4/14/19 Through 4/20/19

4/14/19 Through 4/20/19

Sunday

No words to say but, Mercy Lord,

For all that we have done.

In love the blood of life out-poured

From Your most holy Son.

Monday

Aromas of the costly nard

Still waft within the air.

In alabaster, what was jarred

And dried up with her hair.

Anointed now, prepared to die,

His journey nearly through.

Forever we may wonder why

He died for me and you.

But love was shown to have no bound

In life or death we see.

And in the broken jar is found

The way that we should be.

Tuesday

The simple crowing of the cock

Can speak a multitude

In simple ways we hear the knock

Inviting us to You.

Exposing how we fall away

Or just ignore the call.

The failings of the witless clay

Or shameful foolish gall.

Make us attentive to the Word

You speak to us this day

And may each syllable be heard

To keep us in Your way

Tuesday  (random thought)

Cleanse me Lord, I must be freed

Of all my sinful ways.

Of selfishness and foolish greed

To offer up Your praise.

Wednesday

Betrayal in the heart today,

Just need to find the perfect way.

Without defenders near at hand,

Within the garden it was planned.

With cover of the dark of night

And torches as their only light.

They need a sign they cannot miss,

The thief betrays Him with a kiss.

Thursday

The gift you gave that holy night

Our sustenance this day,

Our strength within the daily fight

To follow in Your way.

Your body true and blood aright

Are given us this way

That every man and woman might

Be helped along the way.

The Eucharist this precious gift

Is offered us each day.

If only those who've gone adrift

Would come and learn to pray.

So near You draw to every soul

Prepared to wash them clean

Forgiveness as the final goal

Your mercy Lord to glean.

Friday

The One whom they have crucified,

He suffered well before He died.

Through agony of agonies

While friend and ally quickly flees.

The horror of that cruel sight

Which brought about in day the night,

Could not but wrench the heart of all

Who hearken to His loving call.

For shamed and naked on the tree

While friends and followers would flee,

Forgiving those who did the deed

To break the pod and scatter seed.

Saturday

Lifeless body cold and dead

Thorns that crowned the sacred head

Nails that pierced the hands and feet

All signs of love's immense defeat.

Now where to go or what to do?

For all seems naught when lacking You

Is it done?  Are graces gone?

Without Love, can life move on?

Give me hope and trust in You

That somehow all would make it through

To find the sunny Easter morn

Where life and love will be reborn.

4/7/19 Through 4/13/19

4/7/19 Through 4/13/19

Sunday

The dead among the rocks will rise

And radiance will fill the skies

The day when Christ returns to find

The fruit upon His holy vine.

No more will secrets here be kept,

The house all clean and neatly swept.

We'll see quite clear our every deed,

And earnestly, His mercy plead.

Each breath of life he gives to man,

Another step within His plan.

An offering for us to wed,

And every sinful action shed.

For on that day our fate be sealed,

And all our sinfulness revealed.

Just how we've turned away from Him

To follow every sordid whim.

Have mercy!  Mercy!  Mercy, Lord!

And stay Your terrible swift sword.

Grant repentance while there's time

To save these wayward souls of Thine.

Monday

Suppressed by lust, a conscience gone.

To evil actions quickly drawn.

A lie convenient for this time,

To cover up another crime.

The elders in that former day,

Much like our politics today,

Where truth is what's convenient now,

And sin will just, new sin allow.

To heaven now, our eyes must turn

If we, the truth, attempt to learn.

Then in humble supplication

Plead His blood upon our nation.

Our folly then be clear exposed

As to a life of love opposed,

And then repentant hearts can stand

Within a place like God had planned.

Tuesday

Contemplate the cross today,

And if you've followed well His way.

Has the Father's will been done?

In you, do people see the Son?

Has the cross been lifted high?

Are hearts renewed and transformed by

A life so closely kin to His,

They see what truth and beauty is?

If on the cross we daily gaze,

He lifts the cloudy, evil haze,

And shines a healing truthful light

Amid the dark and sin of night.

Wednesday

Three saints of old would be so bold

As to defy the king.

Their crime would prove his heart to move,

And then salvation bring.

But first they came to burning flame

For such a crime as this.

Yet cowered not, although so hot,

When cast in the abyss.

Then in the flame, One with no name,

That seemed a Son of God.

And then, once bound with fetters found,

The three to freely trod.

Amid the flame, a singing came

To glorify the Lord.

A coolness blew, as morning dew,

While conflagration roared.

Though only three who faithful be,

Their acts were multiplied.

The king's heart changed, things rearranged,

And God now glorified!

Thursday

I AM, the One who made all things.

I AM, to us, salvation brings.

I AM, the Way, the Truth, the Life,

I AM, your refuge in the strife.

Friday

My God, my God, Your love so fine.

Forgiving sins of such as mine.

So far I've strayed from Your sweet love,

And from Your paradise above.

The Lamb of God, would I too stone?

Or leave Him on the cross, alone?

I see myself the face of sin

Yet still You beckon me within.

Your heart afire with love for man.

A burning flame which evil can

Dispel and purify as gold,

Until at last, true Love behold.

Saturday

Unthinkable with Him not here,

To celebrate the feast this year.

They didn't know the Paschal Lamb

Would be, in fact, the great I AM.

Anticipating Him to rise

To bring about the reign's demise.

They thought it better one should die

To save the nation grief thereby.

3/31/19 Through 4/6/19

3/31/19 Through 4/6/19

Sunday

Show me one who trusted God

Was ever put to shame.

Instead the righteous path they trod

Led to a lasting fame.

So many in their wickedness,

Forgotten over time.

But good and holy righteousness

Is shown the fame sublime.

