Qualified by grace to share in the light And the kingdom which shines like His chrysolite face, I enter the throne-room, a beggar, no right, While the one spotless lamb hangs in my bleeding place. Unsettled by striving, cast out of the race (Failing to run and nose-diving my flight), I hold the gold laurel,Continue reading “Colossians 1”
Tag Archives: Jesus
The Bright-Shining Lord (After Ann Griffiths’ “I Saw Him Standing”)
I first discovered the amazingly visceral and love-saturated poetry of Ann Griffiths through my friend Erin who posted a couple of Rowan Williams’ translations on her blog a while back. The one that arrested me in particular was “I Saw Him Standing”, which you can read on Erin’s blog here. I’ve chosen it as anContinue reading “The Bright-Shining Lord (After Ann Griffiths’ “I Saw Him Standing”)”
Parousia
In the juvescence of the year Came Christ the tiger (T.S. Eliot, “Gerontion”) Still He bursts into our courts Where our Pharisee-hearts change coins for doves And the tables we man to show who’s in charge Are upturned by His rage. Still HeContinue reading “Parousia”
Rise (Saturday in Easter Week)
And He did; though it breaks our minds, He did. The tomb is empty, Peter’s face white like linen; Mary smiles and hearts are soon on fire; there’s no reason why the broken, wounded,Continue reading “Rise (Saturday in Easter Week)”
Stone Hearts (Friday in Easter Week)
It seems to cut against all logic, What we claim that we have seen: Dead men do not rise, the lame Do not stand up and walk. And though we shout and scream a name It has no power from the tomb; And yet His name made these bowed legs Straighten out and move. Continue reading “Stone Hearts (Friday in Easter Week)”
Author of Life (Thursday in Easter Week)
“It’s true: the Author of life lay dead, Lay three days inside death’s tomb, The Righteous and the Holy One Made Himself an offering to Ignorant, unrighteous men Who knew not what they did. It’s true, for we are witnesses; We saw Him breathe and saw Him die And sawContinue reading “Author of Life (Thursday in Easter Week)”
Breaking Bread, Mending Bones (Wednesday in Easter Week)
We had seen him do the same as this – men on mats, lame from their birth, men born blind, women who bled, rubbing mud into their eyes, ordering their legs, Continue reading “Breaking Bread, Mending Bones (Wednesday in Easter Week)”
Repentance (Tuesday in Easter Week)
“Let the house of Israel know!” He cried, and cut them to the heart Who, guilt of Adam in their bones, Had hammered in the nails. “What should we do?” they cried in fear, Seeing their hands at the cross, Their sins like thieves at Jesus’ side, Their voices raised to crucify. “Repent,”Continue reading “Repentance (Tuesday in Easter Week)”
Resurrection Virelai (Monday in Easter Week)
See Him arise Much brighter than the skies Victory in the eyes Of great David’s greater Son… He breaks the stones of lies, Unties The shackles we put on; Dark Hades He defies, Decries The plots of the shame-faced ones. Before their eyes He takes His rightful prize, Swift, majestic, like the sun. Continue reading “Resurrection Virelai (Monday in Easter Week)”
The Slow Dawning Part 4: The Emmaus Walk (Easter Day)
Day ending, night on its way, they walk, Hearts thick with the talk of the days before, Of expectation reversed and destroyed, Disappointment turned to confusion, To rumours and gossip of empty tombs. A stranger walks beside them, asking for news. Yet he knows the story from its genesis And shows them snakes crushedContinue reading “The Slow Dawning Part 4: The Emmaus Walk (Easter Day)”
The Consolations of Writing 