1/26/25 Through 2/1/25

 1/26/25 Through 2/1/25

Sunday

By opening the scroll we see

How wicked every man can be

So blinded by our selfish pride

With none but greed to be our guide

Without His word, we drift away

From all that's good we should obey.

Then by the time we've gone so far

We lose the sense of who we are.

We seek the pleasure, shun the pain

And search for only earthly gain

But none can satisfy desire

Without a holy cleansing fire.

The word exposes who we are

But also heals the deepest scar

If we but turn, and love embrace

Our sins the Lord would all erase.

His love exceeds our every sin

If we just crack and let Him in

Our sufferings He turns to joy

If we, His ways, would then employ.

His love so deep and oh-so-wide

It shows how futile human pride

Allow His love to flood your soul

And fill that nagging gaping hole.

Monday

How can a house divided stand

When that below is shifting sand?

We need the rock to anchor well

With truth the story that we tell

Our priest not one like those before

But One who opens Heaven's door

With not the blood of sheep or lamb

But Perfect Love, The Great I AM.

His house forever stands for thee

And all will choose their place to be

Within the flimsy walls of pride

Or with our loving perfect Guide.

Tuesday

His family does His Father's will

In Summer's heat or Winter's chill

No sacrifice of lamb or bull

Could ever make atonement full

Those shadow sacrifices pale

When seen the truth behind the veil.

Those offered every year in vain

Could not forgiveness ere obtain.

But One of Perfect Love has come

To give His flesh for all, not some

A sacrifice so good and true

One meant for all, not just a few.

His family we can all become

Obeying Father, like the Son

Atonement full, on cross was made

Such not to wither, wilt, or fade.

Wednesday

One lasting sacrifice to win

And conquer over death and sin

Those standing have yet more to do 

One priesthood that alone is true.

The Mighty One whose work alone

Has earned His seat upon the throne

The old succeeded but the new

A One as fresh as morning dew.

Firmly there at God's right hand

The flame of love forever fanned

Each heart engraved with right and wrong

Forgiveness as the special song.

Thursday

Even more, as time draws near

We act in Wisdom, not in fear

Unwavering with conscience clean

Arousing men to One unseen.

We long to see Your holy face

With eyes of love and perfect grace

A glance enough for hope to live,

But loving gaze on each You give

A light for each You give to shine

A lamp of love akin to Thine

Not kept within some hiding place

But raised to shower love and grace.

All with ears should listen well

Then you again the story tell

For as you measure, so receive

And lead the others to believe.

Friday

Your confidence don't cast aside

But in His care you must abide

For perseverance pays its gain

And drawing back eternal pain.

Trials here below are vexing

Often holy minds perplexing

Yet we know our one possession

In the end will heal and freshen

In a brief and passing moment

Faith and life begin to foment

Tis then we see our native land

And all the good that Love has planned

Turning back no joy providing

Only evil there is hiding

Pleasure brief and unfulfilling

Dire consequences chilling

Saturday

A One whom wind and sea obey

A One who teaches how to pray

He cures the sick and heals the lame

Upon the soul, He lays His claim.

To Him the all we have belongs

He came to save us from our wrongs

A will that's free He gives to know

The faithful friend or wicked foe.

Are we like those who need a sign

Or can we follow God's design

Like Abraham who trusted still

When told his promised son to kill?

We walk by faith and not by sight

In trusting so, we see the light

How man for love alone was made

And how the Cross our debt has paid.

1/19/25 Through 1/25/25

1/19/25 Through 1/25/25

Sunday

Abundance in His love for man

Our Lord has shown since time began

A garden rich with running stream

A gift for man, from Love Supreme.

A wedding feast with wine to spare

Most delicate and finest fare

Abundantly His gifts bestowed

And free to all His graces flowed.

But foolish men have turned away

And tried to find another way

With independence, pride, and greed,

Away from Purest Love, they lead.

The Cross, for love, the greatest sign

His Blood, the choicest ever wine.

No less than all He gives to man

His love supreme since time began.

Monday

Make of me a wineskin new

One willing to expand with you

Fill me with Your grace today

That I may follow well Your way.

Tuesday

Anchored in the hope of glory

Perseverance is my story

Firmly gripping to His promise,

Perfect Love, my joy and solace.

Nothing here of value lasting 

All our choices here are casting

Molds for living life eternal

See within, beyond external.

Wednesday

Melchizedek, no line beginning

King of Peace the title winning.

Priest forever without end

One like you will Father send.

A Son of God this priest resembles

Jesus, far more proof assembles

Death He proves cannot destroy,

Life eternal we enjoy.

In synagogue the wicked scheming

Christ about His work redeeming

Nay a rule forbidding good

Check again, the leaders should.

