AS KINGFISHERS CATCH FIRE (2 OF 4)
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12
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As Kingfishers Catch Fire (2 of 4)
Series: Season of Advent
Patrick Edwards
Matthew 3:1-12
Introduction
As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves - goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.
I say móre: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is -
Chríst - for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces,
(''As Kingfishers catch fire,'' Gerald Manley Hopkins)
Hopkins's poem begins with physical descriptions of various creatures in the world, fish, insects, stones, each one demonstrating the unchangeable, true nature of its being. As he hears bells ringing, though, he moves to a contemplation of self, of humanity really, and how as moral creatures we are not true to our nature. No, we've been corrupted by sin. We do not pursue justice, which is fundamental to our constitution. To be restored, then, to who we were created to be we must receive the grace of God and be united to Jesus Christ, that He must dwell within us. Only then can we be in our practice who God created us to be.
It's a marvelous piece of poetry illustrating from nature itself how there is something wrong within us and it can only be set to rights by the gracious work of God in Jesus Christ in us. And, of course, we know it's not just us; the whole world needs to be set to rights. The Bible shows us that the mission of God isn't merely to rescue individual souls and whisk them away from this world, but to redeem creation itself and fill it with His glory.
Thus, what we aim to do as Christians during this time of the year ...
Series: Season of Advent
Patrick Edwards
Matthew 3:1-12
Introduction
As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves - goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.
I say móre: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is -
Chríst - for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces,
(''As Kingfishers catch fire,'' Gerald Manley Hopkins)
Hopkins's poem begins with physical descriptions of various creatures in the world, fish, insects, stones, each one demonstrating the unchangeable, true nature of its being. As he hears bells ringing, though, he moves to a contemplation of self, of humanity really, and how as moral creatures we are not true to our nature. No, we've been corrupted by sin. We do not pursue justice, which is fundamental to our constitution. To be restored, then, to who we were created to be we must receive the grace of God and be united to Jesus Christ, that He must dwell within us. Only then can we be in our practice who God created us to be.
It's a marvelous piece of poetry illustrating from nature itself how there is something wrong within us and it can only be set to rights by the gracious work of God in Jesus Christ in us. And, of course, we know it's not just us; the whole world needs to be set to rights. The Bible shows us that the mission of God isn't merely to rescue individual souls and whisk them away from this world, but to redeem creation itself and fill it with His glory.
Thus, what we aim to do as Christians during this time of the year ...
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