1/8/23 Through 1/14/23

 1/8/23 Through 1/14/23

Sunday

Come ye all from every land

Obey His word and each command

See the King anew has come

For God has sent His only Son.

Dawn has broken from on high

His star has risen in the sky

Let kings on earth be humbled now

And kings of earth before Him bow.

Oh star of Bethlehem rejoice

All listen now to hear His voice

The King of kings we must obey

For all on earth shall see decay.

But those who place their trust in He

Forever fresh will always be.

The moth and worm on earth destroy

But none can fade what we enjoy.

Monday

The way has been prepared quite well

Of this the Bible stories tell

So too, by those who came before

And taught to love forevermore.

But choice in every life is made

To follow how the Savior bade

Or choose a way of selfish sin

Not welcoming the Spirit in.

I pray that I may so prepare

A way that shows how much I care

A way that leads the young to know

The way of love that they should go.

Tuesday

All evil subject to his word

The demons all around have heard

That One  with great authority

Has come to set the captives free.

Wednesday

Not one that suffers more than He

But those rejecting of His plea

To take His yoke and burden light

And find the pathway through the night.

For suffering that comes our way

Can be for us the light of day

To make us more and more like He

Who died for us upon the tree.

Thursday

For all you've seen and yet you turn

When will this people ever learn?

The signs are clear, the Savior's come

Yet still the soul remains as numb.

What work could e're convince the mind

The gift of sight for one born blind,

A corpse arising from the dead,

Or One's true flesh as simple bread?

The poor believe because they see.

In all His works, the way to Thee

The perfect love that soothes the soul

And makes the broken sinner whole.

So wait no longer come and know

The way to peace and love we go.

By giving all we thus receive

The boundless love to which we cleave.

Friday

We enter into rest with Him

By turning from the dark and dim.

By trusting in the way He leads

And taking daily what He feeds

For sure our sins He does forgive

That we might truly learn to live

With mercy always ready found

Where Christ as King alone is crowned.

It's there that rest is truly known

Where love is always ready shown

Where all will place the other fore

And never heard are sounds of war.

Saturday

Two simple words of "Follow Me"

Would set the tax collector free

To each the same two words are said

That hungry souls be richly fed.

How sharp the words that slice between

The joints and marrow cutting clean

With soul and spirit severed there

To show our nakedness so bare

His word when sifted every day

Will prune and trim in that same way

And draw us always further in

To turn us always far from sin.

1/1/23 Through 1/7/23

 1/1/23 Through 1/7/23

Sunday

The glorious title of Mother of God

Belongs to the Virgin the angels applaud

Whose "Yes" brought the world a Savior anew

And the One, from the cross, made her Mother of you.

Monday

Be one that clearly points the way

So all would learn and know to pray

Like John who daily called to turn

That man forever would not burn

So few today that know the way

That daily now have learned to pray

If we neglect Good News to share

Then we as well had best beware

Our labors too must point the way

To those we meet throughout the day

So all can see how we behave

To conquer o'er the waiting grave.

Tuesday

To be like Him, the Lamb of God

These gracious words my heart applaud

For what a gift to be as one

With God's most holy, precious Son.

But this He offers every time

The bells up in the steeple chime

And yet the few alone will find

The gift to which the most are blind

Let those in bondage wake and see

This daily gift of God to thee

Then come and feast upon this bread

The bread on which the angels fed.

Wednesday

What are you looking for, what do you seek?

One who is wealthy, handsome, and sleek?

Come with me and follow, then your eyes will see

All the world is hollow, solid though is Me.

Something that was seen in me

To catch the Master's eye

A something that would come to be

If love would purify

Thursday

To love one another, the duty of man

To treat as a brother the poor when you can

To suffer, enduring the wait and the pain

Is none but ensuring your heavenly gain.

Compassion and love are the roots of the gain

Our strength from above that never shall wane.

The Father will give what our labors deserve

He wants us to live without keeping reserve.

Friday

Eternal life that you may know

He came to earth to clearly show

Revealing how the all we own

Is love of God for man that's shown

The light that's hid so well by sin

Will welcome those repentant in

Then all that share this light of day

To perfect peace will find their way.

God has shown me many things

But all this knowledge ever brings

Is just how far I still must go

To all His love and power know.

Saturday

All grace, oh Mary, flows through you

All beauty here on earth, so too.

