Word in the Hand

Gospel Luke 2:15-20 House shrine Assisi When the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they hurried away and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told. It may be a surprise to learn that the word ‘hospitality’ doesn’t mean what we think it means –like many words it has lost something in translation and in tradition.   These days we imagine that it means having friends and loved ones around the table. To be generous to those we love; to celebrate togetherness. As hope...

Another back story The shadows are  where you are safest. These long nights at the turning of the solstice are a boon to me. From the shadows of the inner wall I watched with measured breath as the soldiers set their weight to the city doors, silencing the rasping hum of the desert winds. I waited as one man flexed the muscles in his chest and biceps, a preening gladiator, whilst the other picked up the longspears and held one arms length, a javelin against the other's chest. Words were spoken, rumbling laughter, then they strolled off with the rolling gait of the weary, arms circling their helmets like baskets of bread or fruit. Guards with their guard down, for there was no-one left on the midnight streets of Bethlehem.  To that, even I would agree. It has occurred to me before now that 'No-one' is a very fitting name. The curse of a misbegotten body has refused my humanity. Beggar, homeless, unclean, it is all very much the same. No-one that matters.  And so I l...

O Antiphon - O Clavis  "O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death." O Come, O Clavis and free your people Locked in the darkness of doubt of fear Trapped in boxes of control of ego Walled in the tombs of resentment of 'if only' Behind shadow doors of left alone of exclusion Waiting  O Clavis O Come wordinthehand2013

O, Jesse - O, Liberator "O flower of Jesse's stem,                     you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you.  Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid." O, Jesse From the silent deep  of beginning Earth's enveloping w omb Breaking free, u nwinding  spiralling  Roots clasping rock Light seeking Light  Breaking free Earth and air  Drinking  water of life Breaking free Branch and twig Leaf and bud Sun flowering Moon ripening  Star bursting  The harvest is sown  with a single seed O, Jesse O,Come wordinthehand2013

O Adonai - O Lord "O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free." O, Come  O, Adonai Creating God Revealing God Sending God Leading God Guiding God Calling God Whispering God Silent God O, Ancient Surrounding God Saving God Shielding God Freeing God  O, Sacred Whose word is Law Whose Law is Love Whose servant am I O Adonai O, Come. wordinthehand2013

O Wisdom,  flowing from the mouth of the Most High;  reaching far and wide,  disposing of all things sweetly and mightily.  Come teach us the way of prudence. Sofia,  beautiful -  skin deep;  heart deep; blood deep; gut deep. The  beauty of a crone; shining wisdom;  flowing compassion; crafting prudence. Sofia, midwife of hope; knowing beyond; seeing within.  Tasting the humours on her tongue;  ferric blood; salty tears. Sofia,  counting the quickening in her heartbeat; Holding the moon in her embrace; Calling Hope in her song. O, Come...O, Come. wordinthehand2013

Sunday Gospel John 1:6-8,19-28 A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light. This is how John appeared as a witness. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ he not only declared, but he declared quite openly, ‘I am not the Christ.’ ‘Well then,’ they asked ‘are you Elijah?’ ‘I am not’ he said. ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?’ So John said, ‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied: a voice that cries in the wilderness: Make a straight way for the Lord.’ Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees, and they put this further question to him, ‘Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the prophet?’ John replied, ‘I baptise with w...

Sunday Gospel Mark 1:1-8 The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: Look, I am going to send my messenger before you; he will prepare your way. A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. and so it was that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. John wore a garment of camel-skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey. In the course of his preaching he said, ‘Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’ This year the Confirmation group was blessed with several, very bright, scientific...