Amy Boucher Pye

Category: John’s gospel poetry

  • Lenten Poems – Becoming Lesser (10)

    Photo: Luke Addison, flickr
    Photo: Luke Addison, flickr

    John the Baptist, in his words and in his life, prepared the way for the Lord. How are you preparing the way for the Lord during this season of Lent?

    Becoming Lesser

  • Lenten Poems – Born Again (9)

    dove-308571_1280The first chunk of John 3 is filled with truth and life and seeming mysteries and contradictions: How can an adult be born again? How are we born of the Spirit? Why did God send his Son to die? Why do those doing evil seek darkness over the light?

    For those who have ears to hear, Jesus gives the answers.

    Born again

  • Lenten Poems – In My Father’s House (8)

    El Greco, Christ driving the traders from the temple (public domain)
    El Greco, Christ driving the traders from the temple (public domain)

    As we see in today’s reading, Jesus called for true worship of his Father. We can picture the ruckus he must have caused among the people in Jerusalem, with all the gossip and discussion afterward – not only of driving out the merchants, but in his cryptic remark about raising the temple in three day. We with hindsight know what he means, but try to place yourself back in the temple, imagining the confusion and intrigue his words would have caused.

    In Jerusalem

  • Lenten Poems – A Wedding Feast (7)

    pexels-photoI wonder how the disciples felt when they watched Jesus turn water into wine for a great wedding celebration. So much symbolism, especially as we think about the wedding of the Lamb, the Lover and Beloved, God and the church. The wine poured out is his blood, shed for our redemption.

    May you know the love of the Bridegroom this day, as you consider his loving sacrifice.

    The third day

  • Lenten Poems – Questions and Answers (6)

    440px-Question_mark.svgQuestions and answers. The questions – who was this? The answers – he knew their name. He saw who they were at their essence. So does he with us today. He calls us by name. He knows us.

    What do you want

  • Lenten Poems – Look and See! (5)

    Francisco de Zurbarán, public domain
    Francisco de Zurbarán, public domain

    “Look and see!” says John the Baptist. He who had been given a special grace of seeing the unseen called those around him to open their eyes and see. To know that this Jesus was God’s Chosen One, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.

    Have mercy on us, Lord, as we come before you during this season of Lent, pondering the gift and mystery of your coming and saving us.

    Today’s poem comes from the point of view of John the Baptist.

    Look and see

  • Lenten Poems – In the Wilderness (4)

    Cedar_Mtn_WildernessJohn the Baptist, heralding the Way.

    In the wilderness

  • Lenten Poems – The World Made Flesh (3)

    girm-wordJesus the Word, dwelling among us and making the Father known. Jesus who brings us grace and freedom and salvation. Jesus, without whom we would not observe Lent.

    The Word (1)

     

  • Lenten Poems – Born of God (2)

    Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam
    Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam

    If we believe, we’re born of God. An awe-inspiring thought at the beginning of our Lenten journey. What does being born of God mean to you?

    Sent from God

  • Lenten Poems: The Word – Ash Wednesday (1)

    Photo: Zouavman Le Zouave, Creative Commons
    Photo: Zouavman Le Zouave, Creative Commons

    As we start Lent, a time to reflect and to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, I’ve been pondering John’s Gospel. My aim during Lent is to share some poems based on this unique story of Jesus with John’s emphasis on union with God through the indwelling of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

    May your Lenten journey be filled with insight, wonder, and love.

    In the beginning—