For God Himself took flesh in you

To save us from the wrong we do.

The majesty of mountains high

That reach unto the waiting sky

Cannot eclipse the yes you gave

That all in sin, your Son would save.

No beauty here on earth below

Compares to that above you know

For one no sin has touched is clean

A beauty only you have seen

12/25/22 Through 12/31/22

 12/25/22 Through 12/31/22

Sunday

This day is here, A Savior born

His name Emmanuel

In darkness 'fore the chilly morn

The shepherd folk did tell

The Bread of Life, in manger, laid

No room among the inns

To Him have generations bade

Forgiveness of their sins.

Monday

With peaceful and courageous hearts

Our Lord of lords the grace imparts

To speak when trials come our way

By giving us the words to say.

The martyrs many lost their lives 

But when the final time arrives

The words they speak have come from God

And perseverance we applaud.

Tuesday

The faith and love of blessed John

The one who laid his head upon

The breast of Perfect Love that day

When Judas chose another way

Such faith and love can teach us now

To make our will, to His will bow

Dear John surrendered giving all,

But Judas spurned the loving call.

So many times I turn away

And follow not the Savior's way

Forgive, forgive, forgive me Lord

To pay this debt I can't afford

Wednesday

Hostile place becomes a haven

Once rejected, now received

Penalties on Pharoah craven

Hope for those who now believed.

Innocents in bitter dying

Suffer in the Savior's stead

But forever they are crying

Christ came to the House of Bread

In Eternal Light they glory

While in anguish far below

Obstinent repeat their story,

Though the truth they clearly know

Here today the Herods many

Truth they claim to make their own

Two one day be worth a penny

When at last real truth is known.

Thursday

And Joseph humbly there obeyed

In silent waiting, there he prayed

While Babe and mother there were praised

In silence, onward, there he gazed.

Convinced to do His holy will

Not as a hack or shameless shill

But one in trusting humble hope

That always found a way to cope

For many trials came his way

But he would listen every day

To hear the tiny whisper sound

That told him how the way was found

That whisper sound can still be heard

It often comes within the Word

But daily we must seek to find

The piece that offers peace of mind.

Friday

A holy family to be

The ever-present goal for me

Have I been what I ought to be

For such a family to see?

Well, sometimes yes and sometimes no

But that's the way it seems to go

Trouble comes when pride arises

In its many sly disguises

If humility was reigning

Troubles all would soon be waning

Make me one humble, wise, and true

That seeing me, they all see You.

Saturday

The Word is there in every way

At every hour throughout the day

Those who call shall hear His voice

To guide their every daily choice

So call on Him in all you do

Let not the evil capture you

For many come and falsely say

Come follow me, I am the way.

But only One in truth we know

That humbly to the Cross would go

To show His love that knows no bound

So love for all could then be found.

12/18/22 Through 12/24/22

 12/18/22 Through 12/24/22

Sunday

Here for but His holy will,

We tend, our days, with fluff to fill

Ignoring that created for

Yet always grabbing more and more.

As Joseph did, so we should do

Forsaking what we want for You.

For You will give the hungry food

To all the ways of death elude.

Monday

A Nazarite the child shall be

One dedicated unto Thee.

He'll drink no whiskey, wine, or beer

And man or beast he shall not fear.

The way, he'll make as straight and true

From here, a pathway unto You.

Once barren womb, be filled with joy

For great shall be this little boy.

But worldly look at him each day

And mock his poor and humble way

They fail to listen to his call,

"Repent, or evil shall befall."

Tuesday

Ask for a sign as deep as the sea

Know that the Lord, out-done will not be.

Ask for a sign as high as the sky

Know that the Lord astonishes eye.

Wednesday

Joy is to know Him and know that He loves

In Him, surrounded like fingers in gloves.

Rejoicing and dancing for wills that align

Tis then that the joy of the Lord becomes mine.

For hark, my lover speaks to me,

Arise my dove and come to see

The winter's past and rains have gone

The vine has put her flowers on.

No other joy as such is known

When tender stem is fully grown

And wills align for now they see

Twas You, that motivated me.

Thursday

My soul, His greatness, ere proclaims

My humble heart His love inflames

All generations call me blest

That God Himself would be my guest.

