5/10/20 Through 5/16/20

5/10/20 Through 5/16/20

Sunday

Exasperated, near the end

Unfit disciples now to send

Without the Way, without the Light,

Wand'ring aimless in the night.

How long we've known, but fail to see

In Jesus, true divinity.

Our mind be stretched to comprehend

That God, to man, did once descend.

But true it is, and oh how grand!

He walked in flesh upon the land.

He spoke about the Father's love,

And mansions built for saints above.

But still His men were unprepared

For what, upon the cross, He shared.

A gift so total and complete,

A sacred, dying, grain of wheat.

Then resurrected, forth He came

And followed by the Spirit's flame.

The men once weak and unprepared

Were bold and now, no longer scared.

For then they saw beyond the grave

And sought to every sinner save.

So too must we who understand

Take up our cross at His command.

Monday

Love will make the burden light,

And sweet the yoke of doing right.

For if we love, the Father comes

And that once heavy, now succumbs.

To joy that's found in sacrifice

And love we find will sure suffice,

To move our selfish mountain where

We see it simply breeds despair.

Tuesday

Sometimes the little trials seem

As mountains in the road.

Our petty little problems scream,

Unfaithfulness exposed.

We let the drivel of the day

Come occupy our mind

Then in our desperation say,

His peace I cannot find.

Not stoned or nailed upon a tree

But inconvenienced by

Some minor thing annoying me

That I should crucify.

And join my little sacrifice

With Him upon the cross

To see if that does not suffice

To mitigate my loss.

Then seeing things in proper light

When time and earth will cease

The mind will start to think aright

And find in Him its peace.

Wednesday

The Vine my true and only hope

To feed me on the way

To give me strength to bear and cope

With trials of the day.

The Vine, the Living Water source,

The only stream I seek.

Who never comes to me by force.

One mighty, and yet meek.

The very life enabling

The branch to bear much fruit.

The firebrand that's labeling

His worker resolute.

Athirst my soul for what it brings

Anew with every morn.

The clean and clear refreshing springs

Of life in Him reborn.

Thursday

This great command I give to you

That works I do, you'd also do.

Love one another in the way

As I loved you in every day.

No longer slave, I call you friend.

My love for you will never end.

As I have done My Father's will,

You too must come to know Him still.

He seeks none but the best for those

The slave set free as love has chose.

He calls us friends who will obey,

And let the Potter mold the clay.

Friday

That day in sixteen twenty-two

The Pope would canonize a few.

A few that to this day are known

For all the seeds of love they've sown.

Francis and good Philip Neri

Both so holy, both so near Thee.

Ignatius with his exercise,

One penitent, and oh so wise.

From Avila, the woman came,

No other woman quite the same.

Writings of great wisdom got her

Named the first, a woman Doctor.

A humble giant too was crowned.

A saint for farmers still renowned.

Isadore, in God, confided

While his plow, the angel guided.

Great examples still today

Of folks that found a better way

To peace and joy eternally,

By daily coming close to Thee.

Saturday
Your word we have to ponder well
To listen first, and then to tell
To have a keen and ready ear,
And then to preach it without fear.

The sufferings our Master saw
Will to this higher calling draw
The faithful ones who choose His way
And cower not amid the fray.

For if they treat the Master thus
No less should we expect for us.
But faithful we should always be
And ponder well each word from He.

5/3/20 Through 5/9/20

5/3/20 Through 5/9/20

Sunday

As Shepherd suffered, so the sheep

A gift, such company to keep.

To find the gate we search the least,

And find the One whose flesh is feast.

This total gift to all mankind,

The path to peace and joy we find.

The cross, that rugged piece of wood,

Our way to all that's true and good.

Repent and turn from former ways

Then let His Spirit, in you blaze.

Receive abundant life and know

He's there wherever you may go.

Monday

Good Shepherd come look after me,

Rebuke the wind and calm the sea.

Fend off the wolf that seeks to kill,

Keep me within the Father's will.

Your Spirit send as constant guide,

Be there to guard my weakest side.

My Teacher and my strength to give,

My Guardian, and will to live.

Tuesday

His voice will call in many ways

As light shines forth in many rays

Illuminating beauty there,

Revealing One beyond compare.

For never does the choir cease

To praise the manifold increase

Of grace and glory new revealed

From every facet once concealed.

