It is autumn in my home town of Melbourne as I write these words, and outside the University library the streets are bathed in orange, golden and golden-brown leaves. It is a glorious sight, one of those moments where something seemingly hopeless – the dying of leaves – can be simultaneously so beautiful. I wasContinue reading “From Ashes Part 8: No work for tinkers”
Tag Archives: Jesus
From Ashes: The Crushed Flower (For Therese of Lisieux)
The flower that is me, Crushed – in crushing, free. Yet still I wilt here to see This dying beauty. Until You tread in victory, I languish in me. Crushed by foot, by sea Of crowd’s apathy, I will Yet trust, Christ, in Thee, Thorn-crowned on a tree, Your will Crushed; in crushing, free TheContinue reading “From Ashes: The Crushed Flower (For Therese of Lisieux)”
Catechism 20
Who is the Redeemer? The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself. (New City Catechism) From Adam’s flesh the perfect Man: God, human, redeeming what the apple’s curse has eaten. Who else? Our kinsman, yet notContinue reading “Catechism 20”
Catechism 19
Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back into God’s favour? Yes, to satisfy his justice, God himself, out of mere mercy, reconciles us to himself and delivers us from sin and from the punishment for sin, by a Redeemer. (New City Catechism) Yet Eve’s offspringContinue reading “Catechism 19”
Love to the End
My king, the heavens were your throne, your seat. The task beneath us, we shuffled in our pride; All things beneath you, you God washed our feet. Undignified, so lowly, indiscrete! What, Rabbi, wash our feet? we all decried. My king, the heavens were your throne, your seat… With thrones to claim and enemies toContinue reading “Love to the End”
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”
Easter Monday
The priests conspire. Money changes hands. Even still, the truth must be buried in dark. And yet it bursts forth. Indomitable, it rises: a spring-bloom which cannot be killed… When the first-fruits sprout, the harvest follows. The best-laid plans of priests and men cannot contain what God has raised. See, itContinue reading “Easter Monday”
The Consolations of Writing 