Lent
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The Temptations of Christ
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Looking back over his shoulder, he walks from surety into the mouth of Hell. Alone, he trembles. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Craving discernment, longing for clarity–he has Continue reading
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Lent 2017
We are getting close to the beginning of Lent (Ash Wednesday is just around the corner on March 1). Lent is a big time of the year for me. Liturgically, I don’t like it as much as Advent. I prefer the hopefulness and longing of Advent to the repentance and asceticism of Lent. I prefer Continue reading
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Holy Saturday: Burial of Jesus
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: The furor of yesterday is ended. Those who demanded a drama have been satisfied. And Joseph, broken-hearted and cold, has come. He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the Continue reading
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Good Friday
Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? These men took a break from celebrating the Deliverance of God to charge an innocent man with a crime. They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Continue reading
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Maundy Thursday: We Watch and We Wait
With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer. His brother-friends. One final time. Meat and drink and bread against the darkness ascendant. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them. And let the common become the divine. This is my body which is Continue reading
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Holy Wednesday: Judas Iscariot
I wonder when Satan first proposed the idea and how long Judas held out, how many times he said “I can no more betray him than betray myself, but that was a possibility Satan understood only too well. And was it jealousy of the woman at Bethany jealously of the promise that her story would Continue reading
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Holy Tuesday
On Holy Tuesday, the Orthodox Church celebrates the parable of the ten virgins, emphasizing the need to watch and wait–looking forward to the garden. This song is from Jon Thurlow, and I think it captures the sentiment exactly. (Disclaimer: Jon Thurlow is a musician with the International House of Prayer, an organization with which I have serious Continue reading
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Holy Monday
Today is Holy Monday. Traditionally, Jesus’s cursing of the fig tree is celebrated on this day. Growing up, I had no idea what Jesus was up to in this story, but it turns out that the fig tree is a stand-in for Israel. You see, Jesus’ critique of Israel is that it had failed to Continue reading
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Good Friday
Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? These men took a break from celebrating the Deliverance of God to charge an innocent man with a crime. They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Continue reading
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Lent 2015
In the past, I have explored various Lenten themes. Two years ago (my heyday for blogging), I explored doubt and lament and injustice. And that is all good. This year for Lent, however, I would like to explore its traditional penitential aspect further. Repentance is something I have long struggled with because it reminds me Continue reading
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Holy Saturday
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: The furor of yesterday is ended. Those who demanded a drama have been satisfied. And Joseph, broken-hearted and cold, has come. He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the Continue reading
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Holy Saturday
I lied, I guess. I said that I would post everyday of Holy Week except for Saturday, a day in which I would be offline in order to mourn the death of Jesus. It turns out that being offline appeals to me as a poetic gesture, but I didn’t really feel like it. Also, I Continue reading
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Maundy Thursday
With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer. His brother-friends. One final time. Meat and drink and bread against the darkness ascendant. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them. And let the common become the divine. This is my body which is Continue reading
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Holy Wednesday: Judas Iscariot
I wonder when Satan first proposed the idea and how long Judas held out, how many times he said I can no more betray him than betray myself, but that was a possibility Satan understood only too well. And was it jealousy of the woman at Bethany jealously of the promise that her story would Continue reading
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Holy Tuesday
On Holy Tuesday, the Orthodox Church celebrates the parable of the ten virgins, emphasizing the need to watch and wait–looking forward to the garden. This song is from Jon Thurlow, and I think it captures the sentiment exactly. (Disclaimer: Jon Thurlow is a musician with the International House of Prayer, an organization with which I have serious Continue reading
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Holy Monday
Today is Holy Monday. Traditionally, Jesus’ cursing of the fig tree is celebrated on this day. Growing up, I had no idea what Jesus was up to in this story, but it turns out that the fig tree is a stand-in for Israel. You see, Jesus’ critique of Israel is that it had failed to Continue reading
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Blue as the Depths of God’s Love: a Palm Sunday reflection
As I write, a candle flickers next to me. The kitchen is messy. The sun is setting. I haven’t yet started the book I was supposed to read today—that I decided to read today instead of yesterday or Friday. And yet, I don’t care. I don’t care that tonight will be a late night or Continue reading
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I Need To Write Words: a Lenten reflection
A programming note: My blogging schedule is going to be different next week given that it will be Holy Week. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday will be given over to reflections about each of their days. Tuesday and Wednesday will be days of poetry. I will then go offline from three p.m. on Continue reading
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Forsaking God for the World: a Lenten reflection
Today, I don’t have many words with which to talk about Lent. However, Peter Rollins has been on my mind a lot lately, and so I commend you this parable found in his book Insurrection. I think it nicely demonstrates the move we are all called to make as we die to ourselves for the Continue reading
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Repentance: a Lenten reflection
It’s still Lent. And I’m starting to get tired of it. I’ve mourned the loss of God. I’ve accused God. I’ve felt solidarity with the suffering of others. I’ve wanted to stop believing. I’ve served others. I’ve created art and worshipped. I’ve been buoyed by Lauds and Compline. But that’s not why I’m getting tired Continue reading
About Me
Gregory C. Jeffers
Anglican Christian | Husband | Father | Teacher | Scholar | Poet
G. C. Jeffers 