His mercy shown in every day

He comes to each a different way

Exalting low and humbling high

A sign for all the Lord is nigh

The proud He scattered in conceit

The mighty fall in grim defeat

The hungry filled with all that's good

The poor now stand where wealthy stood

His promise faithful, always true

He makes this fallen world anew

That all might praise forevermore

And all the One True God adore.

Friday

Fathers turn hearts of children to God

Thus will they learn to His mercies applaud.

Fathers be gentle and humble, and kind

That children the Lord of all lords they may find

Fathers be faithful and loving and true

For children are watching the all that you do.

When little ones grow to be mothers and men

The story repeats again and again.

So do what you can on earth here below

That all of your children, the Savior, would know.

For faith is a legacy fathers pass on

It's their duty to God for the here and beyond.

Saturday

Separation from God from the earliest time

For all who committed their crime after crime.

Pushed away by the evil that man had embraced

The people of God, only darkness now faced.

But loved by their God these children of men

Somehow found hope in His promises when

Their evil was multiplied time after time

And the pit was so deep that no one could climb.

But dawn was soon breaking for morning had come.

The King, to the earth, was sending His Son.

With gift of forgiveness for all of our sin,

The gift that would let us common folk in.

12/11/22 Through 12/17/22

 12/11/22 Through 12/17/22

Sunday

Rejoice, Rejoice in all you do,

In all the ways He comes to you.

For though not in the way we think,

Before great evil will not shrink.

He conquers in humility

Unlike the ways of you or me

His strength revealed through sufferings

That patient perseverence brings.

We too are called to live this way

With love the rule for every day

To see the poor and lame relieved

And Christ as King of all believed

Monday

This may be sung to the tune of 

"All People that on Earth Do Dwell"

Great beauty in the Virgin's eyes

Both soft and sweet, yet very wise

Alone in grace, completely full

A soul as clean as whitest wool.

Oh Beauty of the human race

You gave to God a human face

That men on earth through you would find

A Savior of the rarest kind

A God who gave His all for man

Through unsurpassing love that can

Forgive the wrongs of sinful men

And give them hope for life again.

Your image on the Tilma there

Makes men of faith and pagans stare

Simplicity and beauty meet

Within those eyes so wise and sweet

Tuesday

I look to see if I've obeyed

And oft I see that I have strayed

So easy to myself exalt

Then find that I'm the one at fault

I wish to find the eyes that see

And turn from sin to be set free

To have a mind that's pure and clean

And only on my Savior lean

But all too often, weak I be

And thoughts of slavery capture me

Then shamed and naked I must go

Confessing what a debt I owe.

Wednesday

No longer is there question when

The dead are raised to life again

When lepers cleansed and lame can walk

No need for speculative talk

The time has come, the hour is near

That all the evil demons fear

The Way, The Truth, and Life has come

When lame shall leap and sing shall dumb.

With sins forgiven, captives freed

The One who meets our every need

Comes bringing news of love for man

From since the time when time began

Thursday

So what did you go out to see?

A messenger, it's clear to me

But more than messenger was he

The greatest born of womb to be.

Repentance was the call he made

A turn from sin to all he bade

Prepare the way, for yet to come,

As humble King, God's only Son

Friday

Far greater than what John would give

The testimony He would give

His works proclaim the Father's will

That all should come to know Him still.

The way most clear to find your home

Is follow Him and Him alone

Observing Sabbath you will find

The father's home and peace of mind

Saturday

The blessings of the Father

For many ages run

But many never bother

To see in them the Son

Through trial and tribulation

The plans of God unfold

In endless jubilation

The shepherds now behold

The many generations

That waited long now see

Their many deviations

Are used to make them free

The Word of God and Son of Man

Has come from far above

To show within a simple span

The power of His love.

Is follow Him anf Him alone

12/4/22 Through 12/10/22

 12/4/22 Through 12/10/22

Sunday

To bear good fruit or be cut down

To wear the shame or wear the crown.

Two choices only one can make,

The one will build and other break.

Produce good fruit to show you've learned

That righteousness cannot be earned

By following the strictest law

Then turning from the poor you saw.

Far more than rules it takes to know

That love alone's the way to go.

If need is known, we're called to give

That all men in the truth can live.

Monday

My life confined within this bed

To Jesus now my friends are led

To carry me to meet the Lord

To find His grace and love outpoured.

