funny how they stick
across time, through history
amusing or cruel, justified or not
simply a given, no choice, **** it up
Judas the Betrayer, Doubting Thomas
true I wasn't there at that first meeting
him shiny and new, risen from the dead
they had their chance to see, to touch
know the truth of it for themselves
we'd all seen him dead and buried
they'd needed to be sure he's alive
why should it be different for me
yet asking earned the nickname
they'd have had their questions
just the same if they'd missed
but that moniker stuck fast
it's how you remember me
those many centuries later
doubter, not certainty seeker
yet that was not my story's end
not once I'd got my head straight
no sir, places to go, people to tell
"go", he said, "into all the world"
so I did, took him at his word
travelled all the way to India
telling folk about Jesus, his
life, death AND resurrection
not letting up till the day I died
Doubting Thomas they call me
let facts speak for themselves
discover who he made me
go beyond the nickname
if you tell my story


Second Sunday of Easter
27th April 2025
following John 20.19-35

begun, a roman funeral
tale of two cities, very different
one commerce, politics, tourism
carryies on with its usual energy
another surrounding St Peter's
the square, basilica, vatican
concentrating on preparations
ceremonies for handling a death
crowds forming, quiet and not so
police and officials keeping order
presence needed yet not required
tented Croce Rossa clinics arrive
media sets up shaping stories to tell
techies fixing screens and speakers
for those gathering too many to see
overwhelming in inevitable bustle, yet
quietening hush, sensed anticipation
thin place of the spirit approaches
something almost tangible
the time to say farewell
normale

who will be remembered
surrounded by cardinals, drama
caught up in the liturgy of the church
one to whom the doors of power opened
who politicians, world leaders attend
some from respect, others for duty
and those who seek a holy veneer
to cover shabby politics, evil even
will they remember him
maybe

who will the people recall
for whose soul do they pray
just one such as themselves
humble, gentle, generous, kind
or trying to be, most of the time
priest of the barrios, the favelas
spending his last days in blessings
children, poor, prisoners, migrants
praying for peace, calling for hope
amidst all the world's conflicts
so many exploitations, wars
using nearly his last breaths
yet who'd ask us to pray, not for
the leader of the Catholic Church
Pope Francis, Il Papa, His Holiness
heir to the keys, the throne of St Peter
but pray for the soul of Jorge, a sinner
whom with love we commend
to the mercy of God
normale


Saturday of Easter Week
26th April 2025
Rome

seven days
seven weeks, seven years
no  time would have sufficed
to prepare for what came next
dead then alive, that was hard enough
you know the story, know how it ends
we were living it one day at a time
one new impossible after another
because then he says "go"
"go into all the world
make disciples of all nations
baptise them in my name
God who is Father, Son and Spirit"
what can prepare you for that
where to start, how to begin
well that's another story
today that word is enough
to wrestle with, focus on
'go'

Saturday of Easter Week
26th April 2025
following Matthew 28.16-20

bound by iron
long beyond dead
amphitheatre visited
by graffiti artists and
night-time drunks
Tasso's oak remains
that hillside sentinel
overlooking his beloved
Roma, city of his dreams
where beneath lost leaves
he pondered poems, epics
an imagination once living
which long since penned
verses of love and war
that sometimes escape
the page to live again
while on that *****
beneath dead wood
trapped by iron's bond
quercus sapling grows
a new oak for Tasso


25th April 2025
Roma

shame
etched deep in my soul
they all blame the betrayer
named him such through history
but he was honest in his betrayal
faced him, marked him with a kiss
eye to eye the deed was done
but me, for all my bold bluster
I'd run away, denied I knew him
not once, not twice, three times
my friend, three years followed
called him Messiah, the Christ
Jesus, denied I even knew him
so which betrayal is greater
I know my shame

after it was over
death, strange days following
Marys first, then meeting him alive
trying to work my head around it all
back to Galilee where it all began
trying to get a handle, fishing
breakfast on the beach
we know it's him
I know

eating done
a long awkward silence
which he breaks, "do you love me"
he asks, looks me in the eye, asks me
"you know I love you" muttered head down
silence you could cut, then "do you love me"
irritated, angry even, "you know I love you"
longer pause, waves lapping, fire crackles
"do you love me", not brotherly love now
but agape, self-giving love, his kind
"do you love me", thrice denied
now three times he's asked
my shame biting deep
"you know everything
you know I love you"
no condemnation instead
each time a commissioning
"feed my lambs", "take care of my sheep"
"feed my sheep", a shepherd's task and work
for me, forgiveness going beyond my shame
time to start over, whatever that means


