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Category Archives: lectionary reflection
Hearing Voices
“And it was,” he said, “as though the heavens opened, I swear to God; the clouds at that very moment split apart like the Red Sea rising, and the sun striking through, fell warm and heavy on my back; no, … Continue reading
Posted in holy days, lectionary reflection, poetry
Tagged Mark 1, The Baptism of Our Lord
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Annunciation and assent
Ave Accustomed to many perplexing forms of greeting from the ridiculous to the ribald, when hailed by the sublime she was only mildly bemused, hardly struck dumb at all. Maria Accustomed to the music of her name on the lips … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, sermon preparation
Tagged annunciation, Ave Maria, Gabriel, Mary, year b advent 4
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Do not quench the spirit
From the Lectionary for Year B Advent 3: 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the spirit, pour cold water on its fervour; be afraid of the passion it inflames; that is only the beginning of wisdom. Let it burn. Do … Continue reading
Wild honey
I will not be preaching about John the Baptist tomorrow, but I have been thinking about his wild honey habit and the sweetness of such mercies found along the way. Each of my mothers, who were both called Ann(e), had … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, meditation, other words
Tagged adoption, bees, family, honey, John the Baptist
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Advent meditation: parables, fools, and poetry
Written for the Diocese of Ohio Advent meditations collection, Advent 2014 (see more at http://www.dohio.org) Readings for Thursday of the First Week of Advent: Psalm 118: 19-24; Isaiah 26: 1-6; Matthew 7: 21-27 Rock of Ages They called him a … Continue reading
Poisonous legacies and new tongues
The basic hagiography of Francis Xavier goes something like this: Born in 1506 in the Navarre region of France, Francis met Ignatius of Loyola as a young man, and was greatly influenced by his friendship. Together, with others, they formed … Continue reading
Sheep and goats: beyond the parable
The first goat I ever met as an individual, got to know as a person, as it were, lived in an urban back garden in Oxford, England. He did not, however, necessarily stay there. One evening, doing the dishes after … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon preparation
Tagged Matthew 25, parable, sheep and goats
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Render
A silhouette against my eyelids, black on red; a name beaten out by my heart’s tattoo; the claim that staked me through and through; I render unto, surrender unto – whose image and title is this?
Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, prayer, sermon preparation
Tagged Matthew 22:15-22, render unto Caesar, surrender, Year A Proper 24
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The wedding robe
White lace cut down to a christening robe. Later, a doll with curly blonde hair wore my mother’s leftover wedding weeds, a moulded Miss Haversham preserved in plastic, dressed for the feast, rosebud lips perpetually parted for love.
Vineyards
I cannot grow an apple tree, aromatic herbs, fresh flowers. I dig and plant and water and weed; everything dies. I drink the wine of another’s vineyard, climb the walls to scrump the orchard, cadge the scent of another’s roses … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, sermon preparation
Tagged Isaiah 5:1-7, Matthew 21, parable, Psalm 80, scrumping apples, vineyard
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over the water 