Impossible to plumb the deep

For lost and wand'ring little sheep.

But little sheep can hear His voice

And let it guide their every choice.

Then they will find it peaceful there

Where love is found beyond compare,

And rest among His gloried rays

Anew for everlasting days.

Let mystery increase our trust

To see with every point discussed

A greater love than ere we knew

For simple sheep like me and you.

Wednesday

By fasting and prayer so much can be done.

By these simple methods, a soul may be won.

Eternity gained in the bliss up above,

By these simple acts,when performed with great love.

The fasting and praying proceeds being sent.

This practice He gave for much more than Lent.

It gives to us clarity, peace, and resolve,

The strength to hold on, and problems to solve.

Depriving oneself of a good that we've known

Strengthens the will, and the practice has shown

Beneficial in breaking attachments of flesh,

And giving perspective that's clean, new, and fresh.

So take up the discipline every day

Enhancing the power of words that you pray.

Be not afraid of the things that you lose,

But be much encouraged when this way you choose.

Thursday

Come holy One to me, oh come,

To endless grace, let me succumb.

Receiving One, but truly three

Please have Your holy way with me.

I want no more the ways my own,

But only You and You alone.

For all is what I find in You ,

And none, in all the things I do.

Friday

Do not be troubled, trust in Me,

Have faith in God, and faith in Me.

This way will not be trouble free

But faithful ones, untroubled be.

Though storms be raging on the sea

The faithful heart, untroubled be.

He sees beyond the tempest storm

And lets this view of future form.

A way of peace through choppy sea

A calm amidst a dread disease.

A way the faithful hearts desire

A coolness in the midst of fire.

Saturday
When prayer is left without reply
Is that a reason to deny,
Or might there be a higher way
Unseen to us amid the fray?

My prayer, it seems without effect.
I wonder Lord, why You reject?
Perhaps I pray to have my will
Forgetting love means free the will.

Each heart that hears must freely choose
When softened by His many clues,
But still they have the right to spurn
And from Your holy face to turn.

Mine not the place to wonder why
Or try to fix the other guy,
But simply hope and humbly pray
They come to see the light of day.

4/26/20 Through 5/2/20

4/26/20 Through 5/2/20

Sunday

Lord pour Your Spirit forth in me

That all I meet could plainly see

The risen Lord made manifest

Within this one so highly blessed.

With heart aflame and zeal to share

Good News of love beyond compare,

That Christ has risen from the dead

To free the captives, as He said.

There's freedom in His narrow way,

And those who find it often say

His way is best and far above.

His way is blest and filled with love

Monday

What exactly do I seek,

When with the Lord, take time to speak?

Are motives pure and undefiled,

Like unto, the little child?

Or is there selfish ill-intent,

In all the time, with Him I've spent?

Not always pure, indeed it's true,

My special morning time with You.

But You are always waiting there

To teach, and draw me closer where

I see the folly of my ways,

And somehow manage through the haze.

You're always there despite my pride.

My humble, patient, perfect guide.

Who waits to hear, "I'm ready Lord,

To live again with you restored.

Lord make this be the final time

My follied way is set to rhyme.

Repentant may I always be,

Do what You will to humble me.

Tuesday

Now I offer myself to You

The object of all that I do.

Freely I give, that all may then live.

Believing when my life is through.

Your bread is the loaf I desire,

The manna I wish to acquire,

The bread from above that will fill me with love,

A disciple's identifier.

Lukewarm is too tepid for me,

Red hot I would much rather be,

So drive away fear, and let me draw near,

Your glory, I so want to see.

Wednesday

Oh Lord, those wounds of passiontide.

The hands, the feet, the head, the side,

So many lashers deep and raw

A suff'ring like no other saw.

Oh hide me in those wounds divine.

Forgive these many sins of mine.

Make me a herald of Your grace

At anytime or anyplace.

Thursday

A life without the Bread of Life,

Where none can find their way.

Is one where wickedness is rife,

And rarely, people pray.

Their god a distant deity

Who cares not for his own.

They search with great intensity,

But find themselves alone.

But Jesus came to show the way,

The truth and life as well.

He gives to us the bread each day

Of which the Gospels tell.

In simple bread and wine we share

The gift of love divine.

The answer to our every prayer,

The Lamb of God so fine.