By far, more precious life for living

Than the rules, but outline giving.

Use the brain He's given you

Find what's holy, good, and true.

Thursday

A priest unlike another one

The Holy, Spotless, Only Son

A sacrifice so pure and clean

A one like this before unseen.

No copy, but the Real McCoy

A One with power to employ

To heal and bless and cleanse of sin

To wash away our filth within.

To such a One I come in praise

I wish to follow all His ways

His will alone will bring me peace,

Contentment that will never cease.

Friday

Among the chosen, twelve were named

But one of them was traitor famed

Ten martyred in horrific ways,

One placed in exile many days.

Of traitor's death in much despair

The soul with Wisdom must beware.

Christ suffered death to free from sin

And purify what's deep within.

The others persevered to see

Though weakly cowards, most would be,

That resurrection was to come

And by the Cross is vict'ry won.

Embracing every cross that comes

We prove ourselves adopted sons

So don't despair but persevere

And know His help is always near.

Saturday

A brightness all around him shone

But blindness struck to him alone.

They led him on to shelter there

Three days he spent in silent prayer.

In silence there it was revealed

The truth which was before concealed

That Jesus was the Son of God

And Saul must preach to lands abroad.

For Jesus changes everything.

The crying voice will learn to sing.

The scales of blindness fall away

And Spirit leads with what to say.

Damascus moments may be rare

But all somehow become aware.

That Jesus chose us all to be

His witnesses so others see.

 

1/12/25 Through 1/18/25

 1/12/25 Through 1/18/25

Sunday

"You are My Beloved Son"

This grace of graces Jesus won

The Perfect One of sinless stripe

Was born to Earth when time was ripe

One born a man in Bethlehem

The Promised One of Jesse's stem

One donning flesh and blood to show

Adopted brothers where to go.

He showed what's possible for man

That humble love and mercy can

Renew a world that's lost in sin

If we but let His Spirit in.

With grace received in Sacrament

Each Baptised soul, by Heaven, sent

To spread the news, God's precious Son

Upon the Cross, our victory won.

Monday

In days of old were people told

In riddles and in ways.

But now so bold, all men behold

The King of all the days.

He comes to show what people know

Is far from all that's true

He comes to sow and make us grow

Into the life anew.

A dozen men were chosen when

His time to preach began

The word back then, and now again

Confounds the common man.

His way declares that one who dares

To love will find the way

The Cross He shares with one who cares

To listen and obey.

So far again from thoughts of men

This sacrifice of love

But as back then, He shows again

The way to home above.

Tuesday

He taught as with authority

As One who knows what's good for thee

As One who sees the hidden things

And light to darkened spaces brings.

As none before, His word would pierce

But not as Master strong and fierce.

As One with love ne'er seen before

As One of goodness to the core.

His way of touching human hearts

A flood of Heaven's grace imparts

A vision true and clear as day

He paints for faithful to obey.

Not like the others, crass and loud

Who speak among the gathered crowd

His voice allures the thoughtful mind

To open eyes which 'fore were blind.

Wednesday

Getting up before dawn His voice can be heard

In quiet and stillness the Spirit is stirred

Alone with our Lord before breaking of day

The ears are attuned to the things He will say.

Much busyness blinds to the world that's unseen

In quiet and stillness much Wisdom we glean

Our lives can pass by in the blink of an eye

And there's nothing beyond that money can buy.

Stock up on the currency needed above

The tender beyond, of forgiveness and love.

Make time to commune with the Maker of all

Without taking long, you'll be hearing His call.

If then you would answer, "To me let it be."

His glory, and power, and might you would see.

His will is the life and the truth and the way

Our joy is to listen and then to obey.

So simple the path we can follow to win

But often we're tempted away into sin

Still worse, is indifference, not thinking we need

A will but our own in this life to succeed.

Just try it.  I beg you  to sit there alone

And see if His will not to you is made known.

There's none persevering who hear not His voice

But to hear and obey is always your choice.

He always will give us what freely we choose

But choosing our will over His we will lose

His will is the best as the eons have shown

So quiet yourself, let His will be made known.

Thursday

The leprosy is but a sign 

Of how we stray from His design

He wishes cleanliness for all,

But we must hearken to His call.

Not if, but when He calls to you

The grace to hear and act pursue.

For when we act on what we hear

We know His Spirit hovers near.

So when He calls be hardened not

The docile one is not forgot

He feeds with every grace we need

To in His mind of love succeed.

His way may seem a total loss

Akin to One upon the Cross

His ways so far above our ways

We see as through a milky haze.

But when the morning sun shall rise

We'll see with ever clearing eyes

His way of love has conquered sin

It's time to let the sunshine in.