No challenge they would not endure

To make my presence known for sure

Before the Healer that would say

Your sin is gone, be on your way.

The words of absolution heard

My sins forgiven seems absurd.

But rising now on knees made firm

My Lord and God I now affirm.

I challenge you as I have done

Seek out such friends this vict'ry won.

Such men whose faith is resolute

And aid you in this good pursuit.

The quest for goodness, truth, and love

The quest to reach that land above

The quest to find the Healer there

With truth and love beyond compare.

Tuesday

That none should perish, be His will

Yet turn to evil, men do still

The love and good he meant for man

He's offered them since time began.

But oh, how easily they stray

And follow not His freedom way.

The way of selfishness they choose

And way of righteousness they lose.

He searches when they wander far

And calls them out from where they are

To turn from sin and be made new

For all on earth, including you.

Not one that's found was not a stray

For all have sinned and gone their way

But those within the flock have learned

It's He for whom their hearts have yearned.

Wednesday

None could do what He has done,

Made the planets and the sun,

Made the stars that light the night,

Kept them burning ever bright.

He tires not through endless days

His alone are perfect ways.

He gives strength when needed most

He the Guest we long to host.

He, our hope and strength renewed

He, our holy drink and food

He, the yoke that's easy, light

He, our strength throughout the night.

Thursday

How beautiful to be so pure

No other with such great allure.

Would that women be like You

And such a purity imbue.

And men as well, with different eyes

Could look upon their maiden prize

And see a holiness within

Far deeper than unblemished skin.

With purity of heart and mind

Two such as these a gemstone find

And lay a cornerstone of love

The world around is jealous of.

Such purity is not for weak

But those a higher calling seek

Who wish the garden walks restored

And more of truth and love explored.

Friday

Let me hear Lord, let me see

All the ways I turn from Thee

Guide this sinful heart to newness,

Help me find Your liberty.

Music, many melodies

But to You are none of these

One alone that leads to trueness

One alone the heart can please.

Saturday

Spirit-filled from in the womb

From here did new Elijah bloom

To win the hearts of men for God

And spread his message far abroad.

We too, as Spirit-filled must be

Persistent in our search for Thee

Attentive to the words You say

And walk along the narrow way.

Ascetic in our ways to prove

That trials here cannot remove

The love of God for sinful man,

But serve to further on His plan.

Let every soul be Spirit-filled

For this is what the Father willed

Restoring walks at evening time

And talking with our Love sublime.

11/27/22 Through 12/3/22

 11/27/22 Through 12/3/22

Sunday

Just how might I prepare the way?

How might I more His will obey?

How might I ready for the hour

When Christ shall come in might and Pow'r?

The humble way he comes today

And at the Mass of every day

Is in the form of bread and wine

To be consumed and be made mine.

These humble accidents received

Must be, in truth, our God perceived.

For though the form is humble bread

The substance is my God instead.

If I but simply turn from sin

And recognize whom I take in

By this, I well-prepare the way

For Christ to come that final day.

Monday

A man of pagan deities

Can see far more than most of these

Who studied faith from tender youth

But fail to recognize the Truth.

For first the ground must fertile be

For seed to sprout and root for thee

Then clear of thicket, stone, and weed

That all attack the sprouting seed.

The powerful must humble be

In order to Messiah see,

And Christ will answer to the need

Of humble, tender, sprouting seed.

Tuesday

Many longed to see this day

Longed to hear the words I say

Longed for peace in time of war

Longed to know God more and more.

In this day made known to you

My flesh in simple bread, it's true.

Blood poured out as sacred wine

Daily, precious gift of mine.

Come and feast on daily bread

Listen to the words I said

Let them foster change within

Turn from every deadly sin.

Empty here your base desire

Come with Me through cleansing fire.

Fear not loss, for what you gain

Dwarfs the loss and temporal pain.

Wednesday

To love enjoy the flesh must die

And thus destroy the evil lie

That carnal pleasures satisfy

If just a little more we try.

There's no amount of pleasure here

No hoard that will not disappear,

And what is left is what will last

When chattel owning time is past.

But oh, how hard to see that day

When pleasure here gets in the way.

The blinders cloud the vision far

Deceiving many who we are.

As children of the greatest King

We're offered here the finest thing

If lesser things we will forego

To One of every blessing know.

The sacrifice of Love's demand

Will build on rock and not on sand.

