MERCY WRITTEN IN THE SAND

 

The woman caught in adultery was treated gently by the Christ. He did not judge her, just told her to go and sin no more. Just so does Jesus deal with us. He sees our shame, remorse, embarrassment,  faults, failings, and our sad histories. Jesus makes something beautiful from them all. He causes the punishment stone to drop, and encourages forgiveness to bloom. Christ dries our tears, and calls forth new resolution. As the woman was saved, so are we. Gentleness and meekness towards others are hallmark of the Heavenly King. May we esteem and practise these virtues in our lives.

Mercy written in the sand

At dawn within the temple square,
A restless crowd had gathered there;
Their voices sharp, their judgment known,
Each clenched a hard, accusing stone.

They dragged a woman through the street,
Proclaiming loud her wrong in deed;
Her eyes cast down in burning fear,
Her trembling self felt death come near.

“Teacher,” they cried, “the Law is clear;
Such sin must meet its ending here.
What say You now? Shall justice fall?
Or will You dare to spare at all?”

He stooped and wrote upon the sand,
No haste, no wrath within His Hand;
No thunder broke, no angry word,
Just silence where her pleas were heard.

Then lifting up His gaze so mild,
He spoke as the Holy undefiled:
“Let him who bears no stain within
Cast first the stone to punish sin.”

A hush fell heavy on the air,
No voice remained in judgment there;
One by one, with thoughts awry,
Stones dropped with defeated sigh.

She stood alone, before the Lord,
No harsh decree;  no judgement word, 
Just Mercy’s gaze, both deep and true,
That saw her past - and future too.

“Where are they now?” He gently said,
“No voice to call your spirit dead?”
“None, Lord,” she whispered, grief made small,
“No one remains to judge at all.”

“Then neither do I you condemn;
Rise, walk anew - be whole again;
Go forth,” He said, “leave sin behind,
Let grace reshape your heart and mind.”

So too He sees our hidden scars,
Our silent wounds, our inward wars;
Our shame, our tears, our fractured past,
The burdens we had thought would last.

Yet still He stoops beside our place,
And writes in dust with tender grace;
Christ stills the stones we fear will fall,
He speaks a mercy over all.

Where we have wept, He plants new bloom,
Where hearts lay bound, He makes them room;
He dries each tear with patient care,
And lifts the weight we could not bear.

O gentle King, so meek, so mild,
Who calls the lost, restores the child - 
Teach us to walk as You have shown,
With open hand, not lifted stone.

With thanks to Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc7mFbgl2kc

WHEN THE GATES OF HADES TREMBLED

Fallen angel satan sat in underworld-hall, with keys of sin and death firmly in his clasp. The ruler of Hades felt secure in this strange kingdom of the dead, with countless people incarcerated behind the realm-gates. Thereupon a Voice of authority and purpose shattered the stillness with command. Demon-guards shivered as Hades-gates eased open, and one from the realm of the dead was called forth, Lazarus by name. Demons were unable to hold back their captive as he went through the gates, back to earth once more. Adversary satan was livid with rage as he feared what resurrections of the man from Nain, daughter of Jairus and Lazarus from Bethany portended for Hades.  The actions of Jesus sounded the first note of the death-knell of satanic rule ...

When the gates of Hades trembled

In shadowed halls of silence dread,
Deep in the realm of ancient dead,
satan ruled underworld with iron might,
Over dead souls in existence-blight.

He held the keys of sin and grave,
Of every soul he thought his slave;
And all beneath his shadowed throne
Lay cold as stone, and all alone.

No sun broke through that endless night,
No mercy pierced that dread affright;
The underworld, in stillness bound,
Reeked of loss and hopeless sound.

Yet then a Voice rang through the gloom,
It shattered through that hopeless tomb;
A thunder not of wrath or fear,
But living Word with tone so clear.

The demon guards, in disarray,
Recoiled in halls with stark dismay;
For they - despite their fallen pride,
From that great Voice felt need to hide.

Hades' heavy gates, they groaned and swayed,
As if by unseen Hand obeyed;
And from the realm where death had reigned,
One called by name was unrestrained.

“Lazarus!” the Voice called with clarion tone,
While satan started up from throne;
For death itself began to break
At every step the soul did take.

He walked out past shadows strained,
Of countless captives kept enchained;
And through the gate he passed once more,
To breathe the air of earthly shore.

The satan rose in furious flame,
For none had dared such sacred claim;
“Who dares invade my ancient right,
And tear a soul from endless night?”

The echo came like rising sun,
“By Nazareth, the Holy One.”
A Name that split both earth and hell -
And rang like some immortal knell.

For in that moment, unhallowed throne
First felt a crack in carved-in-stone;
A tremor through his deathly reign,
A whisper that it would not remain.