Friday

A wayward and rebellious one

Will not be there when day is done

For only faithful find the way

To rest with Him at close of day.

His works are brought to mind each day

Another step along the way

In Him alone, our hope abides

In flesh and blood, our God resides.

Too hard for some to so believe

But they, of love, are so naive

No bound'ries for this love sublime

Eternity who enters time.

Forgiving sins and healing lame

To call the sinners forth, he came

To bring His Kingdom here on Earth

And offer man a second birth.

Our God has come within our midst

But many here, His presence missed.

Remember all our Lord has done

You too, can be to Him, a son.

Saturday

Him to whom we all must give

Account for how we work and live

Sees all as naked and exposed

There's none to Him is undisclosed.

So let us hold to what we know

And follow where we're called to go

Our every weakness He has known

And how to overcome has shown.

With confidence approach the throne

Our God is God and God alone

All grace and mercy finding there

With peace and love beyond compare.

The words, "Come follow." clear are heard

But some consider this absurd

For who with sinners here would dine,

For sure no king or god of mine?

But so it is our humble King

To every kind of man will bring

The words to set the captive free

The words for you and words for me.

Come follow where the Master trod

The Humble One our Lord and God

Scourged and naked, hanging there

Crowned and beaten, man to spare.

1/5/25 Through 1/11/25

 1/5/25 Through 1/11/25

Sunday

Why is it some can clearly see

And so, some others blinded be?

What calls the one from far away,

Or leads the other one astray?

A will that's free was given all

But some will hear and some will fall.

Why is the evil one so loud

To turn the weak and fool the proud?

But far away if we are still

We see the beauty of free will

For love is only love when free

And only eyes of love can see.

The Magi watched the stars at night

But Herod looked to pick a fight

The Magi gold and myrrh would bring

But Herod to his wealth would cling.

The quiet ones could hear the call

But loud and boisterous ones would fall.

For in the noise, the evil nears

But stillness is where love appears.

Monday

Repent for the Kingdom is here

Our God in the flesh has come near

The darkness of death overshadowed by light

The Son has arisen to banish the night.

Rejoice oh lands so far away

At last has come the promised day

His Kingdom has come and the sick all around

All rejoice because now our King has been found.

Tuesday

God is love, so easy said

He takes the form of simple bread

But when we see what love demands

We often have a change of plans

He came to Earth in human form

To ways of sin and death reform

He gave us all He had to give

To show the masses how to live.

But we, like those who've gone before,

We see that Love is at the door

And often just ignore the knock

Refusing to the door unlock.

The choice is present every day

To welcome in, or turn away.

In little ways we choose our path

To peace and love, or rage and wrath.

Wednesday

The perfect love which drives out fear

Seems far away and rarely near

I think of judgment yet to come

And how, to sin, I still succumb.

How undeserving I must be

And why such Love would care for me.

My understanding clearly shows

A fear of all the Earthly woes

But Earthly woes cannot compare

To joy and beauty seen up where

His love alone shall reign supreme

And sinful souls are all made clean.

To trust in love would drive out fear

Make Earthly wealth, as dross appear

The shadows sin would try to cast

Within Love's light would never last.

For sure a judgment there awaits

But Perfect Love our sin abates.

Thursday

We all must see in every man

The work of art the Father can

If we expect to see our Lord

His way of love must be explored.

Not lips alone can make it so

But words of love that all may know

The world is subject to our will

And faith provides our daily fill.

No way to love except in Him

And shed His light where dark and dim

Not burdensome His loving way

But joy for all who would obey.

Friday

"If You wish, You can make me clean"

My wrong that all before has been

I want no more the ways of sin

I want to welcome Jesus in.

The filth and rot which wrack my bones

A hoard of choices bad bemoans.

Another chance, a soul made clean

By One behind the simple screen.

A gift so great that all should know

But few, at best, will choose to go.

So many think they're pure and clean

With all their filth and rot unseen.

The Savior shines a piercing light

On all the deeds of darkest night

There's none can stand when Truth reveals

What pride and selfishness conceals.

So, why not be that leperous soul

Who pleads to be a one made whole,

Who wants to shed his life of sin

And so, a life of love begin?

Saturday

We come in repentance to worship the Lord

The graces of Christmas by humble explored.

For all of us sinners must turn to His way

Allowing The Potter to fashion the clay.

We must be on guard against idols of stone

And trust that it's true, there is One God alone.

Then know that our brothers once lost in their sin

With repentance can turn and a new life begin.

We pray that Baptism, the gift of our King

Would wash away sin and humility bring

For Christ must increase if we hope to survive

When self is abandoned, it's then we're alive.