8/16/26 Through 8/22/26

 8/16/26 Through 8/22/26

Sunday

Perception is granted to those who believe

That so, in humility, they can receive

They see what they are in the light of His love

The small and the broken who look to above

Great faith is the answer, persistence and hope

He'll give what we need and then help us to cope

Don't ever lose heart, even so when you fail

Take heart in the Sacrament you may avail

When sin is confessed we admit what we've done

We've fallen away from the teachings of One

Who taught to forgive and to sacrifice much

For here we receive the great healing of such

We all have some pagan that needs to be healed

Stop keeping it secret; it must be revealed

For mercy must work in the light of the day,

And secrecy is but the evil one's way.

Monday

Our grief can show what's lacking here

As we attempt to God draw near

We value things before the Lord

And lose what none can e'er afford

It takes the all we have to live

And all is what He asks to give

But when we give, we quickly learn

We get His ever great return

He will not be outdone by man

His generosity shall span

From age to age and sea to sea

For all He has, He gives to thee

Though many things a man may try

His love alone will satisfy

So, look no further, all you need

Is simply all His words to heed.

Tuesday

Because you are so self-assured

The blessing source you have obscured

You see yourself as someone great

But fail to see your shameful fate

Sophistication comes to naught

And all the strength your riches bought

Is useless on the day you die

And then for mercy, mercy, cry

For then is mercy far too late

If all through life you hesitate

To give what's due to God above

And learn the ways to show His love

A steward all are meant to be

And Earthly wealth, no guarantee

That you will find the narrow way

When comes to you that final day.

Repent and use your riches now

The hardened earth to break and plow

Then let the seed take root and grow

So, fruitful harvest you may know.

Wednesday

When pasturing self instead of the sheep

No glory awaits, and the selfish shall weep

The workers for harvest all come and have gone

And jealousy in the self-righteous shall dawn

But look through the eyes of the Shepherd and see

His love is a gift that's abundant and free

The shepherds must always be caring as well

Or shepherds will find that they're headed to Hell.

Thursday

A wedding feast prepared for man

Repairing all within His plan

Though many called, so few receive

For most invited, don't believe.

Our simple trust is all it takes

For out of sinners yet He makes

An honored guest, invited in,

If we but turn away from sin.

But if His call is heeded not

For them, a great surprise He's got

With grinding teeth, and wailing cries

The unrepentant sinner dies.

Friday

That bones once dead may come alive

For this, oh Lord, Your people strive

Their flesh and sinew gone away

For many souls have gone astray

The task appears beyond our scale

Your word alone could such prevail

A prophecy is needed here

To make the flesh and soul appear

By You alone can this be done

By You alone the vict'ry won

When Spirit shows with clarity

That God alone can set us free

A clattering upon Your word

A rattling such, before not heard

A rising up to life anew

At just a simple word from You

These dry and brittle bones can live

If You just show us how to give

And carry well our cross each day

By trailing You along the way.

Saturday

The humble exalted, the haughty cast down

Awaiting the humble, a glorious crown

Our Queen was so humble, accepting His will 

No one was so loving, before then, or still.

Our Queen is exalted in Heaven above

None other than God ever showed us such love

His handmaid, His servant, His temple on Earth

The humblest Virgin who brought Him to birth

All blessing and honor comes not here below

The lowly are granted, to Heaven they go

But haughty are found in a humbling abode

There reaping the harvest of all that they sowed.

8/9/26 Through 8/15/26

 8/9/26 Through 8/15/26

Sunday

Once called from our safety and into the storm

We see His chosen way is never the norm

But those who will listen and quickly obey

Will tremble when seeing what He calls the way

Where we look for safety, catastrophe looms

But hear and obey, and the desert now blooms

The wind and the fire, the storm and the sea

All draw us to safety by knowing of Thee

I tremble to think what You ask me to do

There's always a challenge in following You

You call me beyond where my safety is sure

You call for my love to be holy and pure

Relying on naught for my safety but You

I summon all courage by moving to You

I reach for Your hand as I call in distress

Please save me, oh Lord, and my weakness address

Monday

The seed of life at first must die

Must give of self and firmly try

To be as Jesus on the Cross

And see all Earthly gain as loss

What lies beyond is hidden now

But eyes of faith can see somehow

The treasure hidden in the field

And every Earthly treasure yield

Who dies for love, produces fruit

The faithful, humble, resolute

They see the pearl that lies beyond

Where never-ending light has dawned

Tuesday

Their angels in Heaven, the Father behold

Become like a child, disciples are told

For unto the child is granted to see

The kingdom of riches prepared there for thee

Those trusting and yearning for all He will say

Then letting Him guide us throughout every day

No fear when His answers are always so true

And welcome each morning, far more than the dew.

