Bursting Forth

The night was dark. Sorrow, deep and unfathomable, hung over them. At daylight the next morning, the path to the tomb was a necessary and inescapably miserable journey. A mixture of duty and honor… “Light of the world by darkness slain.” But, the grave, the stone, the guards — nothing could not contain Him. “Bursting … Continue reading →

“Take heart; I have overcome the world”

On this Good Friday, I can find no better poem than one from Christina Rossetti: The Three Enemies THE FLESH “Sweet, thou art pale.” “More pale to see, Christ hung upon the cruel tree And bore His Father’s wrath for me.” “Sweet, thou art sad.” “Beneath a rod More heavy, Christ for my sake trod The … Continue reading →

Maundy Thursday

Soft rain falls this morning after a pre-dawn thunderstorm clattered and flashed and woke us up. I can’t even say I minded very much. Thunderstorms are one of my very favorite things. I likely won’t walk the dog today – the forecast (like we can trust weather reports, I know!) says rain every hour. I … Continue reading →

What Is ‘Good’ in this Friday?

In Behold the King of Glory: A Narrative of the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, author Russ Ramsey writes, “The soldiers drove large nails through each of Jesus’s wrists into the crossbeam. With both hands nailed in place, they set his beam on the post in the ground and drove another nail through his gathered … Continue reading →

Hope

The Resurrection (Easter’s celebration) remains the hope of Mankind. Hope. The heartfelt desire that our circumstances can turn out for our good. Hope. The expectation that our yearnings will be fulfilled. Hope. The promise of eternity. Hope — as Emily Dickinson framed it — the “thing with feathers”: “Hope” is the thing with feathers – … Continue reading →

“Let’s Get [Meta]Physical”

It had to happen. April is far too long, and the great Metaphysical poets are far too noteworthy to ignore. (It’s hard work bringing you great poetry, okay?) John Donne, a long-time personal favorite known for his Holy Sonnets, is one of those poets that you sort of have to be in the mood for — … Continue reading →

Good Friday

In the Christian’s life, the celebration of Easter (oh, Glorious Resurrection!) would be woefully incomplete (and wholly misunderstood) without the gruesome truth of Christ’s atoning death on a Roman Cross. We call the day “Good Friday.” How good, for the believer, we cannot fully fathom, until we acknowledge these things: The Holiness of God the … Continue reading →