Friday of Easter Week
25th April 2025
following John 21.15-19

go fishing, he suggested
night fishing of all things
I hate fishing, always have
could never see its attraction
but it's like a default reset for him
don't know what to do, go fishing
stuck for what to think, go fishing
Peter's 'run home to mama' mode
still we needed to get out of town
time and space to think, to decide
work out what on earth we do next
night fishing was good for that
at least we thought it would be
but the thinking and the talking
went no better than the fishing
round and round in circles
not a single bite, not a fish
no ideas about what next either
just lots of 'what ifs', nothing else
no fish and too much hot air

so there we were, out on the lake
sore, stiff, talked out, frustrated
still no fish and dawn approaching
a flame flared on the beach
someone lighting a fire
we could see him moving around
silhouetted against the flames
then a voice calling over the water
we can't have been far off shore
"try the other side"
should have heard Peter chunter
"who does he think he is
'try the other other side'
been a fisherman all my life
'try the other other side'"
but then something clicked
could almost see cogs turning
suddenly Peter's hauling nets
calling to Andrew for help
throwing them over the other side
the boat takes a lurch
tips over, lines taut, net full, fish
Peter shouting "get them landed"
leaping over the side
splashing fast for the shore
and the clock's spinning back
like some kind of time machine
that other catch, that other beach
we know who he is, the voice
the man calling across the water
calling us to breakfast, and ....


Thursday of Easter Week
24th April 2025
following John 21.1-14

it had been a bad week
seemed as if he wanted trouble
saying what he said, doing as he did
he knew how to push all their buttons
challenging their authority, their rules
putting them on the spot, no evasions
never backing off despite their anger
it was no surprise he was arrested
mock trial, ******* up charges
guilty verdict, a cross and death
we'd tagged him as the Messiah
but now he's dead, buried, gone
well there was some crazy story
the Marys said they'd seen him alive
but who'd believe that, as I said, crazy

that's what we told him
when he fell in step along the way
travelling with us to Emmaus
listened to all we'd had to say
then started unpicking our story
for everything we'd mentioned
had an explanation, gave a reason
why it had to happen that way
what was really going on
how it fitted into God's plan
explained it from the scriptures
like he was giving us a lesson
Jesus 1.01, the real story

near Emmaus it started getting dark
he was going on but we'd a room, food
so we invited him in, things may change
but hospitality's still usual, our norm
as a guest, we asked for his blessing
so he blessed and broke the bread
did the same for the wine, shared it
and suddenly we recognised him
as if our grief had made us blind
how could we have missed it
like that last supper once again
it was Jesus, and he is alive
chance meeting, no chance

couldn't leave it there
hot-footed it back to Jerusalem
had to tell the others, the disciples
said our piece in the upper room
but it was all a bit redundant
we'd no sooner told our tale
than he turned up there too
living, breathing, wonderfully alive
yet despite all that he'd said
its hard not to have questions
all kinds of puzzlements
and whose going to answer them


Wednesday of Easter Week
23rd April 2025
following Luke 24.13-35

Easter Monday
he is not living, he's dead
other realities pending
Il Papa, Holy Father, the Pope
this was his home, his basilica
St Peter's, heart of a church
they'd known he was poorly
prayed for him even
and now he's died
a few flags flying at half mast
Carabinieri out on the streets
world's news teams gathering
stories to be told, vox pops recorded
'I was there when the news broke'
yet Rome goes on, normale
as usual tourists everywhere
pilgrims on Via della Conciliazione
school trips snake through crowds
cafes, restaurants ply their trade
buses and trains keep rolling
Roma to play Inter Milan

the Pope is dead
a conclave will gather
black smoke, then the white
and a new one will be elected
for now more important questions
dust off the plans, make new ones
prepare for the influx, the bookings
ready the beds, plan for extra supplies
what's it going to do to the traffic
how will it affect my commute
been here before, will again
life goes on, it has to
long live Il Papa


22nd April 2025
Stephen Cooper
Rome

you couldn't blame us
doors locked, windows barred
they'd arrested Jesus, killed him
how long until they'd come for us
only Peter and John had ventured out
check the women's story, unbelievable
empty tomb, angels, 'he is risen'
yet it was just as they'd said
but what to make of it

then there he is
standing among us
do we touch, can he speak
is he a ghost or is this really him
'how about something to eat'  he says
fish cooked, he eats, no hallucination
you can still see the marks of the nails
flesh and blood he's alive, we know it
it can't be true but it is, we've seen
what does it mean, dead, alive
and then he's gone

resurrection's synagogue talk
end times, God's final judgement
but this is real, this is now, Jesus
what are we to make of it all
who'd believe us anyway
need to think it through
all that he had to say
a lot to take on board
to get a handle on
so where to begin
and is the place to do so
behind locked doors


Tuesday of Easter Week
22nd April 2025
following Luke 24

scenes glimpsed almost frozen
while life goes on around
passing at speed, never resting
those stop-motion moments

supper
garden
betrayal
arrest
trial
Pilate
sentence
scou­rging
cross
nails
theives
mother
forgiveness
death
spear
burial
s­tone
guards
morning
tomb
empty
body
gone
angels
"he is not dead
he is risen"
meeting
alive

how to comprehend
the incomprehensible
to haul on board
reality beyond understanding
except that it was, it is, it will be
we saw, we touched, we spoke
we witnessed, we know