The Father's instructions are honey to me.

So good, and so wholesome, a savory tea.

He knows how to teach us, though sometimes it's hard

Just trust that He always, your good will regard.

Wednesday

The sign of faith, the Cross of life

The place where suffering is rife

It marks the ones who hear His voice

And make all righteousness their choice

For chosen ones who suffer well

And of the Gospel message, tell

Shall nary lack for all they need

As hungry hearts they work to feed

No mercy shown to wicked men

Who always turn to sin again

Instead of leaving sin behind

To all the promised blessings find

They see not with a trusting eye

And all the claims of Christ deny

They seek for power, wealth, and fame

And heed not to His Sacred Name

Thursday

The shaping of mercy, the forming of love

Is shown in the story of Master above

Forgiving of all, but His justice remains

We must do the same in the land where He reigns

No room for a grudge to be held or repaid

For action like that has been strictly forbade

Forgive without seeking an equal return

If justice you want, it's you who shall burn

So much He's forgiven, we too, should allow

That those who offend us, to mercy would bow

So, look to the story and see where you fit

Much better for all when our faults, we admit.

Friday

For love we were made, for love we endure

No love is a love if love is not pure.

Purity means we're devoted to one

Not looking around for misguided fun

But hardness of heart makes fidelity wane

Then nothing but grief the unfaithful will gain

The goal is for goodness to reign in the heart

That two, once they're joined, would never depart.

Saturday

So many riches in the Word

So many gifts in what we've heard

Our Mother pondered well indeed

And bore much fruit from every seed

No other in that sinless state

One pure and clean, the perfect slate

For God to write His love for man

Anew on one since time began

Through her all grace and glory flow

Through her, it's Perfect Love we know.

She shares in God's redemption plan

As only one who's perfect can

She brings more gold and precious stone

Than all the saints have ever known

A constant fervent, "Here am I"

Your servant waiting to comply

Oh, hear your children on this day

And help us follow in your way

Where all would do the Father's will

And you with every grace would fill.

8/2/26 Through 8/8/26

 8/2/26 Through 8/8/26

Sunday

The food of the angels, the holiest bread

The action by which the hungry are fed

Is trust in His Providence, trust in His care

Then trust when you give with nothing to spare.

He multiplies all that we offer in love

By praising and thanking His Father above

There's no need to worry, no cause for concern

When trust in the love of the Father, we learn

Monday

His voice that beckons, "Come to Me."

Grants all we need to be set free

To turn and walk away from sin

And let a life of faith begin

Too often, though, we sink and call

Now, save me, Lord, again I fall

I let my gaze be turned away

And failed again to Thee obey

You reach and draw me close to You

In spite of what I fail to do

You calm the wind and still the sea

Forgiving sins I bring to Thee

So, change me, Lord, and let me be

A one devoted unto Thee

A one the truth will recognize

And never seek to compromise

Tuesday

Get out of the boat.  Come to Me

Mind not the wind, mind not the sea

Tossed by the waves churning about

Fear, frustration, panic, and doubt.

Wednesday

Restored within His favor now

A furrow deep and rich we plow

So gently watered with His word

To growth and harvest seed is spurred.

No bounds to mercy He will spread

So, even Pagans shall be fed

When faith is shown, they too can be

A branch upon the family tree

Great things Your simple word can do

Beyond the mind, not touching few.

The night is darkest 'fore the dawn

Let love in every heart now spawn

Let need for human law subside

And hearts be governed not by pride

Then every heart be turned to You

And love be shown our tried and true.

Thursday

You've seen, you've heard, you know what is

All glory now you know is His

Without a doubt, He comes to you

Expecting that, His will, you do

We've seen and heard, we know what's true

It's time that now we give His due

He wants us like unto His Son

The One with love for everyone

Much sacrifice is needed now

For furrows deep and rich to plow

But manifold return to you

Who listen and who also do

A bright cloud comes in darkest night

A show of unsurpassing light

That drives the doubt and fear away

And sets us on the narrow way

Of this we may not speak until

We find ourselves within His will

One listening attentively

To everything He asks of me

For when His will becomes my own

Successful is the seed that's sown

And fruit will overflow to all

That many more might hear the call

Friday

What profit has the world to give?