Unblemished sacrifice of love

So total, full, and true

Our way to endless life above

For those like me and you.

Friday

Partake each morn of daily bread,

The food, on which, the angels fed.

To every man He speaks His word, 

But oh so few, have ever heard.

Each man will walk Damascus road,

Yet many kick against the goad.

A chance to see, awaits us there,

If to obey, we trust and dare.

Saint Joseph in your special way

You taught us trust, and to obey.

You acted on the angel's word

By love, obedience was spurred.

The Ark's protector, spouse, and guide.

The Chosen One, your sinless bride.

Defender of the family,

Please intercede for those like me.

The blind that truly want to see,

Those bound, that long to be set free.

The leader needing to be led,

The hungry waiting to be fed.

Conversion be our daily goal

The way to make the sinner whole.

Damascus road where we receive,

If in the Bread of Life believe.

Saturday
No other place for life, to go.
You word is hard, but true, we know.
Though little now is understood,
We know it's true, and know it's good.

So feeble in our understanding
Ways of God that seem demanding.
Ways that lead to life and light
Ways against the flesh that fight.

Giving rather than receiving,
Pressing on when not perceiving.
Trusting in Your spoken word
When others think Your way absurd.

Lord we've come to thus believe.
We've seen how You can interweave
The bad with good to make us grow.
No other One, for life, to go!

4/19/20 Through 4/25/20

4/19/20 Through 4/25/20

Sunday

"My Lord and my God", the doubting one cried

Probing His hands and the wound in His side.

Be now believing, the grave has no hold.

He's risen from dead, as prophets foretold.

Encounter the Lord in His glory arose

There's no greater gift, each faithful one knows.

His mercy and blessing, the gift of His love

Our food for the journey to heaven above.

Monday

Refreshed, renewed, by Spirit led

By Eucharist and word be fed.

Proclaim the word, be not afraid.

Of you, a son, the Lord has made.

Be born of Spirit from above,

Be filled with grace and learn to love.

Ask boldness for the servant weak,

And power for His word to speak.

His instrument you've come to be,

So listen well and you will see.

He'll use you each and every day,

And bless your steps along the way.

Be not dwelling on the past

Or all the sins that you amassed.

He's resurrected you from those,

And calls you now, a son He chose.

Tuesday

Is it worth what I possess,

Or only worth some portion less?

This question each must bear in mind

If we, true peace, expect to find.

As Nicodemus understood

When there in torment on the wood

True Love forgave our every sin,

Twas there his new life did begin.

Now we can hoard things as our own

Who can afford things on our own,

But love demands we share the way

Our Savior did His dying day.

That day for Nicodemus sealed

No more to darkness, would he yield.

Twas worth the all he risked as loss

To take our Lord down from the cross.

Wednesday

It's worth the risk , no matter where,

To openly His blessings share,

And set the captive sinner free

To readily His glory see.

So steeped in earthly ways of flesh

When ways of light are new and fresh.

For light brings life to all that grows

As even one in darkness knows.

Yet still preferring dark to light

Instead of learn, they'd rather fight,

And try to lock the Word away

So they can lead the flock astray.

But light can shatter prison doors,

And fear of earthly pain ignores.

For light has seen the glory well,

So those in darkness He must tell.

Thursday

His faithful word we must proclaim

There's power in that sacred name.

You tried to silence with the grave,

But then He rose to sinners save.

The cross you thought His bitter end,

But now the chosen comprehend

His death our sacrifice for sin

That welcomes all believers in.

So you be judge, and don't be flawed

Must we obey a man, or God?

The word we speak could set you free,

If you just open eyes to see.

Friday

Be my manna for this day.

Speak to me, dear Lord I pray.

My every need you well supply

A gift newfallen from the sky.

Courage grant when time to speak,

Baffle wise with small and weak.

Use me Lord to show the way,

And guide me on Your path today.

Saturday

His holy pen proclaimed the word

Till every ear on earth had heard,

And every eye of man had read

That Christ had risen from the dead.

The zeal to share this news so good,

By some is not well understood.

They look but fail to see the light.

They hear, but listen not aright.

How privileged each of us has been

To welcome Christ to dwell within.

Receiving in that tiny host

Our Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

So still the work remains today

To show the lost the sacred way,

And share with all the sacred word

Till every ear on earth has heard.