Too regal: There were no drapes to hail Him king, no cherubim in the background, aloft, casually decking the scene, mid-song. Yet this is right: if there were crowns, they would be laid at His feet; and knees, if wise, would know to bend. We foresee the pious, in the corners, turned toward their futureContinue reading “Epiphany: To an unknown painter”
Tag Archives: Gospel of Matthew
Kingdom
The teachers of the law deceive, devour; The humble king is quizzed on His own law. The pure in heart see God; the kingdom’s poor Inherit what the rich lose with their power. Great David’s greater Son knows that His hour Is soon to come; He knows the loving score Composed and tuned by Father’sContinue reading “Kingdom”
Easter Friday
The seed sown in good soil dies, yet gives life thirty, sixty, one hundred times over. Some seed will scatter, be lost, when cares and trials come to choke, to scorch like sun’s temptation. Yet seed which dies gladly is more than seed, more than earth, more than the narrowness of our dust’s conceptions…
Easter Thursday
And He reigns! He reigns in light and in quiet, in death and in life, in depth and in height. He reigns in plenty, He reigns in drought. He reigns in our faith, reigns in our doubt and nothing is too big for Him who rose from death a shining King… Put toContinue reading “Easter Thursday”
Easter Wednesday
Some wise men follow, some betray; some see the star, some walk astray. Some kings will bow, some kings will kill; some men will starve, some have their fill. Some hearts will turn to rock; some stones will call in praise before His throne. Our folly becomes wise in Him; bow down, world’s wise men;Continue reading “Easter Wednesday”
Easter Tuesday
It shatters; it transfigures: from dust, His kingdom lifts up dust, exalts our frame, remembers, changes, in His name, breathes new life into dry bones, reanimates the dead. Eleven dusty men, arise: the mountain-top reveals your king. All authority given Him, He gives to you. Lift feeble feet; He gives His message now toContinue reading “Easter Tuesday”
Lent 43: Wednesday of Holy Week
But listen as they question Him; listen as they plot and lie. Listen: by the fireside, Peter lies and cries. Watch as, dust, we crumble down; watch the Son of Man, betrayed, tell the truth, secure His death and die for dust He made. Has anything like this been seen? The eternalContinue reading “Lent 43: Wednesday of Holy Week”
Lent 42: Tuesday of Holy Week
Yet dust we are we cannot stay awake and pray (the flesh is weak) and dust we are we walk away and hide ourselves in dull deceit. And dust He is yet more than dust transfigured with the Father’s grief; our dust He takes up to the Cross and dies beside a thief.
Lent 41: Monday of Holy Week
And now we lift this bread, this wine born from dust, tilled in soil, fermented, kneaded, baked: now break this bread and rend your hearts, your hands. You look one to another, say, “Not I?” Yet surely you, before the night is done will swear you didContinue reading “Lent 41: Monday of Holy Week”
Lent 39: Saturday of Fifth Week
Sit with Him; eat with Him; dip the bread, by His side – Surely Lord not I? Walk with Him through olive trees; fall asleep and fail to pray; watch as one of you betrays – Surely Lord not I? Warm yourself by cosy fires; answer truth with spitting lies; listen as theContinue reading “Lent 39: Saturday of Fifth Week”
The Consolations of Writing 