Monday of Easter Week
21st April 2025
following Mark 16.1-8

nails, spear, tomb
dead, buried and gone
their hope for a renewed
transformed future lost
utterly defeated
death reigns
for one man
for humanity
they were certain
friends, opponents
authorities alike

except that
in defiance of reason
contrary to all expectation
death is far too small a thing
to constrain, to make an end
of love in all its fullness
not the anticipated
full stop

last day
in the garden she
had watched him buried
stone rolled, guard set
it was all over, done
only grief remained
aching absence

first day
she heard a word
penetrating the tears
voice unmistakable
"Mary"

dead
but no longer dead
however improbable
fully, huggably, utterly alive
even if they wouldn't believe it
accept the truth of it from a woman
debate forever what it might mean
yet whatever they may say
I know what I know
I heard, I spoke
I saw, I held
alive


Easter Sunday
20th April 2025
following John 20.1-20

spear ****** avoids mistake
always thorough, the romans
dead no doubt about it, then
hurried burial, borrowed tomb
silence of the grave

blithely oblivious life goes on
festival in the temple celebrated
somehow missing its point
business in the markets as usual
too important to fail

sun persists in shining
planets in their orbits dance
galaxies whirl across the void
cut loose from their moorings
in the silence adrift

the universe holds breath
Word through whom all things
came into being, even life itself
Word made flesh who dwelt among us
heartbeat of the cosmos absent

that silence
when we have killed God


Saturday of Holy Week
19th April 2025
following John 1.1-14 and John 19.38-42

'a man of sorrows
acquainted with grief'
song of the suffering servant
'wounded for our rebellions
crushed by our guilt'
'led like a lamb to the slaughter'
some say he was afflicted by God
despised, struck down, punished
others suggest blame lies elsewhere
in the evil choices of humanity
its wars, conflicts, exploitations
those darkest, deepest of places
where the devil walks
in the diabolical decisions
of hearts and minds enacted
or the craven failure to act
in history and the present day
yet even in such places
'by his wounds we are healed'
for even as we killed him
of those who did the deed
and of those who stood aside
he found the grace to pray
'Father forgive them
they know not what they do'
and we need it



Good Friday
18th April 2025
following Isaiah 52.13 - 53.12
and Luke 23.34

the crack began in the garden
between the is and the intended
what could be versus what will
fissure, fault line splintering
seeming such a small thing
that decision, the apple eaten
free-will flowing of love's gift
yet responsibility demanded
opening up paths divergent


void of understanding
incomprehension a chasm
essence drowning in absence
abyss, the unknown and unknowable
yet power, wealth, authority drive
the anthem of 'I did it my way'
shaping the world to our desires
claiming mastery of our fate
the captaincy of our souls


can the gap, that widening maw
find a place, space for resolution
again finger tip to finger tip with God
some spoke of incarnation, personhood
demonstrating his character and purpose
our reality reflected in his presence
human independence disrupted
so the mirror was smashed
disturbance destroyed


"it is finished"
God's dying words
echoing into the silence

sound of the cosmos fractured
utterly, humanity triumphant
while most never noticed
business as usual
life went on



Good Friday
18th April 2025
following John 19
Paul Anka and William Henley

every group
each tribe or nation
certainly every religion
has signs and symbols
initiation ceremonies, rituals
membership cards, passports
shared activities and actions
core archetypes of identity
all adding up to belonging
I am, you are part of .....

on the eve of Passover
as the lambs were sacrificed
unleavened bread broken
wine of blessing poured
he took that bread and wine
'this is my body, my blood
broken, poured out for you'
himself the Passover lamb
body yet to be broken
blood still to be daubed
on the upright, the lintel
of the cross, that doorway
to God's saving love and justice
and we are invited in, to be a part
joined, belonging, incorporated
in all that was accomplished
by the mystery of the cross
communion in self-giving love
what then does this opting in
require of, mean for us, for me


Maundy Thursday
17th April 2025
following Matthew 26.17-19, 26-29

disciple's ear
follower's heart
believer's tongue
words of comfort
for the weary
light in dark places
for stumblers
saving justice
to be upheld
what's not to like

and yet shamed
struck and beaten
insults, spitting
they've gone for me
gone hard, big time
but how to react
like for like, eye for eye
I'd be no better than they
but to rise above it
is it in me
can I find it to
stick to his ways
cleave to his path
hold fast to him
resolute

can I
I must


Wednesday of Holy Week
16th April 2025
following Isaiah 50.4-11

the journey to that table had been long
each with a different starting point
everyone of us chosen, called
picked by him to be a disciple
strengths, weaknesses, blind spots
came as we were, all somewhat changed
yet still as we'd always been

why he picked me I do not know
the accountant, a money man
someone trusted to keep the books
you might say a wise choice
but he knew me too, the hidden me
the Romans labelled us as terrorists
me and my freedom-fighter friends

and we knew what we wanted of him
after all these centuries of *******
Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans
he was a leader, very much the real deal
the sort folk would follow to hell and back
may have wanted me, but did I want him
with him at our head we could not fail