And when at last, the flood recedes

What's left are only loving deeds.

Thursday

To those who answer not the call

Are words that scare me most of all.

The flood will come and none will save

Except for those, their all who gave.

I try to listen well and hear

A word that takes me very near

The way myself would like to go

And all the trials just forego.

But words that say to humble be

Still are daily haunting me

The more I give, the more He asks

With evermore the humble tasks.

Someday, I pray, before I die

I'd learn His way to always try

Instead of mine which goes astray

And always on the narrow stay.

Friday

Here below the clouds are gray

And gloom can often rule the day.

Just are punished, guilty freed,

The poor and blind for alms will plead.

But coming soon a day anew

For all the poor and blind, and you.

For all, a day when truth shall reign

The poor and blind will have their gain.

Fear not the ones the body kill

But fear the One Almighty Will.

His patient love has stayed His hand

But soon the Truth shall rule the land.

Eternity seems far away

But here and now, this very day

Could change the way the future goes

If we just follow One who rose,

Saturday

Send workers to the harvest

And let me be as one.

Not one to go the farthest,

But one his neighbor won.

One of action here below

Relying on His word

One to recognize and know

The Voice that he has heard,

Modesty

 Modesty a gift of love

The virtue that I’m fondest of

Protection of the sacred gift

Whose veil alone the spouse should lift

 

Beauty through the eyes is seen

The beauty of the soul I mean

Where purity and love abide

And make of thee a blessed bride

 

Sly would have the young believe

The web of lies the wicked weave

That sex will bring abounding joy

When all it does is love destroy

 

Love you’re craving deep within

In chastity will there begin

Preserving there your special gift

For one alone the veil to lift

11/20/22 Through 11/26/22

 11/20/22 Through 11/26/22

Sunday

Who is King of all the earth?

Who arrived by Virgin birth?

Who in quiet home was raised?

Who for death on Cross is praised?

Who as king, would humble bring

Healing for the suffering,

Freedom for the ones enslaved

Newness for the ones depraved?

One alone, no other stands

One alone, with just commands.

One with Cross as bully throne,

One as God, and God alone.

Jesus Christ the King of kings.

Jesus Christ, salvation brings.

Jesus Christ, my worthy Lord.

Jesus Christ, to be adored.

None before such height have scaled

All since then, in light have paled.

Only One of perfect love

Christ our King and Lord of Love.

Monday

I wish I knew with motives pure

What's asked of me in life for sure

But nothing's ever quite so clear

And few so clear a voice will hear.

As most will simply move along

In hope to find where they belong

By happenstance or simple fate

And not the voice of God await.

An active plea I make to know

With certainty, the way to go

To see the way illumined bright

Instead of just by candlelight.

But not the way He often works

And very few receive these perks.

For most a step ahead is shown

And what's beyond is yet unknown.

Our Mother too would walk this way

By greeting Him in every day

With "I am Yours, my Lord Divine,

So on Your path let brightness shine."

The way be narrow, hard, and steep

But safe my steps upon it keep.

Although that road, by many crossed,

Your will be done, and mine be lost.

Tuesday

Cecelia, vintage fully ripe

A beauty not of earthly type

In prayer and love, she turned away

The trappings of the temporal way.

She gladly took her place among

The martyrs as His praises sung

When led to death a beauty shone

That comes from loving God alone.

So too, we're called to shine the light

Let beauty bring about delight

Amidst a world of dark and sin

Let beauty there a change begin.

When touched by that, that's pure and clean

Through darkest night the truth is seen

And broken hearts in tears of joy

Forgiveness and great love employ.

Be one to make the beauty seen

Be one of heart that's pure and clean

Find love that prompts to give Him all

And answer well of Beauty's call.

Wednesday

The end is coming soon for me

I pray that clear the way I see

And cower not from earthly loss

But cling unto the Blessed Cross.

For only there is freedom found

Where Christ Himself, with thorns was crowned.

The gift of all we have to give

Is that which lets us truly live.

Forgive me Lord for when I've failed

When greed instead of love prevailed.

Grant mercy to this sinner when

I stand before the Great Amen.

Thursday

A dreadful day when judgment comes

When all our graft, well-known becomes

When sins of all are clearly seen

And we must face the judgment scene.

