5/18/25 Through 5/24/25

 5/18/25 Through 5/24/25

Sunday

There's much hardship here below

But all that helps us God to know.

For love endures the cross and pain

To help us find eternal gain.

Your love for one another shows

By doing this, the world knows

That My disciple, you must be

No other one could be so free.

So, here's the Gospel in a man

And this the Father's gloried plan,

That each would come to know their role

And love would spread from soul to soul.

Monday

Lord, never let me turn away,

Speak and prod me to obey.

Strengthen me each day I live,

Help me always all to give.

No partial love, but fully Yours

A one no single word ignores,

Who takes Your word as food each day

For sustenance along the way.

Come and make Your home in me,

Dwell within so all can see.

Forevermore, my heart implores,

Let grace be mine and glory Yours.

Tuesday

Peace He leaves and peace He gives,

Be not troubled or afraid.

Lasting life has He who lives,

And shares with those who have obeyed.

Wednesday

Remain a branch upon the Vine,

Produce a rich, delicious wine.

For parting from the Vine we fade,

And find that we have nothing made.

The Vine alone provides the food

To feed the flock and none exclude.

Apart from Him, no branch can grow

Through Him alone does lifeblood flow.

Remain in Christ, and so succeed

He'll grant your every want or need

That fits the Father's loving plan

To make of you a faithful man.

Thursday

Do as I say, and all will be well

All of the glories of God you must tell.

Remain in My love and keep My commands

Joy will be found if you stay in His hands.

Some things are confusing, but wisdom will come

If daily the words of the Savior you plumb.

Just ask for His word, and then hear and obey.

You'll never go bad if you follow His way.

But how, you may ask, do I know that it's He

And not just some demon, or voice within me?

He calls to repentance, and always to love,

And that's how you know it's the Voice from above.

He calls to be humble, forgetting your pride,

He calls to remember the way that He died.

He calls to the mount for His sermon to hear,

And that's how you know which voice to revere.

Friday

Delighted with laws that came from above,

The Gentiles were filled with graces and love.

Their lifestyle must change as they willingly did,

No more from the ways of the Father they hid.

So too, it remains for the Christian today

Delight will abound when we gladly obey.

What looks like a chore is in fact but a joy,

When ways of the Father and Son we employ.

For love is a gift of the self, as we know.

In giving, we open the gates to the flow

Of graces that come from the Maker of all

He gives to the faithful who answer His call.

The Cross of the Savior, the greatest of signs,

But no man could know of the Father's designs.

In pouring out all to the very last drop,

A way to the Father, for man He begot.

So, love one another, the greatest command.

A world of love the Father had planned.

He shows us the way to this joy and delight

We must leave the darkness and walk in the Light.

Saturday

Expect no smooth and easy way

But listen what the Lord will say

If Him they beat and crucified

His servants, too, will be denied.

No place for Him to lay His head

In every war, are masses dead

Through hardship borne upon the Earth

He brings about our second birth.

When sufferings are joined to His

We understand just what love is,

A sacrifice that moves beyond

What foolish parents simply pawned.

His voice will always lead to good

Though no one likes the rugged wood

But rugged wood is where is born

The joy of every Easter morn.

5/11/25 Through 5/17/25

 5/11/25 Through 5/17/25

Sunday

Shepherd me Lord to the Promised Land

My will conform to Your command.

Speak that I may hear Your voice

Your path become my daily choice.

Eternal life I wish to find

My heart, to Yours, I wish to bind

That others too may follow there 

And so, enjoy Your tender care.

Monday

Athirst is my soul for the living God

Some think it foolish, some think it odd.

They think that I grasp for what can't be seen

But simply I ask for a morsel to glean.

Leading to pasture of succulent green,

Love for the sheep, from the Shepherd we've seen.

Our Shepherd the Gate to the pasture above

Where tender the grass, and streams flow with love.

The Spirit is given abundantly there

He's given to all, and we're all meant to share.

There's none from His mercy we're all meant to know

From hatred to love we're all meant to go.

Tuesday

No sign He shows will change the mind

The Truth the blinded cannot find

Believe upon these works of His

The Father's Son He truly is.

It's sheep that recognize His voice

And use their faith to make a choice.

They choose to trust His way as true

And see their faith again renew.

Not one is ever turned away

When humbly they begin to pray

And cast their eyes from earthly pain

To focus on eternal gain.

Wednesday

One from among their ranks they chose

One as witness that He rose.

One to share their ministry

One to an Apostle be.

It's time to choose another soon

From those around the world strewn

To lead the Church as Vicar here

And help the faithful to draw near.

To understand God's love for man

And implement the Father's plan

To reach the lost in varied ways

And lead us through this Earthly maze.

Thursday

A call on every human heart

Sufficient grace He will impart

When we believe He is the One

The Father's precious, only Son.

