The Fourth Nail April 6, 2021By Father J. Collin Poston Catholic Review Filed Under: Commentary, Dust and Dewfall, Easter For Holy Week and the Easter Season, Father J. Collin Poston composed the following poem. It is written from the perspective of the man who made the nails which crucified Jesus. To watch Father Poston recite the poem, scroll down. Iron sharpens iron And man sharpens manThis was once said Long before this Man. Forging iron in fireIs my craft and my tradeMy work and my giftAnd I love what Is made. Fire with firm hammerWith much strength coming down And most carefully shaping For so many in this town. These nails meant for woodTo fix and hold fastI’ve made hundreds of them And they’re made to last. As I worked in my shopOne slow Friday morningA commotion ensued Outside without warning. A man being led To a hill, bearing woodHe was bloody and bruisedAnd it didn’t look good. I followed and watched Astonished and grieved What happened nextIs most hard to believe… The nails that I madeWith such love and devotionWere driven to his handsAnd to wood in one motion. His torturers lifted himHigh on a “Cross”In such a dark moment All seemed so, so lost. But something surprisedRather shook me instead He prayed for his murderersAnd then bowed his head. My nails, so simpleNow bathed in blood redHad served a new purposeEven with this Man dead. The fourth nail did teach meThree fixed to hand and feetThis man was a KingAnd Son of God I did meet. I now fall on my knees In contrition and sorrowBut with great hope in His mercyFor today and tomorrow. I went back to my shopIn grief and in tears But later, one said“He’s alive”: And a new death to my fears. Also see New Catholic ‘radiates Christ’s love’ to all, says parish priest; hundreds join church at Easter Vigil RADIO INTERVIEW: ‘Easter and Evangelization’ Share Easter joy with others, pope urges You can have a happy Easter even without a butter bunny (7 Quick Takes) Pope prays that Easter joy would break through gloom of sin, war, strife ‘Good is stronger than evil,’ Archbishop Lori proclaims at Easter Mass Enter into the joy of Easter Pope at Easter: Roll away the stone of sadness, encounter the Risen Lord Good questions, FOCUS and large stuffed pigs: one new Catholic’s journey to the faith Copyright © 2021 Catholic Review Media Print
New Catholic ‘radiates Christ’s love’ to all, says parish priest; hundreds join church at Easter Vigil