For here we shall not always live

All passes here from age to age

Like turning of another page

No lasting wealth can here be found

For all who live, end in the ground

Their wealth another grabs to learn

Possessions cannot meet the yearn

The Cross, He says, will meet that yearn

And answer all the heart's concern

For love alone remains at last

When all the wealth of Earth has passed

So, give your life on earth below

To more and more the Savior know

The riches, wealth, and honor find

Within the heart of One so kind

Through suffering, He leads to peace

In hope of life to never cease

Amid the sorrows, one can see

What life and love were meant to be.

Saturday

How long until we give Him all?

How long before we see our fall

And turn to give Him everything

To so, about, His Kingdom bring?

The place to look is deep within

And recognize our selfish sin

We seek our glory, not His own

And find ourselves the foolish shown

If we exalt the King of kings

To joy, and peace, and love he brings

But pride, and greed, and lust mislead

Unrest and discontent to feed

So, turn from all these evil ways

And make anew your rest of days

Feed no longer on the swill,

Let love become your daily fill

7/26/26 Through 8/1/26

 7/26/26 Through 8/1/26

Sunday

One wise enough to understand

But fool enough to do what's banned

The story every sinner faced

Of how they lost what God had graced

So many gifts we throw away

And let our hearts be led astray

We lose the pearl of greater price

By giving in to earthly vice

A conscience, every man receives

But then the evil one deceives

He whispers lies to make us doubt

For wickedness within to sprout

The treasure's hidden in the field

Unable there to harvest yield

While buried under clod and stone

To passersby, the gift unknown

Yet one who finds it hurries well

To all his other treasures sell

For this alone can man fulfill,

The doing of the Father's will.

The wisdom is to know and do

The task that God has given you

Not letting base desire sway

Or wearing blinders of the day

Such wisdom God has offered you

So, let Him guide the things you do

He knows what makes the spirit glad

It's freedom you have always had

It must be used in righteous ways

If not, we turn to evil's slaves

So, use what's rightly yours to win

The vict'ry over foolish sin

Monday

The leaven works to raise the bread

So more and more can all be fed

When hidden long and far away

Soon, all the rest will go astray

It must be used and mixed within

To raise the heart that's trapped in sin

To call it to a higher plain

Where peace and joy it hopes to gain.

Then leaven, all the rest become

As deeper into God they plumb

In little time, can all be moved

And Christ as King for all be proved

Tuesday

Weed and wheat together are grown

By diff'rent sources, each was sown

At harvest, weeds shall fire meet

While wheat, the Source of Life, shall greet.

That day comes every day for some

The holy, yes, but evil come

Unto the point of no return.

A horrid lesson then to learn.

Their chosen path finds no relief

Their liar king is but a thief

Don't be a fool and fail to turn

Or you, like them, forever burn.

Wednesday

Love is the answer to all of our ills

In quiet and calm, our coffers He fills

In trusting our care to His every desire

His wisdom and grace, the humble acquire

It's good to be bold when faith comes in play

But quiet and calm when love rules the day

They both have their place in God's mighty plan

So, believe and then act as best as you can.

Thursday

At potter's wheel, a lesson learned

Whene'er the clay, a failure turned

The clay not lost but molded new

A metaphor of life with You.

You mold and shape, but then we fall

Succumbing to the whisper call

That we can shape the way we live

And not the Potter, homage give.

He molds again if we repent

But once into the fire sent

The heat will prove what's good to keep

But shards are sent to wail and weep

The teacher sees in old and new

They both are pointing straight to You.

A Father's love at every turn

And Son whose heart with love does burn.

Friday

A saint is what I want to be

A prophet, speaking all from Thee

A one of courage, standing firm

A man of faith throughout my term.

Not just a man of many words

Not flitting to and fro, like birds

But one who's rooted deep in prayer

With understanding rich and rare

Discerning every word You speak

Determined but Your will to seek

A man of total trust in You

Who does whate'er You ask to do

Saturday

In fair or foul, I speak the truth

For I was chosen in my youth

To be a herald for the King

And to repentance, men to bring.

But truth to power often fails

When wicked power often veils

The truth in favor of the might

And sinks in ever darker night.

Humility, it takes to learn

But pride alone is their concern

So, deeper into sin they fall

As they refuse to hear the call.

It needn't be, forgiveness waits

A welcome into Heaven's gates

For all who turn and then obey

The voice that leads to Heavens' way.

Why wait?  You know the words are true

It's death that holds its grip on you.

What's here and now will never last

And on that day, your fate is cast.

So, turn and see the light ahead

Let pride and evil thoughts be shed.

True Power and True Might are good 

Just look upon the sacred wood.

