The Seasons: A Poem

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Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
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The Serpent and the Crucifix

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Readings for Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

It seems strange that God would instruct Moses to create a graven image. It is even more strange that God uses this image to heal his people. And He does so by having them simply look at it. Scripture tells us that "whoever looks at it after being bitten will live." It doesn't say that they will not experience pain. It does not say that they will not suffer again. It does not say that they will not die one day. What it does say is that they will not die from the bite of those serpents but will live.

This serpent carved and placed on a pole was a physical, visible, tangible reminder of their sin against the Lord. Every time they looked upon it they were reminded of a loved one who had died after being bitten. They were reminded also of what brought about these deadly snakes in the first place, sin against the Lord. We can see that this image had not only the power to heal but to keep others from being bitten, from complaining against the Lord.

The Crucifix too is a reminder of our sins. Jesus took on our sins. St. Paul tells us that He "became sin." He took those sins to the Cross and nailed them to it - in the flesh. When we look upon a crucifix we are reminded of our sin and what it did to Jesus and does to us. By looking upon the crucifix we are healed like the Israelites of old looking upon the serpent. We are not always or necessarily healed physically but often, if we are open, healed of our infirmity of sin. By the love poured out in that image of the Crucifix of Christ we are healed from the bite of that serpent of the garden long ago.

This does not mean that we will never experience suffering for we will. This does not mean that we will not have any effects from this bite for we do. This does not mean that we will never die for we will. What it does mean is that though we have been bitten by sin we will not die forever. Our death is temporary. Death has lost it's hold. The ancient serpent's venom has lost its power because of the antidote of the Man on the Cross who was lifted up and now draws all to Himself that they may be healed.

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