Bible Stories – Page 10

#42.5, Thurs., March 9, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. The Cottage a few miles from Luxeuil Ana answers the boy’s query for stories of their mother’s adventures with royalty by asking them to imagine a king’s library and name some books. Naming books they’ve never seen? Impossible. She hints. “The Lord is my shepherd.” Gabe announces, “PsalmContinue reading “#42.5, Thurs., March 9, 2023”

#42.2, Thurs., March 2, 2023

Historical setting: 602 C.E. Cottage in the Vosges Always changing, always new is the constant of a farm. Thole brought us a mule the summer after the twins were born, the foal of Ana’s Teardrop and Colleen’s donkey, Jack. With a mule for the hard work of it and a cow for the milkContinue reading “#42.2, Thurs., March 2, 2023”

#41.2, Thurs., Feb. 2, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil When I mentioned our child yet unnamed Ana smiled with her beautiful whole face beaming far beyond that recent dinge of worry. Together we touched her round belly. We’ve been in the shadow of this thing Colleen calls “circumstance” for what seems a very longContinue reading “#41.2, Thurs., Feb. 2, 2023”

#41.1, Weds., Feb. 1, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil Remembering something from a very ancient time, I tell Ana, “It was after the execution of Jesus most followers believed we had come to the farthest edge of time – the end times. We waited for a sign expecting a physical Jesus to return andContinue reading “#41.1, Weds., Feb. 1, 2023”

#40.9, Thurs., Jan. 19, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. The church in the woods The sun suddenly seems to be sinking over the hills to the west, though I know full well the sun doesn’t suddenly do anything. The movements of the sun and the earth and the stars are always so predictably paced that they measure time itself.Continue reading “#40.9, Thurs., Jan. 19, 2023”

#40.8, Weds., Jan. 18, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. The church in the woods Mater Doe watches me explore this sanctuary with the same eye she watches over the birds searching seeds outside the window. I see this Roman statue of Diana looking very much like the goddess of the hunt our visitors mentioned. This is a deeplyContinue reading “#40.8, Weds., Jan. 18, 2023”

#40.2, Weds., Jan. 4, 2023

Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil No sooner has the family of visitors left than here again are monks from Annegray returning up the hill-path, this time leading four horses adorned in silk. We’ve seen this decoration on horses before. “So the dead bishop of Rome sends another envoy andContinue reading “#40.2, Weds., Jan. 4, 2023”

#39.11, Tues., Dec. 27, 2022

Historical setting: 589 C.E. a cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil We’ve been contemplating the Christmas story with our guests. Colleen seems miffed by the ignorance of her own countrymen with their thought that a virgin who could give birth would not then be able to produce milk for the baby. “How isContinue reading “#39.11, Tues., Dec. 27, 2022”

#39.10, Thurs., Dec. 22, 2022

Historical setting: 589 C.E. a cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil The stories that seem to go array in the worst ways are those that are most often told. So here we are, three Irish monks, Colleen and Ana and I, gathered around the hearth in Ana’s little room. Colleen savors the brogue ofContinue reading “#39.10, Thurs., Dec. 22, 2022”

#39.9, Weds., Dec. 21, 2022

Historical setting: 589 C.E. a cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil Maybe Pagan magic was left in the fragrant wood I’ve gathered for our fire here, or maybe it is the warm spirit that is a Christian thing about this season. But today, celebration seems overwhelmed with the Creative Spirit of love. The only wordsContinue reading “#39.9, Weds., Dec. 21, 2022”