Liturgical Meditation
-
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
-
One Easter Morning (a poem for my daughter)
This poem was written three years ago, just a couple of months before Amanda and I got married. We obviously didn’t know specifically that Ellie was in our future, but underneath it all we knew. Alleluia, Christ is Risen! * * * not even married that Easter morning as some daddy’s daughter grinned through the Continue reading
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Lent 2016: Repentance
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 the communal aspect of Advent, the shared longing for Christmas. Lent is always more individual, more about the personal soul work that Continue reading
-
A Poem For Christmas
history was rent in two that day–that day when earth, in all her groaning, gave birth to heaven’s brightest star. all the world had hummed along in banal cruelty with only lightening flashes of an alien hope. on that night the promise of a cosmic kairos–a nuclear flash, the first touch–was enfleshed. he cried his Continue reading
-
Second Week of Advent: Peace
I originally wrote this post a year ago. I have modified it slightly to fit with current events. * * * Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with Continue reading
-
First Week of Advent: Hope
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living Continue reading
-
The Virtuous Life: Psalm 1
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; The natural consequence of sin is death. Not death in the physical or spiritual senses (though, yes, ultimately), but the death of the passions, the further marring of image Continue reading
-
Compline and Thin Spaces: Moving in Rhythm with God
May the Lord Almighty grant me and those I love a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen. I chant this line every night before bed since it is the call to prayer in the Divine Hours, the opening notes of my nightly song, the beginning of my movement into the little Death. My help Continue reading
-
His Gospel is Peace
I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: The Gospel. He will speak to us the good news of peace; the enmity with creation and ourselves and our neighbors is ended. but let them not turn again to folly. For Peace shall Continue reading
-
A Poem for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord
Last night I celebrated a Christmas Holy Eucharist with the people of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas. We started at 10:30 and went until about midnight. As we left the church, the bells rang out their joy at the coming of Christ into the world. The mass was one of the most Continue reading
-
Advent Week Four: Love
Advent is nearing its end. All four candles are lit, and the darkness is starting to retreat. Christmas is just around the corner. This week of Advent is focused on love. And, like “O Holy Night” sings: His law is love and his gospel is peace. Amen. Continue reading
-
Advent Week Three: Joy
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (found Continue reading
-
“All Who Hear”
A desert voice calls out Lend him your ear, your heart Though we are scattered stones, We’re not alone So we, the road, prepare For heaven’s eternal heir At last, our Savior’s near Let all, who hear, make way And may these hearts Prepare, a place What is this grace divine? That earth and sky Continue reading
-
Advent Week Two: Peace
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now Continue reading
About Me
Gregory C. Jeffers
Anglican Christian | Husband | Father | Teacher | Scholar | Poet
G. C. Jeffers 