Though we may fall, if we repent

Again, on mission we'll be sent

He never spurns a humble soul

But heals and makes the sinner whole.

Forever goodness, I shall sing

Anointed by our Savior King

His mercy there throughout my days

To lead me into righteous ways.

A sinner graced with mercy blest

When all my sinfulness confessed

Amen! Amen, I say to you 

Just answer well, His call to you.

You'll see His glory then displayed

Be not astounded or dismayed

When following the Father's will

The Spirit comes each heart to fill.

Friday

This day become a son to Him

In faith and hope we learn to swim

The son He loves He will protect

By counting him among elect.

Though none be pure as love demands

We try to follow His commands

He meets us where we are to save

And give us power o'er the grave.

His Spirit comes with faith and hope

The gifts sublime so man can cope

For none have ever been so pure

But faith and hope provide the cure.

I want to be a perfect one

But fear I never shall become

One worth to be made a son

And find the vict'ry never won.

But on the Cross True God and Man

Fulfilled the Father's loving plan

And paved the way for men like me

To be at last a sinner free.

One free beyond his outward fear

To Christ upon the Cross draw near

In faith and hope for such a love

To carry me to home above.

Saturday

(To the tune of "Let All Mortal Flesh Be Silent")

When is there enough to know Him?

When enough His face to see ?

When will light and peace dispelling

Clearing out all the fog for thee?

When He comes again in glory,

All we then will plainly see.

Then the faithful ones rewarded

Then the shading veil removed.

Light from Light to all proceeding

Every word of Jesus proved

Peace and joy to those who follow

Darkness who remain unmoved.

When we recognize the Father

Then we know the Three in One

Then the unity so loving

Shown to us in God the Son

Eyes are opened wide to glory

Final victory is won.

5/4/25 Through 5/10/25

 5/4/25 Through 5/10/25

Sunday

Rejoicing to suffer is not what I do.

Perhaps there are ways I should do this for you

Perhaps in my comfort, I'm missing the boat

Perhaps I'll have trouble in staying afloat.

For loving means sacrifice, Peter found out

And words are but empty if not carried out

For thrice in denial, His look came to bear

The weight of his sin was contained in the stare.

In shying away from the Cross as we do

We're building a wall that will keep us from You

But joy in the midst of the suffering comes

If there with the Lord on the Cross, one becomes.

Though often rejected, His calling persists

On living for love, thrice again, He insists.

He'll give us His strength till the suffering wanes

Surviving the storm are His eternal gains.

So, answer His call to be loving once more

It's why we were made, what we're all looking for.

Forgiving our faults if we just turn around

Just hear and obey, and trust joy will be found.

Monday

For bread that satisfies, I long

Desire for life and love so strong.

A daily taste at Mass, I find

But often to its power blind.

So loud, distractions here below

They pull away from what I know

They draw me to the here and now

To miss eternity somehow.

But once a while, I glimpse to see

Just who it is that comes to me

Who takes the form of humble Bread

By making sure this beggar's fed.

Though all that's here below decays

His grace received, forever stays.

A lasting gift to who obey

Or lasting curse who turn away.

So many graces squandered here

His gifts rejected out of fear

Of what we lose of what decays

When far more comes when one obeys.

Tuesday

Bread of Heaven come to me.

Bread of Heaven set me free.

Let me see beyond the sign

Make my heart alike to Thine.

Bless my time to rest in Thee

Make me one like Stephen be.

Let me see the light of love,

Bring me to my home above.

Give me courage, speak through me,

Use me as a tool for Thee.

May the many find Your way

Nevermore to go astray.

Stir the flame, rekindle Hope

Take the hand of those who grope.

Lead them to Your sacred meal

Every malady then heal.

Give us all a strong desire

Build within Your sacred fire

May Your Spirit bring to light

All we've hidden in the night.

Somehow, may I persevere

In the trials coming near

Feed me every single day

Lest in want, I fall away.

Make my love the stronger be

Than the trial facing me

Always with my eyes beyond

To the land Your rising spawned.

Wednesday

That none be lost, the Father wills

The anxious heart now Jesus stills

To look and see and then believe

The honest now shall much receive.

But far too many turn away

When challenged by the things You say

In selfish ways we grab for gold

And find we grab but rust and mold.

All treasure's in the Father's will

All emptiness can Jesus fill

If we but come with open hands

And do whatever love commands.

His love so far exceeds the mind

To depths no mortal eye can find

But if we hear and then obey

To us, the treasure finds its way.

Thursday

They all shall be taught by God

His glory the masses applaud

This bread that we eat shall evil defeat,

It's truly His Body, no fraud.

The treasure in vessels of clay

We see if we look every day

The humble are used by the Spirit infused

For teaching the learn-ed the way.

The pot doesn't matter at all

It's just that we answer His call

If broken or cracked, when love is intact

His angels will not let us fall.

Friday

Amen, amen, I say to you

Unless you eat and drink, it's true

No life shall dwell for you within

But only darkness from the sin.

My flesh real food, it's life and light

Dispels the darkness of the night

True food and drink for life within

Unlike the ones who die in sin.

So, listen up and hear My voice.

Explore the facts and make your choice

Believe and take the glory in

Or choose to just persist in sin.

Saturday

Many returned to former ways

Turning around, reentered the haze.

Finding the limit that they were to go

Hearing His call, but then saying, no.

May all the limits now be gone

Our Lord arose before the dawn

His every word is always true

And every word what's best for you.

My simple mind can't understand,

But I can trust what He has planned

He's never steered me wrong to date

He's not so early, but never late.

If He says flesh, then so it is

It's not just bread, but flesh of His.

It's that which gives us life within

And that which saves us from our sin.

Don't turn away as fools once did

But see the Truth within that's hid.

His flesh and blood true food and drink

no matter what detractors think.

4/24/25 Through 5/3/25

 4/24/25 Through 5/3/25

Sunday

Unbelieving be no more

But turn and check the final score.

So many thought that death had won,

But death could not destroy the Son.

Arisen as He said He would

The One they fastened on the wood

Destroyed the grave in blinding light

And won for truth and love the fight.

What mercy now He shows the weak

Though sinners still, His way they seek

Forgiveness He will freely give

To all who seek with Him to live.

Repentance calls His mercy down

And all who trust receive the crown

No more in disbelief remain

For Jesus evermore shall reign.

Monday

The house was shaken when they prayed

Each word they heard was then obeyed

Where e'er the Spirit led, they walked

To friend and foe alike, they talked.

The News is Good; it must be told.

Great signs and wonders we behold

Enable us to boldly speak.

And find the lost You always seek.

Tuesday

It's none but saints we're called to be;

The rich, the poor, and folks like me.

We all are called for all to give

And so, in turn, like Jesus live.

The standard raised to gaze upon

The Truest Love to whom we're drawn

Is Him they nailed upon the tree

Who died for love of folks like me.

No more to say, but lots to do,

His laborers are far too few.

The fields are ripe and full of grain;

By giving all, we all obtain.

Wednesday

For God so loved the world, we hear,

But many yet remain in fear.

Afraid to speak what's known as true,

And give our God His rightful due.

The prison walls which we construct

His word can easily destruct.

The Spirit sets us free to speak

And brings the peace that all men seek.

Without the Spirit, cowards reign

And all men do is just complain.

But with the Spirit, action comes

And lethargy, new life becomes.

The Spirit grants us ears that hear

The Spirit calms our temporal fear

And helps us see beyond the pain

To focus on eternal gain.

So true, God loved the world this way

To send His Son amid the fray.

To suffer for our every sin

So life anew could then begin.

This life anew, His Spirit dwelling

Deep within and daily telling

Just how to step and where to go,

And how the Father's will to know.

So, daily ask and so receive

All ye who in Him believe.

But what you hear you must obey,

Or you'll just be another stray.

Thursday

The gift of the Spirit, no ration He makes

To heights in the heavens the docile He takes.

A flood of His graces poured out from above

To fill His believers with goodness and love.

Don't shelter from all that He has meant for you,

But open your heart and just ask what to do.

The Spirit will lead if you open your mind,

A treasure of graces each day you will find.

Just taking each step as He lights up the way,

The light He provides when we hear and obey.

Like Joseph, who acted on all that he heard

We must be attentive to all of His word.

Not picking and choosing, but welcoming all,

And speaking out boldly like Peter and Paul.

A path just for you then His Spirit shall blaze

Through desert or garden for all of your days.

So, turn from the ways of reliance on self

True power is waiting right there on the shelf.

The Spirit received in the waters of love

Anointing with power that comes from above.

Friday

Rejoicing to suffer for Jesus' name

Before the Sanhedrin, Apostles once came.

Both beaten and warned that they never should teach

As God and as man, they persisted to preach.

No force could resist all the truth that was clear

Their love for the Lord overcame every fear.

The lashes received were a sign of their love

A ticket to enter in Heaven above.

Do we have the courage to speak as they did?

Do we make Him known, or do we keep Him hid?

Our call is the same as it was to those men,

To spread the Good News, tell the story again.

He died once to save us from all of our sin

But grave and the stone could not hold Him within.

He rose in His glory to show us the way,

And now faithful to Him, forever we'll stay.

Saturday

How long have I been at your side?

Have ever, to any, I lied?

By seeing me you see Him too,

Have I not clearly shown to you?

The words I speak are not my own

But Father's will made clearly known.

Believe that all I have to say

Will light for all the Father's way.

My Father dwells down deep within

Both He in Me, and I in Him.

Believe upon these works I do

And such as these will come from you.