turns out he had different plans
no matter the nudges, the promptings
he would not budge from his path
power given not taken, self-giving love
care for the poor, the broken, the outsider
challenging our leaders, their hypocrisies
he's served himself up for the inevitable

so here we are, at the tipping point
me with just one hand left to play
carry on as he's doing, stick to his plan
he'll be dead meat before the week's out
force the issue, if I re-focus his thinking
maybe, just maybe he'll take our side
and with him as our leader watch out

so we come to it, the critical moment
all together for that Passover meal
"one of you will betray me", he said
"one who dips his bread with me"
mind you we all did that, dip, betray him
deny, run, thirty silver pieces, all the same
but he knew, I could see it in his eyes

the dice rolled, events are now in play
soon the action begins, Gethsemane
will he be there, of course he will
he'd never do a runner, not him
but will he take the bait, rise to the hook
become the leader we know he could be
or have I condemned him, and me too


Wednesday of Holy Week
16th April 2025
following John 13.21-32

I thought I had it sorted
what I was meant to be doing
prophet to the people of God
call them back to his ways
to walk on his paths

often they didn't listen
but I was determined, set
message like sharp arrows
voice a whetted sword
to cut to the chase

wearisome mind
they didn't want to hear
rarely took me seriously
made the right noises
but never changed

now that isn't enough
a change of job description
not just for the people of Israel
today, same message for all
me, prophet to the world

who'd have thought
who will listen


Tuesday of Holy Week
15th April 2025
following Isaiah 47.1-7

we had our expectations
clear ideas of who we wanted
visionary of power, glory who'd
raise the people, lead an army
restore the temple's power
kick the romans into touch
re-establish the kingdom
certain in our anticipation

but he didn't tick our boxes
came from the wrong town
hung around the wrong people
did the wrong kind of miracles
at the wrong time, wrong place
criticised the religious leaders
challenged abuses of power
hypocrites he called us

crowds followed him, sure
loved the drama, excitement's edge
water turned to wine, all the healings
hardly surprising they sought him out
but always his teaching disturbed
attracted some, drove others away
said what we didn't want to hear
asked the wrong questions

and then there was god
calling him father, presumption
those claims he made, blasphemy
messiah? definitely the wrong kind
unacceptable, not to be tolerated
failing our tests of orthodoxy
one verdict, death penalty
the grave no glory

there's a time to be brave
but moments wisdom says
take care, keep your head down
no future's found down that road
still he wouldn't take the warnings
kept on coming, refused to back off
this was not what we wanted
yet he's left us no option

even now he talks of glory



Tuesday of Holy Week
15th April 2025
following John 12.20-36

the chosen one
delight of the soul
bearer of the spirit
presenting fair judgement
gentle amidst the world's woes
speaks quietly in the city streets
the bruised reed he will not break
neither ***** the faltering wick
grows not faint nor weary
not to be crushed until
that judgement
is established
but then


Monday of Holy Week
14th April 2025
following Isaiah 42:1-4

yesterday
a peacetime king
riding a donkey
entered the city
the people cheered
victory palms waved

today
a prophet
in the temple
that holy place
proclaiming truth
overturning tables
scattering the market
"my house shall be
a house of prayer
but you have made it
a bandits' den"
dodgy politicians'
invisible clothes
warlords'
justification
abusers', exploiters'
power base
my?

and tomorrow?


Monday of Holy Week
14th April 2025
following Luke 19:45-47

fickle, fickle, fickle
changeable as the weather
so easy to excite, manipulate, sway
longing for a bandwagon to climb aboard
the newest, hottest intoxicating infatuation
tearing branches from the trees to wave
carpeting the road with their cloaks
press in, try to catch a glimpse
to be able to say "I was there"
no selfies then, but I was there
as he passed by, riding a donkey
didn't seem anyone special and yet
it was as if his gravity captured us
drawn into his orbit we had to be there
then the shouts began, voices raised
"hosanna to the son of David
blessed is he who is coming
in the name of the Lord
hosanna in the highest heavens"
crowd pushing, shoving, dust rising
something of a rolling maul
sweeping down the hill
towards the city gates
numbers ever growing
shouts build, chants louder
people caught up with, part of
well whatever it is that's going on

and then

our crowd met others
those pushing, shoving
trading by the gates
getting into the city
catching up on news
our shouts lost in the hubbub
the crowd drifts away, soon gone
other business needing to be done
suddenly just a bloke, a donkey
so what was the fuss about
the excitement fading
till the next time
and what'll that be

fickle


Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week
13th April 2025
following Matthew 21:9

there's always an off-ramp
when the challenges of life
the demands of integrity
of truth, of justice and peace
compassion and  mercy
seem too great, all too much
there's always a way out

but get-out clauses
come with a price tag
a cost I cannot escape
who I am, my self-respect
when I look myself in the eye
saying nothing of the impact
on others of my choices

