Mary, on Resurrection Morning

The presence of angels was a trifle to Mary, who had only one thought – the absence of her Lord.  Surely, that touch in her unmoved answer, as if speaking to men, is beyond the reach of art.  She says “My Lord” now, and “I know not,” but, otherwise, repeats her former words, unmoved by [...]

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Forgetfulness of Blessings

Unbelief has a short memory.  The Red Sea is forgotten in a month.  The Israelites could strike their timbrels and sing their lyric of praise, but they could not believe that today’s hunger could be satisfied.  Discontent has a slippery memory.  They wish to get back to the flesh-pots, of which the savor is in [...]

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On the Nature of Sin

We talk about “responsibility” and “guilt” and “consequences that can never be effaced,” and the like.  And all these abstract and quasi-philosophical terms are implied in the grim, tremendous metaphor of my text: “If thou doest not well, a tiger, a wild beast, is crouching at thy door.”  We are all apt to be deceived [...]

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