A Positively Poetic Priest

Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (The Annunciation BCP 240) Today is the feast of the Annunciation to Mary. This means two things: first, it is nine months until Christmas; and second, we celebrate Gabriel's visit to Mary and her acceptance of bearing the son of God right as we are on the cusp of commemorating the week long story of Holy Week, when that Son of God is seen as king, yet arrested, tried and crucified. The unfolding human drama never fails to be shocking.  This coming Sunday, we will indeed share the story of Jesus' cross and passion, recognizing that the mess of humanity can never stop the power of God. We will hear and read, share and proclaim a shocking story of violence, well-know...

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Fifth Sunday in Lent BCP 219) Entropy is a scientific concept ranging throughout all varieties of scientific endeavor. Entropy describes the state of disorder in a system and its movement away from order. If left to themselves, many systems move towards greater disorder over time. Humans have this problem too. Without some guiding forces or values in our lives, our desires and wants can lead us into disorder, both personally and communally. If left unchecked, our increasing desires can lead us right down the path of entropy into sin. Being in relationship with God gives us the values a...

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Fourth Sunday in Lent BCP 219) Bread has such an interesting history. It comes in so many different varieties. Scientifically it delivers to our bodies some of the nutrients and carbohydrates we need to survive. It is scientifically true as much as Biblically true that humans cannot live on bread alone. After only one month of a bread and water diet you'd begin to develop nutrient deficiencies that would be problematic. Variety and diversity are not only the spices of life, they are also very necessary for our survival.  The same is true when it comes to spiritual matters. Jesus may be the True Bread of Heaven, but without Scripture, community, and prayer, we humans are worse for wear. Our ability to thrive spir...

 Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Third Sunday in Lent BCP 218) “It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters One of the many facets of Lent is looking at our own temptations. The areas of life we know we could do better in, and regularly don't. Not that we couldn't, we can, but we l...