“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill theContinue reading “Christmas 5: This Turbulent Priest (For Thomas Becket, Archbishop and Martyr)”
Category Archives: Devotional
Christmas 4: Holy Innocents
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:17-18) Rachel weeps; the Spirit keeps vigil with the ones who mourn. One child lives, though many die; thatContinue reading “Christmas 4: Holy Innocents”
Christmas 3: Follow Me (For the Feast of St John the Evangelist)
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” (John 21:20-21) Some followed to theContinue reading “Christmas 3: Follow Me (For the Feast of St John the Evangelist)”
Christmas 2: Boxing Day
This is how the child leads: A shepherd charged with feeding the grieved takes every stone hate hurls at him; a king and his page trudge through charity’s snow; boxes are filled with surplus things; the lion lies down with the lamb. We who eat from Plenty’s horn, flush with leftovers, paper scraps, beneath theContinue reading “Christmas 2: Boxing Day”
Christmas 1: “A little child shall lead them…”
There were perhaps others on the look-out for kings that day, scouring the glossy mags, checking out the trendy spots, tracking every star on the rise. It was easy enough with the census on and everyone back to their homes, easy to know who would be where (and no-one who was anyone would ever beContinue reading “Christmas 1: “A little child shall lead them…””
Advent 4: The Fruit
Climb the rugged beam to see the scurry of life around the tree: lion and baby, adder and lamb, sheltered in this outstretched hand. Thick with promise, the leaves gather birds and the birds whisper secrets in long-forgotten words. Turn your ear from self to sky to hear the heavens in reply: There’s hope forContinue reading “Advent 4: The Fruit”
Advent 3: The Branch
Kingdoms fall from might; panelled houses cannot keep out the flood. The humblest stump brings forth the branch and a little child leads the animals’ dance. As the baby rests its head in the nest, the greenest hope turns to solid twig, and then as firm and fixed branch. Reach out: these arms reach outContinue reading “Advent 3: The Branch”
Advent 2: The Shoot
When You come back again Would You bring me something from the fridge? (Steve Taylor & Peter Furler, “Lost the Plot”) Remember praise? It fed your roots back when you learnt to crawl, back when you burrowed into soil eager to receive all the earth had to say. And today? Defeat is the last refugeContinue reading “Advent 2: The Shoot”
Advent 1: The Stump
If no good as a tree – no fruit budding, no birds to rest in its shade – then cut it down. The wood may serve for a building or, at the very least, a fire. Get in first before inferno comes; better to be a stump when the fires rage. Resignation rests in theContinue reading “Advent 1: The Stump”
Suscipe
Nighttime cradles you in my arms but I am uncradled, and what strength I have to cradle with is finite and growing finer yet, my widow’s mite at the temple gate, libation pouring out. Daytime is an offering too, a departure yet a giving, an act of will to defeat the Will, a living sacrificeContinue reading “Suscipe”
The Consolations of Writing 