6 Comments
User's avatar
martha blacklock's avatar

Unholy Week (for Harvey, just starting seminary)

When you’re a priest

your voice must carry

the words clearly

to the people’s ears.

(Past that it’s up to them.)

You must say

died

before he died

bread

broken

poured out

You must say

body

You must say

blood.

Do we not know that we are baptized into Christ’s death?

We do.

We have renounced

-Satan and the spiritual forces of wickedness

-the evil powers of the world which corrupt and destroy the creatures

-all sinful desires

Easter’s coming, we hear,

despite what we see.

You must read the holy words

in the unspeakable world this week

that cries out:

Gaza

ICE

revoked

rented prison

death camp

Cries out

no bread

no mercy

blood

and more blood

I am too old, thank God,

to have to read appointed words

through weeping that this week

overtakes me, and will not stop.

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Kaeton's avatar

Oh, Martha! Oh, my. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Michael Cudney's avatar

As I get balder and grayer and deafer, it gets harder and harder to refer to junior clergy, many in their twenties, ‘Mother’ or ‘Father’. My son is older than they are! (The clergy here will get a sermon by Bp Mary Glasspool. They're so lucky.)

Expand full comment
Eunice Dunlap's avatar

I’m skipping renewal of vows today. I just can’t drive 2 1/2 hours each way and then stay for lunch (okra soup🤢). There’s just too much to be done.

Expand full comment
Maura Casey's avatar

I was reading this morning how the administration is closing Head Start regional offices around the country. And your column gave me a vision of people, clergy, leaders of the faith washing the feet of those in need. And I tried to imagine Trump washing the feet of anyone. It would be good for him, and all leaders, everywhere, to do so.

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Kaeton's avatar

One needs humility - more than a soupçon of it - to wash another's feet. I fear Old King Donald does not have the qualifications. He does, however, have the need.

I often wonder: Who hurt him? Or, perhaps, who hurt him most? What a broken soul.

Expand full comment