Open and dry, the plains drew him in; They say he “carried his swag” where he went. He knew how to sketch and could play the piano, A bag full of gifts always ready for use. In city or bush he looked for a city That was not yet here; so he set down hisContinue reading “The Bishop of Pyramid Hill (For Sydney James Kirkby)”
Category Archives: Devotional
A Prayer (For Benedict of Nursia)
Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Non draco sit mihi dux! May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my overlord! (Prayer of the Saint Benedict Medal) Caught between the rule and obedience, Scarcely strong enough to hold but Scared of where my sins might take me, May I know the loveContinue reading “A Prayer (For Benedict of Nursia)”
A Great City Stood (The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost)
A great city stood, on a hill so tall That it reached to the heavens and took in all Who came there to dwell in its rich home of peace, With a king strong and humble, A king and a priest, And a God who dwelt with them, There with them all. And the nationsContinue reading “A Great City Stood (The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost)”
Coming of the Light (The First Missionaries to the Torres Strait, 1871)
Christianity impacted profoundly upon traditional religious and political structures, although Islanders today see it as a fulfilment of the traditional belief system rather than a complete break with the past, as they were previously encouraged to do. (Anna Shnukal, “Torres Strait Islanders”, Multicultural Queensland 2001) You me Torres Strait Islander people, you me a lightContinue reading “Coming of the Light (The First Missionaries to the Torres Strait, 1871)”
De Profundis (Psalm 130)
Out of the depths, I cry and I sweat. Wasting and waning, I call out to you, For I believe there may still be hope yet. “The Lord,” I say, “is my portion”, and yet Weighty with sin I cannot stand before you – Out of the depths, I cry and I sweat. From murkyContinue reading “De Profundis (Psalm 130)”
Rondeau
When I am set free I’ll be A marvellous, bright thing to see, A humbled crown of godly pride, A rosy thorn within the side Of all I used to be; I will shine there such glory I could not create if I tried. Christ will glow and glow inside, When I am setContinue reading “Rondeau”
Pillars, Rocks and Scales (For Peter and Paul, Apostles and Martyrs)
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12) I. Readily he left his nets, Left the boat to walk upon The water just as Jesus did, Only then to sink within The waves, thenContinue reading “Pillars, Rocks and Scales (For Peter and Paul, Apostles and Martyrs)”
Beggar’s Yelp
Son of David, I have nothing but my filthy rags and my wounds, my static place beside this wall, my cracked and open hands, the dirt upon my swollen skin, the cracks in my voice as I cry out to You; my beggar’s yelp. Your crown is hidden, yet I seeContinue reading “Beggar’s Yelp”
Gnosis (For Irenaeus of Lyon)
Against the stormy sea of gnosis (rising, so transcendently, on waves that lifted high above the flesh, the concrete, physical!), while wandering philosophers preached gnosis all throughout his see, sweeping all their hearers up in currents of their eloquence, a Bishop stood and bucked the tide, and lifting up a bulwark to hold against theContinue reading “Gnosis (For Irenaeus of Lyon)”
The One True Image (For Cyril of Alexandria)
If any one confess not, that the Word of God the Father hath been personally united to Flesh, and that He is One Christ with His own Flesh, the Same (that is) God alike and man, be he anathema. (Cyril of Alexandria, Adversus Nestorii Blasphemias) Icon contained in an icon, he holds A picture ofContinue reading “The One True Image (For Cyril of Alexandria)”
The Consolations of Writing 