OPreach
Dominican Preaching through Word and Image
Tag: nature
What Do Calvary and Bethlehem Have in Common?
And on Christmas Eve, this simple thought: I searched God’s lexicon to fathom “Bethlehem” and “Calvary.” It simply said: See “Love.” – Gordon Gilsdorf
Presence
Presence by Stephen Leake Across the dark, a robin learns the Winter. A candle dissolves; frank and sensuous Against the extending light. The streets remain illegible with snow. I travel through you; uncurling Where weather decorates the night And naves of Christmas pines Grasp… Continue Reading “Presence”
The Slip
I love Wendell Berry’s poetry, so I was delighted to find this in the Advent collection on Education for Justice. The river takes the land, and leaves nothing. Where the great slip gave way in the bank and an acre disappeared, all human plans… Continue Reading “The Slip”
Prayer: A Progression
This Jessica Powers poem was found on the Education for Justice website. Prayer: A Progression You came by night, harsh with the need of grace, into the dubious presence of your Maker. You combed a small and pre-elected acre for some bright word of… Continue Reading “Prayer: A Progression”
Advent Calendar
I remember the Advent Calendar of my childhood. Mother would pull it out of the box of decorations every year, and every day I would open a new window or door and see the delightful picture behind it. I don’t recall that it felt… Continue Reading “Advent Calendar”
How Do We Prepare?
Advent 1955 By John Betjeman The Advent wind begins to stir With sea-like sounds in our Scotch fir, It’s dark at breakfast, dark at tea, And in between we only see Clouds hurrying across the sky And rain-wet roads the wind blows dry And… Continue Reading “How Do We Prepare?”
I Await
“Expectans Expectavi”, by Anne Ridler The candid freezing season again: Candle and cracker, needles of fir and frost; Carols that through the night air pass, piercing The glassy husk of heart and heaven; Children’s faces white in the pane, bright in the tree-light. And… Continue Reading “I Await”
Advent in the Air
This is but an excerpt from the Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem entitled, “The Blessed Virgin compared to the Air We Breathe”, found on the Education for Justice website. WILD air, world-mothering air, Nestling me everywhere, That each eyelash or hair Girdles; goes home betwixt… Continue Reading “Advent in the Air”
Advent by Stephen Leake
Somewhere your star-struck choir sings As the evening unpeels our histories. The world is here again! I feel the breathing of yuletide fires, The ribboned refrains of seasoned candles And bars of voices beyond St. Stephen’s Wall. The robin appears in a globe of… Continue Reading “Advent by Stephen Leake”
The Chemistry of Gratitude
Grateful living: an alchemic operation of converting “disgraceful” things into grateful events. – Raimundo Panikkar
OPreach 