So the shadows learned to fear,
The Living Voice that draws souls near;
For every grave that hears command,
Cannot the Holy One withstand.

With thanks to youtube

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tv4nAZliRKk

RE-CREATED IN THE RIVER OF GRACE

A man on the highway of life felt lost. He turned to baptism, and was saved by Christ the Shepherd. As baptismal waters poured over his head, the man felt his sins wash away. As new life opened before him, Christ stood before him, holding out His Hands. Thereafter the Saviour beckoned the newly baptised towards a new and beautiful destiny. It does not matter how many our sins have been, nor how sad and sore the inner struggles unseen; Christ can heal them all, and lead us into a new life, and life eternal in Heaven.

Re-Created in the River of Grace

I wandered far through shadowed lands, alone, unsure, afraid,
With empty heart and restless soul, where light and hope had strayed;
My hidden wounds no eye could see, my burdens hard to name,
I walked beneath a weight of years; of sorrow, guilt, and shame.

Yet still there stirred a distant call, so gentle, deep, and true,
A whisper through the silent dark that somehow, still, I knew;
It drew me to the waters clear, where mercy softly shone,
To Baptism’s stream - no longer lost, alone.

The waters fell upon my brow, so quiet, cool, and bright,
They washed away the stain of sin, they filled my soul with light;
Each drop a grace, each wave a peace no words could well express,
A sacred flood that cleansed my heart of all its weariness.

In that moment, still and deep, as past and pain were gone,
A life I had not dared to dream awakened like the dawn;
The chains I bore in secret broke, the night was swept aside,
Hope arose, a living flame no darkness now could hide.

Then there before my opened soul, with love both strong and mild,
Stood Jesus Christ, the Shepherd, calling me His lovéd child;
His hands outstretched, His eyes alight with mercy shining through,
Christ beckoned me to follow Him, to walk a life made new.

“No matter all the paths you’ve trod, nor wounds you bear within,
No weight of grief, no depth of fall, no multitude of sin;
I have sought you through it all, through every tear you’ve known,
Now I lead you home at last: as My beloved own."

O soul once lost in hidden storms, now gathered, safe, restored,
Led gently by the faithful Hand of Christ, our truly loving Lord;
Through valleys deep and trials to come, I do not need to fear,
For He who called me from the dark is always, ever near.

Re-created in that river where grace and mercy start,
A new and living path unfolds before the heart;
Step by step, with Him who leads beyond all earthly strife,
I journey on toward heaven’s light; eternal, endless life.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle; "Baptism in a medieval church" 

Poem inspired by article "Baptism andCo-existence" by GMA Jansen (Fr Norbert OP) 

https://sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/archive-files/PvApr67.pdf

With thanks to sahistory.org

WHERE THE HIDDEN SEED BECOMES SONG

Baptism is a hidden seed within our souls, which becomes song. As anchorites within a busy world, we go about our daily chores. As we do so, the seed within our souls is growing, branching and then flowering. Eventually the grown plant of baptism-ship bursts into fullness within us, with the beauty of the Orchid Who is Christ.

Where the hidden seed becomes song

Within the hush of Baptism’s unseen grace,
A hidden seed is sown in secret place;
No eye can trace its silent, sacred start,
Yet heaven’s garden stirs within the heart.

We walk the roads where restless thousands move,
Through noise and toil our daily labours prove;
Yet like an anchorite, still set apart,
We keep a quiet cloister within the heart.

Amid the market’s cry, the ticking hour,
There sleeps within a small, unspoken power;
A seed of light beneath the dust of days,
That drinks in silence from God’s hidden rays.

At first a stirring - gentle, faint, and deep,
A rooted dream that wakes from inward sleep;
Then tender shoots begin their upward climb,
Unseen, yet faithful through the press of time.

Through folded tasks and burdens softly borne,
It grows in shadow, like the break of morn;
Each act of love, each prayer we voice,
Becomes the rain that bids the seed rejoice.

Then branches form where once was ground,
A living reach where grace and will are bound;
The soul extends, no longer closed within,
But turns to God, and lets His Life begin.

Slowly, petals gather, still concealed,
A beauty yet in quietness revealed;
Till one bright hour, no longer held in night,
The hidden life unfolds in sudden light.

It blooms - a wonder none on earth could weave,
A form of grace the heart can scarce conceive;
The Orchid fair, in splendour pure and mild,
Is Jesus Christ in soul of God's dear child.