Monday

The wonders and the many signs

He offered in His grand designs

To rescue man from sinful chains,

And offer him what heaven gains.

A peace and joy before unknown,

The look of love when fully grown.

The total gift of self, like His,

The way to joy in heaven is.

Tuesday

A sprinkle of the water stirred

Brings new life, of which I've heard.

By just a touch or simple spray,

All our sins are washed away.

Wednesday

Just how is it our God is man?

Who would conceive of such a plan?

No god would ere  so humble be

Assuming flesh, to be like me.

But He is not like other gods

For they are all but useless frauds.

To sickly flesh he grants the grace

To every grief and hardship face.

For He revealed what sin did hide,

The folly of our sinful pride.

And showed the way that we should be,

A servant in humility.

Thursday

When ere I cry to You 

You answer me oh Lord.

Akin to morning dew,

Your love again out-poured.

When more than I can bear

You lend a helping hand,

And bring Your child where,

Your providence had planned.

Friday

Let me not reject You Lord

For in Your love is my reward.

My gain is not from others loss,

But only Yours upon the cross.

Let me not see dark as light

But let me see Your future bright.

Help me, lowly ones, to raise,

And give to You the rightful praise.

Saturday

None before like Him have spoken,

Order and convention broken.

Words of great authority

Pierce the heart and speak to me.

One who knows my every deed,

My selfishness and sinful greed,

Yet loves me with a burning flame,

And gently calls to me by name.

A random thought...

The near occasion comes to us

As simple and as pure,

But evil lurk among what was 

Okay to you, for sure.

Be gentle, yes, but very wise,

In everything you do.

Do not be fooled by his disguise

Or he will conquer you.

3/24/19 Through 3/30/19

3/24/19 Through 3/30/19

Sunday

Scrutinize my heart this day

Draw me close within Your way.

Cleanse me with Your holy fire

Make Your will my heart's desire.

Walk me through the parted sea

Share the angel's bread with me.

Bend and shape the thoughts I think

Split the rock and give me drink.

Grant repentance for my sin

For children and my other kin.

Counting gain as none but loss,

Bring us all to love the cross.

Monday

The wonder of a child conceived

The Virgin Full of Grace received.

No spot or wrinkle on her soul.

Fulfilling words upon the scroll.

Tuesday

Forgiveness in the eyes of men

Is blotting out our sins, but when

It comes to passing on this gift

Our charity is not so swift.

This stinginess will not avail

If our own debtors we assail.

For Master wishes all to be,

His ministers of clemency.

Wednesday

In many ways we look to law

To justify a blatant flaw.

We look to laws proclaimed by man

To do what only God's law can.

The voice of many makes not right

When they persist in dark of night.

The shades of sin obscure what's true,

And make a shameless fool of you.

The only way to justify

Is with the one true law comply.

And teach the young to follow well

The word of God, that we heard tell.

Thursday

Let me listen well today,

Following the words You say.

Taking heed where I am wrong,

And placing You where You belong.

Often strayed by selfish whim

Losing my clear sight of Him.

Hearing not His precious call

To love enough to give Him ALL!

Friday

With heart and soul and mind and strength

Our love must reach to any length.

When neighbor's loved as self, you see,

The Kingdom is not far from thee.

The answer comes within the storm,

The way to love, and thus reform

Our lives to meet the great command,

And take His love to all the land.

Saturday

He whom wind and sea obey

Provides the surest loving way

To reach the end for which we seek

Among the humble and the meek.

3/17/19 Through 3/23/19

3/17/19 Through 3/23/19

Sunday

When the rough has been removed

And every surface sanded smooth,

A shine appears so rich and clear

To prove the Lord is dwelling here.

They saw upon the mountain high

The glory of the Lord pass by,

And heard the words "This is My Son"

The good and holy, Chosen One.

So let Him now remove the dross,

And count your gain as none but loss.

When gazing at the Holy One

Who offered up His only Son.

Monday

Condemnation takes us where

There's judgment and complete despair,

But mercy and forgiveness bring

Quite a different sort of thing.

Give and thus receive the gift

To raise the soul and spirits lift.

A measure packed to overflow

For when we give, is when we grow.

Tuesday

St.  Joseph, man of quiet strength

Protecting Christ at any length.

Spouse of grace and purity

Grant such faithful love to me.

Let me love as well you did

While Christ within your home you hid.

Make me to love your docile way,

And grant a happy death I pray.

Wednesday

Lord make of me a humble saint,

And deep within my spirit paint

A love forgiving, kind, and true

So many see, in me, is You.

Though weakness oft befalls my will,

Thy cup, to drink, I beg Thee still.

And pray Your grace within that time

Provide the ladder I must climb.

A good and holy thing I ask.

For You, a simple little task.

To keep me always next to You,

And guide me in what ere I do.

Thursday

Trust in Him and make it known,

Rely not on the things you own.

For when the day of judgment comes,

Your money looks like useless crumbs.

The riches each of us receive

Will not be with us when we leave.

Except the riches of the heart,

That never will, from us depart.

Friday

A vineyard planted by the Lord

Should yield a just and rich reward.

But those He set as tenants there,

Refuse to give the Master's share.

Rejecting time and time again,

The messengers He sends, and when

They see the Master's precious Son

They crucify this Holy One.

Not far from this our average day

When we refuse to walk His way,

And with contempt we treat the Son

In spite of all the Lord has done.

Saturday

Mercy in the Father's plan

The greatest gift He has for man.

A welcome home with robe and ring,

If we but our repentance bring.

A love we cannot comprehend

Forgiving those who oft offend

A prodigal and wasteful way

To love a flock that often stray.