Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect of the Day)Continue reading “In Our Time (Fourth Sunday After Epiphany)”
Category Archives: Devotional
Consolation (For the Presentation of Christ in the Temple)
It’s nearly a year since The Consolations of Writing was born, so I thought it was fitting to call today’s poem “Consolation”, in honour of Simeon, the faithful man who waited and waited to see the consolation of his people and found it unexpectedly in a baby brought to be dedicated one day in theContinue reading “Consolation (For the Presentation of Christ in the Temple)”
The Lowly and the Proud
Today’s poem was inspired by a passage I have been reading from 1 Samuel this week. We will be looking at this passage in my church this week and, because I am leading the service, I have been reading the passage and thinking about what it means for God to be a God of theContinue reading “The Lowly and the Proud”
Of Tyrants and Worthy Deaths (For Charles I, King of England)
Today’s poem was a difficult one to write. Most of the time, I manage to find some way of approaching whatever topic, event or person the liturgical calendar brings up for me that day. Occasionally, however, I refuse to write a poem because of fundamental disagreement with what has been included for that particular day.Continue reading “Of Tyrants and Worthy Deaths (For Charles I, King of England)”
Epistemology (For Thomas Aquinas, Theologian)
There are many kinds of light, and many things by light are seen and all our minds receive the light which radiates the world; by this the things of earth all shine so we may learn and ask and know, yet this proud earthly light will pale before the light that shows what only God’sContinue reading “Epistemology (For Thomas Aquinas, Theologian)”
Golden Tongue (For John Chrysostom, Bishop and Teacher)
The least varnished words are the sweetest When they drip with golden truth; The strongest tongues are those which slice Through pretense and through lies. And God Himself chose wilderness To be His earthly stage; He blessed the poor and blessed the meek And silenced all our pride.
Joy and Strength (Third Sunday After Epiphany)
Do not weep: The Word shines light on your darkest depths And brings to light how far the gap, How vast the space between your deeds And what you should have done. But do not weep: today the joy Of the Lord shall be your strength. Do not fret: Sit silently before the Word AndContinue reading “Joy and Strength (Third Sunday After Epiphany)”
The Lonely Road (For the Conversion of St Paul)
But first your companions will not understand you. Though they stand with you on the Damascus Road They won’t see what you can see: A blinding light, descending scales, An arrow pointing where you must go. What, they wonder, has taken Saul? It’s time that we were getting on. The same purpose had burned inContinue reading “The Lonely Road (For the Conversion of St Paul)”
Companions (For the Companions of St Paul)
The road is long when your walk is lonely And the world is not always your friend. Some houses will not take you inside their walls And some cities will drive you away. At Thessalonica, they’ll roar till you leave; At Ephesus they will pursue you. Riots will rage and courts will declare That theContinue reading “Companions (For the Companions of St Paul)”
Vindication
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17) Somehow this hope cuts through it all: the fears I have harboured in the dark, the jury’sContinue reading “Vindication”
The Consolations of Writing 