I can tell myself lies
polish the masque I hide behind
repeat those distortions to others
keep burnishing the public image
but no way can I ever evade
the mirror-test, the judgement
what lies beneath my facade

there is another choice
no way out, the way through
to hold course, weather the storm
look challenge in the eye, even my failures
ever in the valley of the shadow of death
for there will always be deaths
the little ones, the big one

we may make harbour
somewhat battered, broken
even rescued from the rocks
of our own making, other's devising
but never alone, for sharing the voyage
the storm-rider who's light we follow
and voice calls us home

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
12th April 2025
following Psalm 23

they came looking for him
how long they'd been searching
we don't know, just that they sought him
but one wonders what they were seeking
did the person found match expectation
or was he indeed the disappointment
so many reckoned him to be

not the messiah
but a very naughty boy
who wouldn't play politics
rabble rouse the crowd
manipulate the institutions
raise up freedom's army
take the fight to the streets
in the way so many longed for
not what they wanted at all

certainly he disturbed the peace
thought, taught from first principles
asked the awkward questions
shone light in dark and murky corners
embarrassed leaders, the power-brokers
challenged their games and authority
put the spotlight on their hypocrisies
reveals a new old perspective of God
denying the divisions of 'us' and 'them'
time and space given to the outsider
for the outcast finding places of hope
caring for the battered and broken
those beneath fine society's notice
exploited and downtrodden in life
so reflected the world to itself
what it is, what it might be
mirrored in self-giving love
soon to be shattered
as power took its revenge
was this who those greeks sought
when they came asking
"sir, we would see Jesus"


Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
11th April 2025
following John 12.23
& Monty Python

many the gurus people follow
seeking for some wisdom
touching base with eternity
hoping to, or at least trying
if it's not too disconcerting
a disturbing of the peace

then there are the prophets
bringing a frisson of dis-ease
expecting, demanding change
but which change, what purpose
and how to test their validity
the real deal or some crank

what they're peddling, that's the question
the status quo disguised, reinvented
might's right, ends justifying the means
God on the side of the big battalions
or love God, love the world, love others
sacrificially,  though it cost you your life

not a lot of mileage the world says
for those crazy ways of thinking
when so much more's on offer
who would choose such a path
acting justly, loving mercy
walking humbly with God, who


Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
10th April 2025
following Jeremiah 23.16-18 & Micah 6.8

sensory explosion
sound as the bottle opens
pure nard pouring slowly out
smell hitting olfactory nerves
so powerful, overwhelming
taste of the perfume in the air
spreading over feet and floor
love's extravagance enacted

reception, reaction
his shock at waste, anger even
300 days of wages lost, all gone
should have been for the poor
welcome, acceptance
you'll always have those poor
this was for me, for my death
because she loves, audaciously

what prompts such profligacy
or turns love to faithlessness
no enemy would sell him out
take those thirty pieces of silver
rather his chosen, familiar friend
who'd heard the call, walked the walk
love, now that we understand
betrayal grows in our dark places


Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
9th April 2025
following John 12.3-5 & Psalm 55.13-16

we'd grown up together
part of the crowd, for sure
but always as brothers
together in all that we did
inseparable in adventures
mischief and trouble
or stretched out in the sun
dancing in the rain
proud of our good looks
our strength and breeding
a class act definitely

and now separated out
chosen, but for what
primped and preened
looking our finest
strutting our stuff
couldn't be faulted
ushered in, space made
facing the crowds
silence falls, expectant
a choice is made
divided, first and last

words said, the high priest
in all his robes and finery
a prayer, and hands are laid
sins recited, not mine, theirs
but now my problem
for I'm cast out, driven
into the desert to live, to die
some kind of scapegoat
I look back to my brother
taken further in, higher up
a dagger falls on him, in me

year by year, century by century
we are chosen, unblemished
always an exquisite pair
the finest in all the herds
only the best for the temple
the desert and the altar
bearing the people's sins
though letting us pair of goats
carry the can is a bit twisted
responsibility avoidance I'd say
but this year its different

not goats but a man
and not just any man
this one's somehow special
the high priest said so
"it's better for you to have
one man die for the people
than the whole nation perish"
so they prepared themselves
lined up false witnesses
recruited a betrayer
and readied the altar


Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
8th April 2025
following  John 11.50

plodding along
step after step after step
watch where I put my feet
avoiding what's slippy
those ankle-turners or worse
footing secure, certain

head in the map
compass course followed
way-markers ticked off
position checked
careful at the tricky points
definitive route trod

journey completed
an end point achieved
but missing the wonder
eyes never lifted to the hills
disconnect from the glory
created and creator
this thin place
avoided entirely
wasted, gone


Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
7th April 2025
following Psalm 121.1-2

how many times, we ask
how often must I put up with it
that he gets away with stuff, again
she escapes punishment due
he walks all over people
she spreads malicious lies
distortions of the truth
he exploits, abuses his power
how long until justice, how long

but how long before I'm aware
the he and she that's hiding in me
my crimes, my misdemeanours
my short-comings and worse
sheltering behind a smokescreen
those complaints really about me
best quietly ignored, hopefully
the embarrassment avoided
responsibility ducked

