sin

Catechism 45

~ Matthew Pullar ~ Leave a comment

Is baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?
No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin.
(New City Catechism)

    God, no water is enough.
Stains worsen when washed deeper in;
this is the deepest, from Adam to now.
       Only blood
    can wash away blood;
      only pure Breath can restore breath.
Nothing giving; the remedy hurts worse than the ill.
    Yet grace gives us this:
       gentle water as symbol,
    another’s death as the price,  impossible signed
    in this simplest plunge,
       the stain
   taken right back to the source.

image
Masaccio, "Baptism of Neophytes", Wikimedia Commons

Lent: Man of Sorrows 4

~ Matthew Pullar ~ Leave a comment

Lay me down –

slow me down and lay me down

upon the Cross, in Jesus’ hands.

Slow my heart and silence all

the numb self-serving of my pleas;

stifle pride, unlock the clench

of fists deep in this fickle dust.

Lay me down, my soul;

lay down

my soul in Jesus’ hands. Their scars

have room enough for me.

 

Lent: Humility 3

~ Matthew Pullar ~ Leave a comment

The serpent bites deep;
venom lurks where least expected.
The heart has chasms, labyrinths, unknown even to itself.
What way out have we but to weep?

Deceitful beyond all things,
the heart’s lie is more twisted than you ever thought.
Good intentions pave Destruction’s road;
who will rid me of this body of death?

Follow the trail of tears;
enter the wilderness where, sweating blood, He kneels.
Kneel too beside Him, where spirit wills but flesh resists.
Word-made-flesh, His flesh transfigures humbled dust.

Catechism 41

~ Matthew Pullar ~ Leave a comment

lordsprayer

What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

(New City Catechism)

 

Hands upraised,        hands open
        imploring              yet worshipping
receiving              yet giving
        asking                 yet content
forgiven               and forgiving
        on earth,              as it is in heaven;
now                    forever
        delivered             yet
              daily caught in moments’ fear…


Our Father     here    and Heaven’s king:


            teach us how to pray.

			

	


				
					


	

			
Christmas Monday
		

				

						 ~ Matthew Pullar			 ~ 2 Comments					

				

		
Well: perhaps, you went to church the day before,

Heard Jesus hailed as promise kept, as wise

Old Simeon and Anna wept and saw

The saving one, a babe before their eyes.

Perhaps you picked some turkey from your teeth

And thought of all the washing to be done,

The relatives all gone, so now relief

From cooking up a storm for everyone.

Perhaps the Christmas tree is drooping now;

Perhaps the pool gives comfort in this heat.

Perhaps there’s too much light going around

And, victory done, you fancy quiet defeat.

Keep watch: He grew and walked and made His way

For summer sinners who always doze astray.

			

	


				
					


	

			
Catechism 37
		

				

						 ~ Matthew Pullar			 ~ Leave a comment					

				

		
Detail from a painting by Antonio da Correggio Wikimedia Commons
Detail from a painting by Antonio da Correggio
Wikimedia Commons


Catechism 37


How does the Holy Spirit help us?


The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, comforts us, guides us, gives us spiritual gifts and the desire to obey God; and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word.


(New City Catechism)


Dove:


my best attempts are straw.


My righteousness is dust, my hope


of being more is void.


Dove:


Your peace like river flows;


your olive branch restores, implores


us into growing grace.


Dove:


rest on my spirit; open eyes


and ears and heart. Give gifts,


give life. Give comfort in this dross.


Dove:


only when Your flame descends,


and burns, convicts – O gentle peace –


only then, release.

			

	


				
					


	

			
Catechism 33
		

				

						 ~ Matthew Pullar			 ~ Leave a comment					

				

		
Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?


No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior.


(New City Catechism)


 


            Understand:


the chasm is too wide, the gap


too vast for any Good to bridge.


            All vain


attempts to straddle death with works,


however beautiful, are only


            puddles


                        in an infinite sea.


 


            And know this:


all the ladder-clambering to


which the dying soul will turn


                        cannot


ascend the smallest rung,


can only slip, and slander grace


            which lifts


                        the sinner from her knees.


 


            And nothing


in our best attempts, our finest deeds,


our kindest actions, whitest fleece,


                        can near


the width of grace’s arms which span


the heavens and the earth to take


            our filth


                        into its cleansing grip.