Carried by blood

After Ephesians 2:13-19 

Lost, far off, you

were touched

by the drops 

of blood, a baptism,

drops becoming

a trickle, a stream,

a river, a flood,

freeing you from

law, carrying you

to grace, recreating

you as new. He

preached peace

to you, peace

between you, and

peace in your heart.

Carried by the blood,

we were no longer

strangers, no longer

enemies, no longer

aliens, but fellow

citizens, kin

to the saints, children

of the household of God.

 

Photograph by Alexandre Boucey via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

The Cathedral of Church History – Ivan Budimlic at Iotas in Eternity.

 

“Dirge for the New Sunrise,” poem by Edith Sitwell – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

Fear Not Fatherhood: The Strength and Glory of Young Dads – Andrew Ballard at Desiring God.

 

God of Grace and God of Glory – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

Three Castle Head – Seth Lewis.

 

A Sonnet for Ascension Day – Malcolm Guite.

Spirit, water, blood

After I John 5:6-21

The text says he came

by water and blood,

and that they testify

with the Spirit, providing

unassailable evidence.

Spirit, water, blood –

these are beyond

the testimony of the court,

beyond the oath we take:

the blood giving life

the water sustaining life

the Spirit infusing life

Photograph by Seth Macey via Unsplash. Used with permission.

We are contained

After Ephesians 1:7-12

We are contained within

him, the blood shed and

flowing around us; it is

the blood alone that is

the conduit of forgiveness,

that blood alone that is

the channel of redemption

that blood alone that is

the sources of the riches of grace.

It is all lavished, a feast,

a never-ending banquet

of grace, our place

at the table selected

for us.

Photograph by Anton Darius | Sollers via Unsplash. Used with permission.