Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. Ousbert and I make our way through the dark, step-by-step with only the light of his lantern. We are considering the nature of the King’s justice. “So, you would say that the people who know very little of this king trust him to judge righteously; while you, who areContinue reading “#78.5 Wednesday, March 11, 2026”
Category Archives: Bible Stories
#78.4 Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. Ousbert finished emptying the ealdormen’s house and now his men have left with the full cart of the squandered and pilfered remnants of his loveless evil. All the people’s losses were the shabby little treasures that this ealdorman had collected from people seeking justice in their times of hardship. ItContinue reading “#78.4 Tuesday, March 10, 2026”
#78.1 Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. Usually, while at St. Paul, I end the day taking a walk at the vesper hour, following the river to the sea. But this evening my thoughts are on the little village just beyond the paupers’ wood, so I walk the other way up the river to the place whereContinue reading “#78.1 Tuesday, March 3, 2026”
#77.9 Thursday, February 19, 2026
Historical Setting: River Tyne, 794 C.E. Cloother doesn’t say it, but I am sure he’s been to the markets where the Norsemen trade and he has seen the displays of stolen wares. “Do you think the Vikings are enticed by Lindisfarne to strike again on this coast?” I ask him. “Of course! EvenContinue reading “#77.9 Thursday, February 19, 2026”
#77.3 Thursday, February 5, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. It is an easy verse to remember, “There is no fear in love,” [I John 4:18]. But it’s nearly incomprehensible in real life. Surely, the quill slipped and it was intended to say, “There is no hate in love.” Hate has teeth and tools, strength and power. Fear is aContinue reading “#77.3 Thursday, February 5, 2026”
#76.5 Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. The Christmas story leaves Rachel grieving for her child. There are lots of bits of the Christmas story. When the nuns read the whole of it from the gospel of Matthew, told and told again by the followers of Jesus escaping Romans in Judah it calls for pondering, not justContinue reading “#76.5 Tuesday, January 13, 2026”
#76.4 Thursday, January 8, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. The grieving girl tells her story. “The Christmas bells rang just then, same as when he was born that night when them nuns called me “Mary.” That baby were then, warm and wide-eyed, wiggling and wriggling alive; such a sweet babe he were. But then, the bells ring andContinue reading “#76.4 Thursday, January 8, 2026”
#76.3 Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. The young woman slipped out of the chains and she could have leapt from the tower to her certain death, but apparently, she chose to run toward the river. I’m following the tracks in the snow. The rising sun flushes the sky behind me in the fresh light of aContinue reading “#76.3 Wednesday, January 7, 2026”
#76.1 Thursday, January 1, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. Is this a magical time of year because of the particular songs and stories? I don’t think the season that Christians call the Christ Mass is sacred simply by edict or calendar. Now is when the sun begins a new light overtaking old darkness. There is no papal edict toContinue reading “#76.1 Thursday, January 1, 2026”
#75.14 Weds., December 31, 2025
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 793 C.E. The Reverend Mother, asks me how I know this woman I brought here to them. “The guards rescued her from the sea and I went down to help them but I don’t know her.” “We know her here. Last winter she came to us in labor and theContinue reading “#75.14 Weds., December 31, 2025”
Lazarus Ink 