The Unpardonable Sin

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This resource relating to Mark 3:20-35 provides a poem by Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931) condemning violence committed in the name of religion and a poem by Li-Young Lee highlighting love and faith in the midst of loss.
Paid Resource: 
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Lectionary: 
Revised Common Lectionary
Source: 
Englewood Review
Related to Children or Youth: 
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Audio/Video: 
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Full Text: 
*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Mark 3:20-35 CLASSIC POEM: The Unpardonable Sin Vachel Lindsay This is the sin against the Holy Ghost:- To speak of bloody power as right divine, And call on God to guard each vile chief’s house, And for such chiefs, turn men to wolves and swine:- To go forth killing in White Mercy’s name, Making the trenches stink with spattered brains, Tearing the nerves and arteries apart, Sowing with flesh the unreaped golden plains. In any Church’s name, to sack fair towns, And turn each home into a screaming sty, To make the little children fugitive, And have their mothers for a quick death cry,- This is the sin against the Holy Ghost: This is the sin no purging can atone:- To send forth rapine in the name of Christ:- To set the face, and make the heart a stone. *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: Three Words Li-Young Lee SNIPPET: God-My-Father gave me three words: O-My-Love O-My-God Holy-Holy-Holy. God-My-Mother’s wounds will never heal. God-My-Brother is always alone in the library. Meanwhile, I can’t remember how many brothers I have. … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]
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Primary Author
Author: 
Vachel Lindsay
role: 
Primary Author
Author: 
Li-Young Lee
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Key Scriptures: 
Mark 3:20-35
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RCL Lectionary Week: 
Year B Proper 5 (Ordinary Time 10)
Date: 
Tuesday, June 4, 2024