Baptism to temptation

After Luke 4:1-13 

The hallelujahs of the baptism

give way to the tolling bell

of temptation, the waters

of the river giving way

to the desolation of wilderness.

In inhospitable terrain,

alone, it is here alone

for forty days, it is here

he faces temptation,

temptations to good ends

through the mechanism

of wrong means. Satisfy

hunger? Circumvent

your humanity and turn

stone into bread. Become

king? Here are all the kingdoms

of the world; take them now

and skip that messy crucifixion.

Prove God exists? Throw yourself

from the top of the temple; surely

God will pass that test.

Three offers.

Three denials.

 

Painting: Christ in the Desert, oil on canvas (1872) by Ivan Kramskoi (1837-1887).

Some Friday Readings

“Christ Pantokrator,” poem by Catharine Savage Brosman – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

“Broad is the Way,” hymn by Isaac Watts – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

Reading Providence – Andrew Roycroft at New Grub Street.

 

Worn – poem by Seth Lewis.

Poets and Poems: Betsy Mars and "Rue Obscure"

Reading poetry can produce a variety of moods. To cite only a few: Some collection prompt thoughtfulness. Others can make you thoughtful. Still others prompt you to go quiet. And I can read some of the poems by a poet like Billy Collins and smile, often laughing out loud. 

As I read Rue Obscure, the first full collection by poet Betsy Mars, one word kept popping into mind. And the word was pensive. Take that is the word’s broadest possible sense – deeply thoughtful and often hinted at sadness or wistfulness.

To continue reading, please see my post today at Tweetspeak Poetry.

Some Thursday Readings

 

Looking Around – poem by Robert Cording at Rabbit Room Poetry.

 

Sextus Propertius and the Latin Love Elegy – Aaron Poochigian and A.M. Juster at Rabbit Room Poetry.

 

After-Effects of Fire – poem by Maureen Doallas at Writing Without Paper.

 

“The Old Familiar Faces,” poem by Charles Lamb – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.

Some Wednesday Readings - Oct. 21, 2026

 

Canada must change course on assisted suicide – Adam James Pollock at The Critic Magazine.

 

Painting the New World: The Art of Frederic Church – Michael De Sapio at The Imaginative Conservative.

 

James Boswell on Samuel Johnson: “Frequently Characteristick, and Always Amusing” – Lucy S.R. Austen at The Priory.

 

What John Berryman’s Lectures Revealed About Young Shakespeare – and Himself – Rory Loughnane at Literary Hub.

 

The Real Sherlock Holmes: How an Edinburgh Doctor Inspired Dyle’s Detective – Lindsay Fitzharris at CrimeReads.

 

What Is a Poem? – Krzysztof Koehler at Church Life Journal.

 

Photograph: Poet John Berryman (1914-1972).

Poets and Poems: Kortney Garrison and “Fixed Hours”

If I were asked what the most company themes in poetry are, I’d likely answer with two words: love and nature. Poets used to write a lot about love. But love as a poetry theme has suffered a serious blow in the popularity ratings in the last couple of generations. But nature? Poets have likely been speaking and writing about nature since the literary art was invented. Poets are still writing about nature. These days, writing about nature contains far fewer pitfalls than writing about love. 

Then I read Fixed Hours: Poems by Kortney Garrison. Many, perhaps most, of the poems use nature. She doesn’t celebrate nature for the sake of nature. Instead, she uses nature as a metaphor, and not for one particular thing, but for many things. And she uses nature in a deliberative, thoughtful, almost prayerful way.

To continue reading, please see my post today at Tweetspeak Poetry.

Some Tuesday Readings

 

Walking into Mass in Ordinary Time – poem by Megan Willome.

 

Cords – poem by Franco Amati at Garbage Notes.

 

I Could Ask for One More Trip – poem by Peg Edera at Every Day Poems.

 

“On My First Daughter,” poem by Ben Jonson – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.

 

The Delta Dawn is Always Different – poem by Vershal Hogan at Faith on View.

Brother Lionel: A Short Story

Two years ago, I posted a poem about a visit to the crypt of St. Bride’s Church in London. It’s known as the Journalists’ Church because of its proximity to Fleet Street. There are no newspapers left on Fleet Street; they all moved to the suburbs decades ago. But the history persists, and so does the church.  

That visit inspired a short story, published today in the Autumn 2026 issue of Cultivating. The story is “Brother Lionel,” and it’s a story about forgiveness. It joins articles, poems, and similar contributions by 19 other writers on the general theme of "renewing forgiveness." 

 

St. Bride’s Church is famous for its tiered steeple, the inspiration for wedding cakes worldwide. The crypt below the church has a museum, a short walk of artifacts, and this chapel.

Some Monday Readings - Oct. 26, 2026

  

“Louisiana Fairytale” – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

Anarchist Notebook – Alan Jacobs.

 

Of Course It’s the Screens. Who Are We Kidding? – Lincoln Michel at Counter Craft.

 

What Ten Thousand Commandments and Flock Cameras Can’t Accomplish – Greg Sullivan at Sippican Cottage.

 

The Dogs of Old London – Spitalfields Life.

 

Lebanon’s only church-bell maker on keeping a 300-year family tradition alive – William Christou at The Guardian.

 

The Archbishop of Canterbury (1953) and Artificial Intelligence – A London Inheritance.

 

Little by Little Actions – Terry Whalin at The Writing Life.

The feeding of the crowds

After Luke 9:10-17 

As the crowds follow

and swarm, the day

wanes. The place is

desolate and unsettled,

offering no provision

of food. Five loaves

and two fish to feed

thousands, the disciples

say, do we go into town

for food? How do we

feed them all? He knows,

he knows what the disciples

do not. Have them sit,

he says, in groups of fifty.

He prays the blessing.

He breaks the loaves

for the disciples to serve,

and the crowd is fed, and

the hunger of the crowd

is satisfied, and twelve

baskets of pieces remain.

 

Photograph by Lain Man Nung via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

When the Fall Gets Busy, Anchor Your Family in Church – Kristin Couch at The Palest Ink.

 

Sleep as an Act of Faith – Tim Challies.

 

The Mercy of a Long Wilderness – Vaneetha Rendall Risner at Desiring God.

 

What Draws Me Back: 3 Arguments for the Faith on the Days I Doubt – Trevin Wax at The Gospel Coalition.