Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
Scott CairnsDecember 12, 2005

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:
and they were sore afraid.

Whenever we aver the God is nigh,
do we imply that He is ever otherwise?

When, in scripture, God’s anger is said
to be aroused, just how do you take that?

Ifwhether now or in the fullnesswe
stipulate that God is all in all, just where

or how would you position Hell? Which
is betterto break the law and soothe

the wounded neighbor, or to keep the law
and cause the neighbor pain? Do you mean it?

If another sins, what is that to you?
When the sinful suffer publicly, do you

find secret comfort in their grief, or will
you also weep? They are surely grieving;

are you weeping now? Assuming sin is sin,
whose do you condemn? Who is judge? Who

will feed the lambs? The sheep? Who, the goats?
Who will sell and give? Who will be denied?

Whose image haunts the mirror? And why
are you still here? What exactly do you hope

to become? When will you begin?

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.

The latest from america

President Donald Trump speaks as a flag pole is installed on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
As I write, Mr. Trump is declaring that “nobody knows” what he is going to do about Iran. I fear that “nobody” includes him.
Sam Sawyer, S.J.June 18, 2025
A Homily for the Feast of Corpus Christi, by Father Terrance Klein
Terrance KleinJune 18, 2025
”Catholics across the ideological spectrum have expressed hope that Leo will be able to heal some of the divisions that emerged during the pontificate of his predecessor, Pope Francis.”
Monsignor Ray East, left, in front of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.; Nathan East performs with Toto in Amsterdam on June 8, 2013 (photos: Nathan East/WENN Rights Ltd/Alamy)
For Monsignor Ray East and his brother Nathan, their faith feeds their music and their music feeds their faith.
Mike Jordan LaskeyJune 18, 2025