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”
Category Archives: Bible Stories
#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”
#75.13 Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 793 C.E. The Christmas story is when the poor and weak are lifted up and the proud and powerful are cast down. It was the story Jesus was born into. And this too is that story. I take the bones of the near drown girl to the Reverend Mother of Monkwearmouth. SheContinue reading “#75.13 Tuesday, December 30, 2025”
#75.12 Thursday, December 25, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. Some rise early for the mass. At Monkwearmouth the antiphons will be sung by the women’s choir this morning for this feast day celebrating the Christ birth. The guards dressed as monks have their shift change at first light, so it isn’t just the monks stumbling through the Jarrow hallsContinue reading “#75.12 Thursday, December 25, 2025”
#75.11 Weds., December 24, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. The librarian, Brother Wilbert, said the sounds of the people’s celebration of the season escaped these guest quarters again and danced among the snows of the cold December night, then music-ed up and down the halls of the monks’ quarters sending shudders of worldly drunkenness throughout the holy chambers. Now,Continue reading “#75.11 Weds., December 24, 2025”
#75.10 Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. Tonight, I hear the ruckus down the hall as the soldiers, incognito as monks, shift their vigils: two go out and two return with shivers, welcomed by the third pair ready with the ale and the songs of the Christ birth. Even this seasonal welcome with ale is a traditionContinue reading “#75.10 Tuesday, December 23, 2025”
Lazarus Ink 