Tag Archives: Holy Week

Palm Sunday 2018: outsourcing peace

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

It is hard to keep up with the Prince of Peace, but I learned a valuable lesson years ago from a philosopher named Tony whose day job was selling burglar alarms. Continue reading →

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Revolve

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

Our silence blinding noise our haste a purpling bruise our invention miscarried justice moebius-stripped somersaulting our balance blurred and silver leaving lightning after-burns, devils dancing our defence a deformed pitchfork our hope embalmed our light eclipsed out darkness undermined our … Continue reading →

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Holy Week

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Rosalind C Hughes

Seven days. Seven shades of suffering silence. Seven last words: thirst, famine, fever, finality, yet, too, there is forgiveness, family, a future spit from split lips, a dry tongue still willing to kiss the face of God

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The penultimate last word

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

“It is finished.” Hurry, Jesus. Hurry to the appointment you have made to duel death. Hasten the darkening sky, that  a false dawn may break early; that you may fell the great destroyer. The soldiers come with mallets and spear, we hear … Continue reading →

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The fifth last word

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

As the frog seeks its spawning ground, I yearn for the waters of new life. As the child wails for its mother’s breast, I crave your loving tenderness. As the hunger striker is starved of a reprieve, I cry out … Continue reading →

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The third last word

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciples, “Here is your mother.” There is no changing one body … Continue reading →

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The second last word

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

“Today, you will be with me in paradise…” I went to paradise once, before it was washed away. The Flood that was never meant to happen again consumed the golden sands, devoured the prayers of Allah’s faithful people. Their floating … Continue reading →

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Earth, oil, ashes, and a pound of precious nard

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

I have anointed people for death, and I think Mary was right to get in early, because when I return, a few days later, or a week, I do not come bearing precious nard. Continue reading →

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Still

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

At the eclipse, the birds fall silent, the earth shrugs its mantle of shadows close; death comes easily, a simple matter of forgiving all that life still owes Resurrection rises with the spring equinox sun pressing home its higher vantage. … Continue reading →

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A sermon for the Palms and the Passion

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

At the beginning, the tempter had urged him to make bread, to bow down, to throw himself from the temple and be saved by the angels. In the end, the people would taunt him and tempt him to leave his … Continue reading →

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