RickPage

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris I was on an airliner flying from Minneapolis to Nashville when the reports of the fire at Notre Dame reached me.  We were boarding.  When we landed two hours later in Nashville, the blaze was still going.  Notre-Dame de Paris, "Our Lady of Paris," is an 850 year-old cathedral in Paris.  Priceless art treasures are housed there.  The building itself is a priceless art treasure.  They even manage to have church services at Notre Dame.  Wonderful, since a cathedral is a church building. The news reports and the postings on social media intrigued me.  If the news reports are accurate, firefighters were hampered in the initial response because of the spectators crying.  Perhaps they were crying for the artwork.  The social media response by U.S. Americans was interesting.  In may instances the response has been...emotional.  Perhaps they grieve for Paris that a great tourist attraction has bee...

Inspired by the work of Andrew Roycroft (pastor and poet from Northern Ireland), I am attempting to offer Lenten poems in the style of medieval poets writing thirty-three poems, each thirty-three words long; one word for each year of Jesus' life.  Collectively, they serve as commentary on the life of Jesus, focusing on His final week.  Blessings.    “ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” ” ( John 18:19–23 , NIV)    XVIII ...

Inspired by the work of Andrew Roycroft (pastor and poet from Northern Ireland), I am attempting to offer Lenten poems in the style of medieval poets writing thirty-three poems, each thirty-three words long; one word for each year of Jesus' life.  Collectively, they serve as commentary on the life of Jesus, focusing on His final week.  Blessings.    “ Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times. ” ( Matthew 26:34 , NIV)    XVII Passion Week - Thursday/Friday Of the twelve, two stood in contrast. Failing in loyalty, their deficiencies forever recast. One's thrice abjurations echoed by rooster's broadcast. One, his betrayal, its opprobrium unsurpassed. Two saw failure. One held fast. 

Inspired by the work of Andrew Roycroft (pastor and poet from Northern Ireland), I am attempting to offer Lenten poems in the style of medieval poets writing thirty-three poems, each thirty-three words long; one word for each year of Jesus' life.  Collectively, they serve as commentary on the life of Jesus, focusing on His final week.  Blessings.    “ The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ” ( Luke 22:63–64 , NIV)    XVI Passion Week - Thursday With little power weak men feel omnipotent. Bullies they become believing the victim impotent. Their actions petty, the mocking men abhorent. Small men tortured  humanity's divine atonement. I wonder their thought come Judgment. 

Inspired by the work of Andrew Roycroft (pastor and poet from Northern Ireland), I am attempting to offer Lenten poems in the style of medieval poets writing thirty-three poems, each thirty-three words long; one word for each year of Jesus' life.  Collectively, they serve as commentary on the life of Jesus, focusing on His final week.  Blessings. “ While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, t...

Inspired by the work of Andrew Roycroft (pastor and poet from Northern Ireland), I am attempting to offer Lenten poems in the style of medieval poets writing thirty-three poems, each thirty-three words long; one word for each year of Jesus' life.  Collectively, they serve as commentary on the life of Jesus, focusing on His final week.  Blessings.    “ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” J...

Inspired by the work of Andrew Roycroft (pastor and poet from Northern Ireland), I am attempting to offer Lenten poems in the style of medieval poets writing thirty-three poems, each thirty-three words long; one word for each year of Jesus' life.  Collectively, they serve as commentary on the life of Jesus, focusing on His final week.  Blessings.    “ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one...