Then all that lay in silence finds its song,
A music deep that has been growing long;
From seed to bloom, from hidden root to voice,
The soul in Christ is radiant with rejoice.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "The Offering of the Orchid"

Poem inspired by article "Baptism andCo-existence" by GMA Jansen (Fr Norbert OP) 

https://sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/archive-files/PvApr67.pdf

With thanks to sahistory.org

WHERE HEAVEN BENDS TO TOUCH THE SOUL

 

To river Jordan, still and wide,
Jesus walked with humble stride.
John the Baptist, hands aspace,
Poured water upon Living Grace.

Waters stir, heavens sigh,
Holy Spirit as dove draws nigh:
God's Voice declares from realms above,
This is God's Son, Whom all must love.

Yet more than this the moment gave,
Not only Christ, the world to save.
For in that stream, so pure, so deep;
Our hidden souls were stirred from sleep.

For there began a mystery bright,
Re-creation bathed in light; 
A seed was sown in human frame, 
Holy spark, a living flame.

A new potential, softly laid,
Within hearts that sin had swayed.
New freedom born post Fall so grim,
Now drawing souls to turn to Him.

No longer bound by shadowed chain,
Nor captive to old weight of stain,
The will once bent and turned aside,
Finds strength to face the healing tide.

For grace does not the soul compel,
But teaches where true freedoms dwell.
It lifts the gaze, it clears the sight,
To meet our God in living light.

A person meets the Person true,
No distant law, but Love in view;
And deep within, a quiet flame 
Wakens to call God by Name.

This gift is not for some alone,
Nor locked behind a guarded throne;
To every heart the grace is given,
Path renewed, a door to heaven.

And faith - O faith! - that sacred fire,
The soul's response, the heart's desire,
Takes what is hidden, still, unknown,
And makes the seed of life full-grown.

Then through the waters, pure and mild,
Each soul is born a living child;
In Baptism grace descends anew,
And makes the ancient promise true.

What lay as gift becomes our breath,
A rising life from sin and death;
The turning heart, the opened eye,
Now meets our God, no longer shy.

On Jordan's stream, still speaks today,
Of freedom found in mercy's way -
Where Christ first stood, we too may stand,
Re-made by Love's eternal Hand.

Poem inspired by article "Baptism and Co-existence by GMA Jansen (Fr Norbert OP) 

https://sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/archive-files/PvApr67.pdf

With thanks to Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1-cJ_mDf94

ROAD TO EMMAUS

Two walked in shadows, hearts weighed down,
Towards dusty streets of struggling town.
Their hope had fled, their sorrow weighed,
Then met they One who with them stayed.

He spoke of Scripture, spoke of grace,
Unseen, unmarked, in that sad place.
Their eyes were clouded, hearts unsure,
His words brought them hope most pure.

When evening came, the bread was shared,
Suddenly, they knew He cared.
The risen Christ, their eyes revealed,
Is Love eternal, risen - healed.

So too in life, with workload deep,
Burdens harsh and nights no sleep;
Christ comes unseen, yet ever near,
To calm our hearts, to dry our tear.

Be mindful, friends, in toil and strife,
Of Christ who walks within your life.
Be anchorite within the throng,
Pray and trust to keep faith strong.

Recognize the Lord each day,
At all moments, every way.
Faith opens eyes, so that we see,
Christ walks with us, steadfastly.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "The Road to Emmaus at sunset" 

THE ANCHORITE WITHIN

 

Upon the hill where silence bled,
Where thorns were crowned on Sacred Head,
The world stood still, with holy time,
As hidden dawn began to shine.

For not alone did Christ there die -
He broke the chains no eye could spy;
Within the soul, a spark caught fire,
Of fresh new life and God-desire.

An ancient self began to fall,
Its brittle pride, its hollow call;
And in its place, a fire was born -
A soul remade, no longer torn.

An inward bursting, vast and bright,
An unseen, sacred, living light;
As though creation woke anew
And breathed a deeper, purer view.

O Cross that splits the dark in two,
What hidden worlds are born in You!
For in that pain, love’s depths increase,
And suffering flowers into peace.

No longer slaves to shadowed sin,
We feel Your rising life within;
The chains once clasped around the heart
Now fall away, undone, apart.

A freedom fierce, yet softly known,
That bids the restless soul come home;
Not far away in distant skies,
But where the secret stillness lies.

There, in the rush of mortal days,
Through crowded streets and anxious ways,
A quiet cell begins to grow -
An anchorite no world can know.

Within the heart, a chamber still,
Where time bends low to Heaven’s will;
And Christ, once lifted high in pain,
Now lives and breathes in us again.

O mystery vast, O union sweet,
Where earth and heaven truly meet;
The Cross becomes our inward door,
And we the lost are found once more.

So let the world in clamour spin,
Its noise without, its strife within;
For in the soul that turns to Thee,
There blooms a vast eternity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GOaWCRflw

With thanks to Youtube