absalom!Would I had died instead of you,O Absalom, my son, my son!”How many weepfor sons and daughterscaught by the headbetween heaven and earth,caught by the trap of minddislocated from body and soul!How many weepforContinue reading “Grieving over Lost Sons and Daughters”
Day after the Miracle
Day after the MiraclePentecost 11; John 6:24-35When they found him next day Jesus said:“You have eaten your fill of the loaves,but you fail to see feeding as sign.”They were asking what works he would doto be proof that was worth their belief,though they’d seen a child’s lunch feed them all.Seems our eyesight’s as blinkered asContinue reading “Day after the Miracle”
Our Need of Healing
Our Need of HealingPentecost 9, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56What might we learn if we gathered to shareall we have taught and done?Jesus would listen and help us discernwhat we have lost and won.Bodies can eat here, but souls are half-starved.We come and go distressed.He says, “Let’s go to a peaceful place,”calming our breath to rest.Ours notContinue reading “Our Need of Healing”
Sacred Dance
Sacred DancePentecost 7, 2 Samuel 6, 1-5, 12-20, Mark 6:14-29I have witnessed sacred dancingthat has stirred my very being:wordless meaning that’s enhancingprayer inspired by what I’m seeing –spirit stirring, feelings freeing.Yet our mainstream church disdains it,though the censure is unspoken:formal liturgy restrains itinto gestures that are token,careful that no power is woken.With exuberance, King DaviddancedContinue reading “Sacred Dance”
Shake Off the Dust and Move On
Shake Off the Dust and Move OnPentecost 7; Mark 6:11If you find no welcome thereand your words seem wasted air,shake off the dust and move on.Don’t despair if they don’t care;turn your back on their stony stare.Shake off the dust and move on.If your joy in being dies,captured by restraints and ties,shake off the dustContinue reading “Shake Off the Dust and Move On”
Daughter, Your Faith Has Made You Well
Daughter, Your Faith Has Made You WellPentecost 6, Mark 5:21-43She touched his cloak, believing she would heal.The bleeding stopped; she knew that she was free.His power went forth, a flow that he could feel.“Who touched my clothes?” he said and turned to see.She found the strength to own what she had done;her honest courage helpedContinue reading “Daughter, Your Faith Has Made You Well”
Barb, poet priest 