4/20/25 Through 4/26/25

 4/20/25 Through 4/26/25

Sunday

Light of Nations, Dawn of Day

Risen from the grave today

No more sadness, only joy

Death and darkness You destroy.

Wash anew my heart this day

Hear the words again today.

I believe and I shall do

All the truth I hear from You

Death destroyed, all people now

Come before Your throne and bow.

Gone the reign of Satan's power

Nevermore to evil cower.

Shine Your light of love in me

Let me one like Mary be

Searching for Your word each day

Hearkening it come what may.

Monday

A bribe for a lie that persists to this day

The wicked deny what the truthful men say.

But which of them die for a lie that they know

While Christians by thousands to gallows will go.

The centuries roll, and the story's the same 

The Christians will die for the love of His name.

The wicked deny what is plain from above

Trapped by the chains of their futile self-love.

The Christian, however, looks on past the Cross

His worldly treasure is counted as loss.

He sees resurrection beyond of the grave

And trusts in the power of God that will save.

So, choose to behold and proclaim what you know

Or quiet you'll be and with wicked will go.

The young need a witness to bolster belief

From lies of the wicked to bring them relief.

So, call on the Spirit twas given that day

To form every word that to others you say.

Let God do the changing; just follow His voice

Let never a bribe, but the truth be your choice.

Tuesday

The Gard'ner He is in the garden above

The garden of order and beauty and love.

The Garden was perfect for Adam and Eve,

But then came the serpent to lie and deceive.

The order was broken and beauty was lost

The price was the fortune that sinfulness cost.

But Jesus restores what the Garden once knew

His death on the Cross was a making things new.

Baptized in the water that flows from His side

He washes away all the sins of our pride.

He shows us obedience, waters the ground,

And that's how the fruit of His love can be found.

The Gard'ner of Life now has shown us the way.

We follow along when we hear and obey

Take root in the soil of God's precious love

To find a new home in the Garden above.

Bearing fruit on the Earth we can answer His call

Reversing the trend of our parents' great fall.

The gates were held closed 'till they opened His side

The water and blood is the great cleansing tide.

So, tend to your garden of order and grace

Let your heart be a fertile and welcoming place.

Receive His instruction and follow each day

It's how to remain on the straight narrow way.

Wednesday

Help me understand Your ways

Stay with me throughout my days

Walk with me and there explain

All I try to learn in vain.

Dark my eyes, and light I need

Sow within my heart Your seed.

Sun to warm my soil first

Rain to quench my aching thirst.

Springing forth on legs renewed

Soul with peace and joy imbued.

Begging for a simple coin

Ranks of wealthy men I join.

Hearts aflame down deep within

All the ways of futile sin

Seen as chaff before the breeze

Love has done away with these.

Share the wealth and make it known

Vic'try over death was shown

One who on the Cross once died

Now for all is glorified.

Thursday

Lord, open my mind for I've lost the key

So easy this happens for many like me.

The scripture contains many stories of me,

A weak and despairing disciple I be.

A disciplined one of great firmness my aim

But weakness and sin is much to my shame.

So, open my mind to the scriptures I plead

Then give me the strength and the wisdom I need.

Send forth Your Spirit in floods to my soul,

Grant all that's needed to make my life whole.

Wisdom and Knowledge, and Fear of the Lord

Understanding and Counsel, Courage outpoured.

A will that is formed in the pattern of You

A great care for others in all that I do.

A heart that is nourished with love every day

And docile to all that to me, You will say.

Let me be Your servant and instrument used

My faults and my failings, in mercy excused.

A one of no value in many an eye

But a humble and faithful obedient guy.

Friday

Should all on the Earth hear what You say?

Do you know the Lord?  Have you found the Way?

The news that is good, is given to share,

All are His children, for all we must care.

Entrusted with treasure, we must multiply

Be ready to preach, or be ready to die

He calls from the shore that we lower the nets

Who answers the call, new life He begets.

The Spirit He sends to those who obey

Turning cowards to ones who openly say

That Jesus is Lord and King of all kings

And life resurrected to faithful He brings.

So, death has no power; the truth shall prevail

Those following truth, they never shall fail.

Though truth is assaulted, no weaker it grows

But always its strength over falsehood it shows.

So, answer His call and take up your role

The Spirit He'll give to strengthen your soul

And joy in the trials we face every day

Will come to the faithful who hear and obey.

Saturday

Know we in silence cannot stay

For Him we saw the other day

Has risen glorified as King

And so to others news we bring.

How cruel to stifle news like this

Depriving poor of hope and bliss

You, too, should know that what we say

Would light your path along the way

This name of Jesus still today

Brings stark division to the fray

The heart repentant, warm and pure

His name alone can quickly cure.

You be the judge what we should do

Obey the Lord, or follow you.

The choice is clear: we must proclaim

The glories of His Holy Name.