Backward Mutters

  • Unless I See

    Unless I See

    Today is the feast day of St Thomas whose doubting has earned from some a moniker of skepticism. In my estimation, his honesty has comforted and encouraged, but even more so, Jesus’ compassion for Thomas leaves me full and so very grateful. In John 20:25 we read, “So the other…

  • New Creation

    New Creation

    “Neither [this] nor [that] means anything; what counts is a new creation.” Galatians 6:15 Where do I put all the broken things Which once adorned my blessed life — The furniture of life lived right? Where do I put these things? Where do I put the world gone mad —…

  • To Grasp

    To Grasp

    This sonnet is based on Ephesians 3:14-19. It seems to me that there are two kinds of grasping. There is the taking in hand of something so that one may posses it, control it, and own it, and there is the taking in hand of being taken in hand. It…

  • Your Love’s Breadth

    Your Love’s Breadth

    This sonnet draws its inspiration from Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:14-21. What strikes me about the passage is that Paul invites the Ephesians to do what they cannot in fact, do. He prays that they “may have strength to comprehend” the size of God’s love when we…

  • Falling Fire

    Falling Fire

    This sonnet is based on Acts 2:1-13 and the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost which the church will celebrate this coming Sunday. Pentecost seems to be an under-realized holy day in the church. One it seems, cannot trust to rely on anyone relegated to “spirit” status. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit…