Stefan Gramenz

The last and mad times

These are the last and mad times of a world grown old. – Martin Chemnitz, Examen, I.i.2

A path through which the daily traffic passes

First let us get the scene itself clearly before us. The path, which is spoken of here, is not intended to receive seed; its function is to enable people to walk upon it. It is beaten down and quite smooth. There are even asphalted paths and there are asphalted hearts too. They are smooth andContinue reading “A path through which the daily traffic passes”

The bread’s purer snow

They came over the snow to the bread’spurer snow, fumbled it in their hugehands, put their lips to itlike beasts, stared into the dark chalicewhere the wine shone, felt it sharpon their tongue, shivered as at a sinremembered, and heard love crymomentarily in their hearts’ manger. They rose and went back to their poorholdings, nakedContinue reading “The bread’s purer snow”

Good Infection

Good things as well as bad, you know, are caught by a kind of infection. If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire: if you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into,Continue reading “Good Infection”

The Venerable Bede on All Saints

Dearly beloved: Today we keep holy-day, with one great cry of joy, in memory of all the Saints; whose presence is a gladness to heaven; whose prayers are a blessing to earth; whose victories are the crown of holy Church; whose testimony is now to be honored in proportion to the glory imparted to itContinue reading “The Venerable Bede on All Saints”

The plum you’re going to eat next summer

The plum you’re going to eat next summerdoesn’t exist yet; its potentiallives inside a tree you’ll never seein an orchard you’ll never see, will be touchedby a certain number of water dropletsbefore it reaches you, by certain anglesof light, by a finite amount of bugsand dust motes and handsyou’ll never know. The plum you aregoingContinue reading “The plum you’re going to eat next summer”

Lord, It Is Good for Us to Be Here

Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to His disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them He had spoken of the kingdom and of His second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration inContinue reading “Lord, It Is Good for Us to Be Here”

Rowan Williams on the Transfiguration

The effect of hearing the story of Jesus’ transfiguration this morning — just before Lent — has the effect of framing the whole of Lent between two parallel stories. A story of Jesus going into a lonely mountainous place to pray, attended by his three closest friends: Peter; James; and John. A story in whichContinue reading “Rowan Williams on the Transfiguration”

We Know All Things But the Truth

Step softly, under snow or rain, To find the place where men can pray;The way is all so very plain That we may lose the way. Oh, we have learnt to peer and pore On tortured puzzles from our youth,We know all labyrinthine lore,We are the three wise men of yore, And we know allContinue reading “We Know All Things But the Truth”

The World as a Theater

Both men departed to that place where everything is true. The stage sets were removed and the masks were taken off. In a theater of this world at mid-day the stage is set and many actors enter, playing parts, wearing masks on their faces, retelling some old story, narrating the events. One becomes a philosopher,Continue reading “The World as a Theater”