Growing straight and tall
Having seen one hundred
Summers and winters go by
Smooth sinuous pale bark
With the occasion flecks
Of brown
Arms outstretched
In petition
For sun and rain
In acceptance
Of all that is given
Ordinary wonder
Of your creation
Connected to all
That was and is and is to come
That oozes peace
Pastels of blue and pink
in the sky
reflected in the water
that is almost perfectly still.
Gloden ochre cliffs
shimmering
help frame the scene.
Just when I’m filled with bliss
regular, gently insistent waves
which signal the tide
roll to shore
amplifying the beauty and peace
that my thirsty soul wishes to store.
Superlatives are rendered meaningless.
All I have is ‘thank you, God’.
At Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. We celebrate that suffering and even death do not have the last word. In our current circumstances of the pandemic of COVID-19, could there be news that is better than this, news that is more timely, more appropriate?
During this time, it is easy to feel upset, off-kilter, uncertain – but at Easter we need to remember Jesus’ words “I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly”. So we each need to ask ourselves, what gives me life?
Whoever and whatever they are, be with those people in whatever way you can, engage in those activities however you can. Be assured that the Holy Spirit will continue to be with us and guide us into the truth (John 16:13) – about ourselves and about life. Part of that truth at this time is our shared humanity and to do all we can to support each other.
Jesus spoke truth to power
calling out greed
and power-grabbing
especially those done in God’s name.
So his pain and suffering
were brought about by injustice
but borne with love:
love of God
love of humanity
love of integrity.
Do I help those around me
to carry their difficulties?
Do I bear my difficulties
with love?
Jesus is present
God is present – with us.
Part of the reason
for the eucharist
is to remember
the presence of Jesus – with us
whenever we gather.
We give thanks for God’s many blessings
especially at this time
when it is easy to focus
on what we don’t have,
rather than the joy and mystery
of the love that binds us.
The glimpses of God’s wonder
in the sunny day,
the bird’s song,
the baby’s cry
and the intricate, yet ephemeral, beauty
of the spider’s web.
Because we forget,
we must remember.
God – with us, always.
Physically separated from my faith community, I’ve been pondering a symbolic action. This came out:
May we call to mind
the blessings we have received
from this branch:
source of oxygen
food and home for other links
in God’s startling web of creation.
The water we sprinkle
life-giving to all it touches.
Water and branch combined
are symbols of the majesty
of which we are a humble part.
Water and branch remind us
in all their subtle complexity
that we are in God’s reign.
This extraordinary time reminded me of the following quote from ‘The Plague’ by Albert Camus
“and to state quite simply what we learn in a time of pestilence: that there are more things to admire in men than to despise.
None the less, he knew the tale he had to tell could not be one of a final victory. It could only be the record of what had had to be done, and what assuredly would have to be done again in the never-ending fight against terror and its relentless onslaughts, despite their personal afflictions, by all who, while unable to be saints but refusing to bow down to pestilences, strive their utmost to be healers”
Brilliant blue sky
deep pink flowers
on the crepe myrtle.
The beauty of God’s creation
including the gift that is
each person
reminds me
in this time of anxiety
of all that is present
around me
inviting me
to participate in life
rather than
waiting for the other shoe to drop
Another sunrise
makes orange-gold
shafts of light
shoot up and down
through the clouds.
This ordinary but evocative scene
has touched me
and reminds me of hope
and joy
just when I needed it,
lest I slumber through
more of this gift
of the present.
Time to stop
and contemplate
God at work
in my life
buoying and carrying me
providing me
with the gifts
of wife, family
loved ones
the beauty of creation
the scriptures
my ministry to young people
and the prayerful example
of Francis and Clare.
The view over the Spoleto
will always be with me
as I try to carry
the gifts of Assisi
into my life.
livedgospel 