First Things RSS Feed - Bill Stadick https://www.firstthings.com/author/bill-stadick en-us Copyright 2025 First Things. All Rights Reserved. ft@firstthings.com (The Editors) ft@firstthings.com (The Editors) Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:53:53 -0500 https://d2201k5v4hmrsv.cloudfront.net/img/favicon-196.png First Things RSS Feed Image https://www.firstthings.com/rss/author/bill-stadick 60 Almost Taking Eucharist https://www.firstthings.com/article/1996/06/002-almost-taking-eucharist https://www.firstthings.com/article/1996/06/002-almost-taking-eucharist Sat, 01 Jun 1996 00:00:00 -0400

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]]> Regarding a Co-Worker’s Kindergarten Report Card https://www.firstthings.com/article/1996/06/004-regarding-a-co-workers-kindergarten-report-card https://www.firstthings.com/article/1996/06/004-regarding-a-co-workers-kindergarten-report-card Sat, 01 Jun 1996 00:00:00 -0400 The nun, you said,
bad-marked your report card
because you could not
answer why why why
God made her or you
or them or me.
All jowls and rules,
that woman. As if
the motives of God
were true-false, multiple
choice or kindergarten simple.

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]]> Resurrection Follies: After a Jim Morphesis Diptych https://www.firstthings.com/article/1995/04/004-resurrection-follies-after-a-jim-morphesis-diptych https://www.firstthings.com/article/1995/04/004-resurrection-follies-after-a-jim-morphesis-diptych Sat, 01 Apr 1995 00:00:00 -0500 In the diptych, I see two Messiahs:
one just prior to his closing breath
and another exactly one moment after.
I do not see the breath itself (it being breath).
Nevertheless, as my eyes stray from one
to the other then back to the first, the result
is that of a comical videotape of gridiron miscues,
where they forward-reverse-forward-reverse
the tumbling receiver for hilarious effect.
My mood, however, is less jolly as my eyes
reload-unload-reload-unload life into Christ.
Then suddenly all dyings and undyings assume
an editing room incredulity: Jairus’ daughter
pops-up-slumps-down-pops-up-slumps-down
on her bed and Lazarus keeps kicking through
and disappearing behind his cave door
like some cop on a Stephen J. Cannell crime
drama in worldwide syndication.

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