Because of blessings unaware

So many gifts were squandered there

By pride, and avarice, and greed

Instead of tending other's need.

Nowhere to turn, nowhere to hide,

No advocate to plead our side.

No call but "Mercy, Mercy, Lord"

I can't afford a just reward.

Friday

Judged by deeds done here below

On scrolls believed that none would know

Reality could none deny,

Forever in the fire fry.

That way is easy, broad, and smooth

But in that lake, no balm will soothe.

The torments there forever burn,

From there the wicked, never turn.

That final death, the choice be made

Eternal flame to never fade.

Locked below forevermore

With none but self to there adore.

But those who saw the signs below

Forever in the heights will know

The rest and comfort He provides

To those His Holy Spirit guides.

Saturday

These days we ponder what's ahead

We pay respects to all our dead

We pray for souls in cleansing fire

That Heaven's fullness they acquire.

So too, we look to times ahead

And ponder days when we are dead...

Will we be sober and alert

In order to His wrath avert?

So often dreamy tales are told

Of what it's like to God behold

But there before Almighty God

What man could there, his life applaud?

The sins of youth and sins of the age

All worthy of a deadly wage.

The sins of heart and sins of mind

Are brutal wickedness I find.

The comforts of my selfish greed

Be viewed that day as foolish need

When seen the poor I could have saved

Had I not been the one depraved.

The lust for pleasure, wealth, and fame

That day will offer none but shame

Each little lie or god we made

Against the Truth shall be arrayed.

So many sins now widely known

Desreving that I be disowned.

I fear that fateful day I die,

But "Jesus, Mercy." be my cry

11/13/22 Through 11/19/22

 11/13/22 Through 11/19/22

Sunday

Famine and drought, earthquake and plague
The voice of the Lord, infrequent and vague
Times they are coming, behold they are near

Speak with authority having no fear

Though friends will abandon, and family will flee

Fear not, in the middle of troubles is Me.

When brought before powers and kings of the land

The source of your courage and strength is at hand.

Prepare no defense, for worthless it be

When time comes for speaking, the blinded will see

In wisdom and power the word be proclaimed

Let none with the faith in our God be ashamed.

Let nothing they say, and nothing they do

Discourage the will to love that's in you.

For we know Good Friday appeared as a loss

But victory that day, was won on the cross.

Then rising on Sunday, the day of the Lord

Were graces and blessings abundant out-poured

The worst of the worst, no power could claim

O'er Jesus, Our Lord, the Holiest Name!

Monday

The simple words, "I want to see."

Are simply those describing me.

I want to see His work each day

And know He hears me when I pray.

I've seen enough throughout the years

In times of mirth or times of tears

To know without a doubt He cares

And in my every trouble shares.

In beauty of the world around

The Master's hand is always found

If we just simply look and see

How ordered all He made to be.

Each miracle He made to be

A window to his love for thee.

They're all around us every day

If eyes are opened all the way.

So ask He show you clear today

His love to show you clear the way

So eyes be ready, mind be clear

And you will know that Love is near.

Tuesday

The eyes of man are slow to see

The things that clear to God will be

How some abandon faith in storm

And others let it grow lukewarm.

So too, He sees in evil men

A wish that they could start again

A curiosity that grows

And wish to settle what he owes.

To both, His word attacks the soul

And shows they need to be made whole

By trusting all to Him who saves

And freeing all whom sin enslaves.

Wednesday

A vision far beyond the stars

With myriads of avatars

Around the throne of One on high

All singing Holy, Holy nigh.

The words inadequate all seem

To tell about this sacred dream

Yet true it was, and this I know

That here it is, I long to go.

It's strange and scary, that is true,

But such a love I never knew.

The Lamb was slain, yet on the throne

The greatest love one's ever known.

No eye has seen, nor ear has heard

Such sight or sound when with the Word

And so bazaar descriptions seem

Of what I saw within my dream.

Thursday

Just knowing that which makes for peace

Is not enough to make war cease.

The doing is the key to bring

The lost to where His praises sing.

Those suff'ring, yet forgiving those

Through pride and selfishness have chose

To turn from love to lust and greed

And appetites for evil feed.

The Cross is where the victory's won

Through imitation of the Son

By love, the enemy will see

In truth, the Son of God was He.

When crosses lined the Roman street

Twas there the pagan heart did meet

The love that conquers every sin

And then, a turn to love begin.