I need, you need, we need
someone more reliable
consistent come what may
certain despite the vagaries of life
trustworthy through all its storms
whose steadfast love never ceases
nor mercies ever come to an end
who greets us new every morning
great in his faithfulness

sadly humanity struggles, I do
despite best aspirations
need to look deeper, wider, higher


Fifth Sunday of Lent
6th April 2025
following Lamentations 3.22-23

how many layers
what depths of strata
are sufficient for interment
it's six feet under for a body
but what's needed to bury deep
failures of omission and commission
twists and distortions of mind and spirit
those things of which our souls are afraid
though we find the old labels disturbing
iniquities, transgressions and sins
whether acknowledged or not
uncomfortable or worse
disturbance too great
to take ownership
a risk too far
easier to deny
to hide from them
pretend their not mine
but I can't forever evade
be on the run, trying to escape
who I am good, bad and indifferent
responsibility, the start of becoming
honesty, the beginning of wisdom
opens the door to forgiveness


Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
5th April 2025
following Psalm 32.5-6

tectonic normality
fractures, crumbles, falls
disconcertingly rearranges itself
the ground beneath my feet undone
all my expectations and certitudes
the very heart of being, my feel for it
solidity ebbs and flows, liquefaction
sure foundations tsunami swept
certainties overwhelmed
ruptured, erased
gone

temptation
to stack up the debris
rebuild as best as may be
from ruins some semblance
of what was, had been before
clinging to that cherished past
dug from memory's museum
while gathering the shards
too hard to contemplate
metamorphic future
outwith engagement
unknown, unsafe, risk too far
not to be trusted, and yet
entirely inevitable

change
adaptation
evolve or die
as always it was
and forever will be
normals old to new
despite protestations
and attempts to ignore
so in the flux, the vortex
where is certainty found
to what can I hold fast
that endures forever
in the maelstrom
the crucible
me


Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
4th April 2025
following Psalm 102.12-13

another day, another bomb, another shelling
another round of death, injury, despair
families fleeing from one place of danger
to ..... well there is no place of safety
free from a bomb-aimer's cross-hairs
not watched through drone-pilot's screen
excluded from tank-driver's fire zones
trying to find such shelter as can be
surrounded by the stench of the dead
among the rubble, broken homes
shattered schools, hospitals, mosques
parents, children, old, young surviving
deemed a non-people with no rights
lives, homes, land, future extirpated
sacrificed on the altar of war
holocausts to ethnic cleansing
those long-harboured ambitions
for racial and religious purity
promised land, the river to the sea
homeland for us not them

and yet, says the prophet
'the people have forsaken me
have profaned this place
making offerings to other gods
filling this place
with the blood of the innocent'

so to whom should we listen, him
or to the politicians and demagogues
generals and war-mongers
are there no peace-makers
not the peace-wishers, peace-hopers
woe-is-us hand-wringers
nor those determined on a final solution
the land-siezers and settlers
the Costa-del-Gaza developers
for whom there is only one peace, ours
total surrender, complete exile

and yet, as another prophet said
'he will judge between many peoples
and arbitrate between mighty nations
they will beat their swords into ploughshares
and their spears into pruning-hooks
nation will not lift sword against nation
or ever again be trained to make war
but each will sit under their vine and fig tree with no one to trouble him'

except they bulldozed the vines
figs and olives


Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
3rd April 2025
following Jeremiah 19.4 & Micah 4.3-4

there are those who know their flock
each numbered, ear tag attached, unique
recognisable, a marking, a gait, a quirk
bred, tallied, recorded, owned, marketed
a way of life, a business, an income
a shepherd and his sheep

another seeks such sheep as he may find
those who respond to the call
answer his summons
from wherever they call home
not owned but following of choice
who take the pathway, accept the discipline
a way of life, pattern of becoming
the Shepherd and his flock

some call him a rustler, a thief
a dealer in stolen stock
abhorred by respectable shepherds
needs locking up, running out of town
or maybe worse
but come what may
caught by his vision, inspired
those sheep take to his leading
stick the course regardless of others
and the Shepherd, what of him?
'I know my own and my own know me'
and when push comes to shove
'I lay down my life for my sheep'
there's shepherds and the Shepherd


Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
2nd April 2025
following John 10.14-16

childhood days
drifting by in a miasma
of new experiences, stuff learnt
a world explored with bold or timid wonder
secure in family, hopefully, friends made
then school, later college, maybe uni
and an ever expanding world of work
holidays, personal relationships
and still the days drift by
with that almost invincible certainty
that even the troubling bits, break-ups
a job lost, illness can all be overcome
twenties turn to thirties, some are shocked
others take it in their stride
rent, maybe mortgage, even children
responsibility at home and work
the pressures crowding in
thirties replaced by forties
forties by fifties

life flying by
slipping through fingers
more grey hairs to hide or ignore
where have all the days, the years gone
what was once easy now less so
intimations of mortality
some untimely deaths
among family and friends
and those discomforting questions
nagging at the subconscious
what has been the purpose?
what does it all mean?
what has been of real value?
in this life? the eternal perspective?
and underneath, most disconcerting
how long have I got?
fifties hopefully to sixties
seventies and ...... ?
'so teach us to number our days
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom' 


Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
2nd April 2025
following Psalm 90.12

icy east wind
whipping over fells
curling around barns
squeezing under doors
past ill-fitting windows
slicing through the layers
freezing breath and fingertips
digging stock from snowdrifts
lambing morning, noon and night
daily feed-round, on quadbike or foot
maintaining fences, building walls
protecting from rustlers and dogs
set loose on sheep for 'sport'
bio-security, official papers
vets, auctions and dealers
a shepherd's working day
woman, dog and flock
'the sheep follow her
for they know her voice'
what makes a good shepherd?


Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
1st April 2025
following John 10.4

heated till the dross is burnt away
the refiner's fire of love and holiness
furnace of hearts, minds and spirits
from which emerges soul gold
moulded, crafted, burnished
designer's plan revealed

but who am I
and what's my life
how to assess my being
my motives and actions tested
against the yardstick, the plumbline
of what's good and godly, just and true
all that's of self-giving love and compassion
which lies deep rooted in the heart of being
the nature, character, purposes of God

just a little something to ponder
to explore, with which to wrestle
as 'I commune with my heart in the night;
my spirit searching for understanding"


Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
31st March 2025
following Psalm 77.6

the list is endless
through the pages of history
women known and unknown
though mainly unknown
as men mostly wrote the histories
women who between them did it all
led countries, commanded armies
designed, built, discovered, explored
researched, taught, sang, danced
painted, sculpted and otherwise created
prophets, priests, monastics
doctors, the wise women
wives, mothers, life-bearers
and so, so much more

so on Mothering Sunday
or Mother's Day as some would have it
we remember them, celebrate even
flowers, chocolates, breakfast in bed
all a bit saccharine, a touch twee for
the resilience, the grit, the determination
it takes to be a woman, a mother
in all the complications and
complexity surrounding such words
managing the stuff of daily life
not just in nice comfortable places
with relaxed cosy lifestyles
but in the war zones, disaster areas
floods, droughts, earthquakes
facing economic exploitation
*** trafficking, as migrants
caring, consoling, healing
doing what needs to be done
to make homes, raise children
somehow keep family going
knowing in the end to keep them
you have to let them go
bone of your bone
flesh of your flesh
'a sword will pierce
your own soul too'

such women, such mothering
is deserving of celebration
so, to misquote Ben Sira
'let us now praise famous women,
and our mothers in their generations'


Mothering Sunday
Fourth Sunday of Lent
30th March 2025
following Luke 2.33 & Ecclesiasticus 44.1

text without context
almost meaningless
used or misused
to justify choices
actions, inaction or
passive disengagement
from circumstances
of what has been
what might be
what is

'into your hands
I commend my spirit'
words from the cross
almost Jesus' last
his ending sounding
like failure, horror amidst
heart-break, disbelief
and yet

and yet
the words quoted
carry greater meaning
of vision incarnate, enacted
'for you have redeemed me
O Lord God of truth'
no ending here but resilience
persistence, fulfilment
and in God's good time
doors breaking open
of future hope as
the Psalmist
writes


Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
29th March 2025
following Psalm 31

'My God, my God
why have you forsaken me
and are so far from my salvation
from the words of my distress?'

words torn
from the darkest places
of mind, soul, spirit
no sense of hope
future possibilities
evaporated, snuffed out
in deepest despair

and yet

the words were written
pondered, reflected
became part of worship
the text of scripture

not the end

in the darkness
a glimmer of light found
glimpse of a scintilla of hope
perhaps discovering
in the darkness, God
as much as in light

a future
different
but future
nonetheless


Friday of the Third Week of Lent
28th March 2025
following Psalm 22.1

"what is truth" the politician asked
surrounded by those wanting their truth heard
and only theirs, none other
no inconvenient truths telling different stories

seeking  a grand theory of everything
scientists delve such truths of the universe
as can be measured
but what of those myriad things which can't

religious folk know their truths
certainties tested over centuries, sacrosanct
rejecting other perspectives
yet if God is God no human knows the whole

and I know my truths
my experiences, perceptions rationalised
those ideas which I hold fast
so don't give me your truths, confuse the facts

"know the truth" one man said
"and the truth will set you free" but how
and which truth, whose
knowing, that's the problem, what's the test

I'll just stick with what I know
that's the easy way, keeps everything simple
alone with my certainties
me in my corner, you in yours, beyond reach


Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
27th March 2025
following Luke 8.32 and John 18.38

searchlight cutting the skies
lighthouse signifying safety or danger
dim bulb faintly illuminates the darkness
waving phone-lights signalling connection
purposeful light with laser sharp focus
light creeping around locked doors
lantern searching out the path
torch of the night time guide
starlight crossing the eons
in waves and photons
signature of creation
foundation of life
then there is light
that's the source
the light of lights
in whom is our
being


Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
26th March 3025
following John 8.12

Mary said
‘Here am I the handmaid of the Lord
let it be with me according to your word.’

there are handmaids
and then there are handmaids
what you make of them
their choices and consequences
depends upon the tale
how you choose to read it, or tell it
child-rearing or parenting
a decision freely made
adventure however challenging
willingly undertaken
or 'choice' that is no choice
subjection by culture, law or force
coerced, imposed, exploited
a baby factory
to be used, used up, discarded

some things don't change
roller-coaster  hormones and emotions
****** changes, welcome or not
the hours and pains of labour
post-partum complexity
the what and how of this child
sleep-deprivation, exhaustion
hopes, fears, love, hate, anxiety
and all the pains of letting go
whether compelled, forced
or because that's what must be
growing into who they should become

said to Mary, said to all mothers
'a sword will pierce your own soul too'


The Annunciation
25thMarch 2025

'For you are the God who takes no pleasure in wickedness; 
no evil can dwell with you'.
Psalm 5.4



this is better than that
more truthful, more honest
has more integrity, is more just
more loving, more merciful
has more compassion
gives more hope
trusts more

all day, every day
we make judgements
rarely ever polarities, absolutes
at the ends of the spectrum
I decide between nuances
my chosen subtleties
of distinction

how then to navigate
the spheres of earth and heaven
my fallibility facing the holiness of God
exposed to his unambiguous call for
purity, goodness, self-giving love
to which I can only ever aspire
in my broken inadequacy

yet time and again
stories of hope surface
those expecting condemnation
finding forgiveness and mercy
an encouragement to start over
not where I am that matters
but the course I set


Monday of the Third Week of Lent
24th March 2024

tefillin, mezuzahs
tied to arm and forehead
fixed to doorposts
carrying the Law
commands for holy living
expectations of godliness
symbolically borne

bread and wine
patten with chalice
aumbry and monstrance
the presence of Christ
in which we are enjoined
to transform and renew
signs seeking holiness

beyond such symbols
outwith the bounds
of fastened scriptures
bread broken, wine outpoured
surpassing desire for control
religiosity in all its power
to find thin places of being
generational becoming
God in encounter


Third Sunday of Lent
23rd March 2025
following Deuteronomy 6.4-9
Luke 22.14-20

they saw the cliff edge
getting nearer and nearer
he wouldn't, couldn't
it's all just bluster
it's got to be
then

the edge gives way
solid crumbles
void opens
the expected
the reliable
the certain
all that was sure
those fixed points
on which we relied
everything trustworthy
emptying to nothing
falling into, well who knows
signed away, lost, abandoned
by presidential decree
plunging


22nd March 2025

shut behind gates and walls
barbed wire, guards and guns
necessities of life
food, water, electricity
blocked, forbidden
homes, health care, education
with deliberation laid waste
destruction raining down
on men, women and children
especially the children
killed to order
death by command
the next phase of that
final solution long envisaged
diligently worked towards
by those twisted visionaries
prepared to sacrifice
people deemed a non-people
whose rights and lives
are forfeit to
political decision
legal artifice
public othering
and military force
Warsaw 1940 to '43
Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem
to be expunged, extirpated
dead or gone

history repeats itself
it has to
no-one listens
while the world looks on
and some plan condominiums


22nd March 2025

envisioned:
a city of hope
where justice rules
compassion reigns
kindness flourishes
mercy walks the streets
the thinnest of places
of encounter
to live, to know
the source of being
even as we are known
locus of becoming

experience:
fighting for holy
places and spaces
temple, synagogue
church and mosque
for control of access
correct understanding
suppression of alternates
perceptions and theologies
the slaughter,  the horror
the blood soaked land
always the land

Jerusalem


Second Sunday of Lent
16th March 2025

of heads

survival of the fittest
the selfish gene
Darwinian evolution
where might is right
the exercise of power
for me and for mine

and tails

kenotic love
for neighbours, strangers
persecutors even enemies
transcending evolution
power that benefits all
a mutual flourishing

and spaces interweaving

I will be your god
if you will be my people
ever a choice
maybe


Second Sunday of Lent
16th March 2025

chosen
commissioned
but why, for what
forty days, forty nights
wilderness fast and prayer
solitude, thought, reflection
resisting temptations of power
physical, political, religious
choose another path
to act justly
love mercy
walky humbly
with God
whole
entire
through life
even death
and beyond
choosing


First Sunday of Lent
9th March 2025

‘Peace, peace
when there is no peace'
you may bully, bribe, obfuscate
enforce your will on those weaker
side with the violator, the invader
cut yourself a slice of the action
play pat-a-cake with war criminals
who dishonour humanity
desecrate the law
pretend indeed
it does not exist
rewrite history
to that effect
but without justice
there is no peace
not for Ukraine
Israeli nor Palestinian
not for anyone
neither your own


6th March 2025