We thank you, O God, for the good things we enjoy in our lives. But lament that our abundance has brought destitution to sisters and brothers throughout the earth. We thank you, O God, for the justice proclaimed by your Son Jesus Christ. But we remember that our world is mired in oppression and violence. We thank you, O God, for the liberty that is ours by the Holy Spirit. But we confess that we are easily enslaved by petty... Read more
O Holy Spirit, who at the beginning of creation moved over the face of the waters, Create us anew with your life-giving power. O Holy Spirit, who inspired the prophets of old to speak boldly to a stiff-necked generation Empower us to speak prophetically in our day. O Holy Spirit, who came as a dove at the Baptism of Jesus, Strengthen us as the Baptized in our life in the world. O Holy Spirit, who led Jesus into the wilderness... Read more
Entombed in plastic My lord speaks Brought low by thrifty men His dangerous words forgotten Divinity branded His glory exchanged for a bar code Cosmic Creator constrained With a tiny TM The Lion of Judah Pushed into a cage The Lamb of God Sacrificed at the altar of good taste The voice of the prophet Silenced for profit As affluence pours Not to the poor But to the affluent In a sad twist Jesus sold at the table Of the... Read more
Creation longs for freedom, Our flesh cries out for liberation, The Spirit sighs. Bring your salvation Into the civilized places, We ask this through our Brother Jesus, The Human One, The Dawn of the New Creation, The First of many siblings, The Redeemer of Creation, The Source of Life, The Conquerer of Death, The Spirit Giver, Amen. Read more
The sidewalks of this city are my labyrinth broken bottles and shabby men roasting coffee and gutter garbage tickle God’s nose like the prayers of the saints incense of the West Bank I’m a pilgrim of the streets looking up from my feet on the way to Hard Times Cafe Somali women condemn the cold businessmen drive through on their daily trek to Temple gutterpunks on bicycles mock motorists students still in bed these are icons of the West Bank... Read more
Breathe into us, Spirit of God Breathe into our mouths that we might proclaim the Good News Breathe into our eyes that we might see the Kingdom in our midst Breathe onto our hands so we can build good things, and tear down things that destroy Breathe onto our feet that we might go wherever you send us Breathe into our hearts so that all of our seeing and speaking and coming and going will be done in love. Amen. Read more
These are the words of the prophet Habbakuk: O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence!†yet you will not save? Why do you make me see wrong-doing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous— therefore judgment comes forth perverted. I will stand at my watchpost, and station... Read more
Drawing in the hot breath of God, My shaking lungs sting Struggling to contain the power of the Almighty. So I exhale the God-breath, Upon those awaiting salvation. Prophesying powerful portents of liberation. Awakening the imaginations of the dispossessed. This is my manifesto: This is your day, pauper. Your empty stomachs will be filled with justice Your lonely pockets will burst with peace. The Heavenly Banker stocks your account With cash stolen from the money changers. No more hanging your... Read more
Hitler and Jesus have more in common than we’re willing to realize. Yes, one is understood as Evil Incarnate while the other is affirmed as God Incarnate. While this would certainly place them on opposite ends of a spectrum, they share that spectrum: that of functioning like gods in our modern Western mythology. We recognize that there is nothing particularly deficient about German genetics that makes them predisposed to evil. Furthermore, while we understand that while German culture certainly played... Read more
Mark Van Steenwyk
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May the Heavens be Torn
The Baptism of Jesus is a serious deal to the Gospel writers. And for Mark it is one of three events where a voice speaks from heaven declaring Jesus to be the beloved Son with whom God is well pleased. Mark loads it with meaning, putting upon Elijah imagery evocative of Malachi, Isaiah, and Elijah. The baptism in the Jordan is reminiscent of the crossing of the Red Sea by Moses and the entering of the Promised Land by Joshua.... Read more