Category Archives: Lent and Holy Week

Blessing Ashes

palms+for+ash+wednesday

O Mercy, bless these ashes,

the cooling residue of victory songs,

all our abandoned hosannas.

Bless us, too, for without this grace,

our shame may snub the smear of truth,

the public gray untidiness that signs us up

for pride’s procession to the grave;

and we may spend another year in hiding,

uncrossed by wisdom burning

in the counting of our days.

Prayer of Praise (First Lent)

 

You drive us by your Spirit

to live lost for a while

in the wild beasts’ place,

unpeopled, devoid of markers.

But your eye does not wander,

you know where we are.

In the restive night, you are near.

In dreams disturbed by demons,

in the heart’s decisive turning,

through all the testing time, you abide,

encamped with strength around us,

saving hand.

And when it is over (until another time),

the angels come from you,

oil in their flasks and bandages in hand.

Praise, honor and thanks to you

from breadstone and pinnacle,

city and treasure, ministering angels,

your holy people, and every creature on earth,

now and in the endless age to come.

Amen.

Instructions to Ministering Angels [Mark 1:13]

The astringent is for his feet.
Clean the cuts, apply the salve,
wrap, then tie the ends.
No walking or climbing at all
for a whole day at least.

Here is bread, a pear, a flask.
Try to feed him something.
He won’t let you, I know;
he wants to be pure, but try.
He needs all his strength.

The new four-stringed kinura
is for you, the long flute too,
the drum and tambourine.
Play for him. He likes it,
as do jackals at night.

They all come then: the snake                                                       and scorpion, wolf and lion,                                                    slinking hyena and boar.
They crouch and coil on stubble
while he tries to pray.

If from zeal he will not touch
the meal we are sending,
you may set it out for them.
They will approach and eat.
When he sees that they shine

in the pale green light of stars,
he will feel more like himself.
The beauty of beasts will stir
the hunger of his flesh.
He will suffer then, and love.