It seems a loss, that we should die,

But not within the Savior's eye.

In giving all is where we win

The victory over death and sin.

Friday

How sweet the word of God to me

But others, not the way they see.

It sours those of evil ways

Who feed the self throughout their days.

Your word looks out to God and man,

A holy, loving, giving plan.

A sweetness for the ways of light,

But sour to the dark of night.

So too, in me is well-received

When first is planted there the seed,

But when demands are fully known

The stomach then has sour grown.

Let not the fear of loss have rein

The word of God is always gain.

But faith and trust is needed there

To find this love beyond compare.

When sweetness and the sour endured,

Pure love eternal then insured.

For through the Cross's earthly pain

Comes Heaven's sweet eternal gain.

Saturday

The resurrection of the dead

Is truth for all, as Jesus said.

But where we spend eternity

Must be where man is truly free.

For here on earth the stain of sin

Has barred the man from coming in.

But Christ the perfect sacrifice

For all our sin, has paid the price.

If man repents and turns to God

Rejecting now his false facade

The doors to heaven open wide

And man is beckoned, "Come inside."

But if intransigent, he stays

Refusing to amend his ways

Then steeped in evil they will see,

Eternal death would better be.

11/6/22 Through11/12/22

 11/6/22 Through 11/12/22

Sunday

I'm searching for the joy I've seen

In saints who suffer well

My trials have quite a burden been

To all of those I tell.

Surrender seems a sticking point

But otherwise, I say

Corrosion in another joint 

Is just the elder's way.

The seven sons met scourges well

And offered all as none

And still today their stories tell

How they reflect the Son.

Somehow, it's true, I've not obtained

The will to suffer well

Perhaps I never truly gained

The faith of which I sell.

No matter what we have below

A little or a lot

It's hard to give it all to go

Where bones will never rot.

Monday

Woe you who lead the young astray,

Encourage evil on the way

Or hold a grudge, forgiving not

Rejecting good the Master taught

Better be cast amid the sea

With heavy millstone tied to thee

Than lead these little ones astray

Or teach what's wrong as right today

For tender hearts we must train well 

And of the truth and beauty tell

Then counsel to the traps beware

And guide them from the evil fare

Tuesday

When done, the things obliged to do

Is when the work will profit you

If only obligations met

You've done no more than pay your debt.

Wednesday

Mother church of all the earth

It's here the faith was given birth

In public forum, undisturbed

Without enthusiasm curbed

For centuries among the dead

Is where the Holy Mass was said

But now in blessed light of day

Could Christian voices sing and pray.

Intolerant the days before

But now permitted to adore

Our blessed Lord exalted high

Without the fear of lurking spy.

Thursday

From slavery has man been freed

In word or thought or evil deed

A freedom comes involving joy

If we, His holy word employ

The Kingdom's here before our eyes

But evil puts it in disguise.

What's right before us points the way

If we, His holy word obey.

The trick that Satan uses well

Is smoke that clouds from burning hell.

Enticing man to doubt what's good

Ignoring One they nailed to wood.

The law is how the slave is freed

It tempers avarice and greed

It calls to love both God and man

In His divinely ordered plan.

Jesus made us truly free

When nailed upon the rugged tree

He begged forgiveness for our sin

That we could someday enter in.

To Paradise, where love's the rule

No longer tricked, or made the fool

Where One in love and truth shall reign

And all for man is none but gain.

Friday

Be ready for the final day.

In every situation, pray.

Don't be waiting unprepared

With empty heart and running scared

The day will come when none will know

With daily chores all doing so

And how surprised we all shall be

When face of purest love we see

No place to run, no place to hide

Stripped and naked, horrified

Our every sin at once made known

And clearly filth within is shown

For all my avarice and greed,

Impurity of thought and deed,

Pride in all the wealth received,

There's none but mercy left to plead.

Saturday

Persistent. perseverent prayer

Will make the lowly soul aware

How much depends on God alone

And how our faith, in time has grown.

By learning to accept His will 

Or waiting patiently until

We see His hand in that received

And understand what He conceived.

It's often I have thanked Him for

Not giving what I asked Him for

But giving more in ways unseen

Until reflecting on the scene

In looking back, each trial faced

I should have simply just embraced

For in His plan was more for me

Then temporal eyes could ever see.