7/19/26 Through 7/25/26

 

7/19/26 Through 7/25/26 

Sunday
The weeds and wheat together are grown
Among the good seed, the sinner is sown
The Master allows it to strengthen good seed
And give us the chance of converting the weed
.
.Don’t see it a burden if evil is near
The evil, of course, of the Gospel must hear
How will they believe if no preacher is sent?
They need a good seed who will call to repent
 
At harvest, the weeds, into bundles are tied
Then into the fire with greed and with pride.
The wheat is then gathered in sheaves to the Lord
Where life never ends and our God is adored.
 
Monday
So much to learn, so little time
Before we hear the church bells chime
So easily we’re caught today
By trifles on a screen that play
 
There’s far more here than scrolling past,
The little nugs that never last
There’s words eternal we should hear
And one of power we should fear
 
There’s wisdom we should seek to know
And holy places we should go
Like men of Nineveh have done
We must be humbled by the Son
 
When light is given, we must see
Not turn and face away from Thee
But take our rightful place below
And seek but more of You to know
 
Rejecting not Your discipline
But turning hearts away from sin
So we can see with clarity
The God and man disparity
 
Then offer all we have to Thee
Reserving nothing there for me
For all I have is useless bling
And You, oh Lord, are everything
 
Tis then we’ll see in clearest light
We’re made in image ever bright
As creatures meant to give in love
Just like our living God above
 
Tuesday
To do Your will is my delight
For all my sins to be contrite
Adopt into the family
Repentant sinners just like me
 
The Lord of all to brother be
Unto a sinner such as me
Bespeaks of generosity
Unknown unto the likes of me
 
Your clemency does far exceed
The written word, or thought indeed
To bring the sinner safely where
Your will alone becomes their care
 
Wednesday
Oh Jesus, One for whom I long
So humble yet, the One so strong
You hung upon the Cross for me
In dying was your victory
 
Though evil thought the vict’ry won,
They found they could not tame the Son
For death could not contain the Lamb
The holy, mighty, Great I AM
 
He chose a woman first to see
The glory of His victory
A one to run and tell the men
Our Lord is ‘live, and well again 
 
For love had conquered over death
When “finished” was His final breath
For even then, the Pagan knew
The Son of God He was, It’s true
 
The perfect Lamb was slain for all
But why so few will heed the call
Is mystery for those who do
For all we want is found in you
 
Thursday
Blest, eyes that see, and ears that hear
They find, in truth, the Lord is near
They see and hear, and understand
That God has greater glory planned
 
They see beyond the present time
To ever greater heights to climb
Each step leads closer to the King
And prompts us to His praises sing
 
But those with eyes who fail to see
The wonders offered clear and free
Or use their ears to hear His word
Find never that the heart is stirred
 
Without our looking deep within
We falsely think we never sin
We make the standard what we do
And lose all sight and sound of You

Friday

Be walking no longer in hardness of heart

Return, oh rebellious, and make a new start

Be gathered together to honor our Lord

The scattered be ransomed, and Christ be adored

No longer the Ark, and no longer the sun

A time of tranquility now has begun

Think not of the past or the future you see

There's only the now that forever will be

The story of seed that was carried away

Or story by rock and by thorn led astray

Is sad, but the one the rich soil has found

A hundredfold harvest for Heaven is bound

Saturday

A place of honor all shall seek

But deeper into Christ we peek

And find a Servant's heart within

Then, here, He tells us to begin

All power comes from One above

The great, almighty Lord of love

His Son it is who came to serve

And give what man did not deserve

One always humble, in control

One always ready to console

A hand of service ready there

Our every burden, Him to share

7/12/26 Through 7/18/26

 7/12/26 Through 7/18/26

Sunday

His word achieves its stated goal

To heal, to comfort, and console

Correct, admonish, and advise

To punish, censure, and chastise

It scatters far and wide to find

A soil of the fertile kind

Where it may flourish, bearing fruit

Achieving there its main pursuit

But even seed among the stones

Not lasting long, a little owns

A job to show the cold and dead

How from the soil rich, they're fed

On path, in thorn, or rocky ground

Though yet, conditions right not found

The seed it gives a chance to choose

Be fertile or this chance you lose

So many seeds are thrown our way

We've no excuse to stay this way

For we could change to fertile ground

If we but stop and turn around.

Monday

The humble one, alone, He hears

The little one, alone, He nears

The sacrifices made by men

Disgust the Lord of Glory when

They come with self, exalted high

While poor ignored and left to die.

The orphan left in dire straits,

And hungry left with empty plates.

A one who loves what's here below

Will not the Lord of Glory know

But love His Son above the rest

And find your every action blest.

He's there amid the poor and lame

The outcast and the low to claim,

Who lose their lives will find the Lord

A treasure wealthy can't afford

Tuesday

Woe to the people who see and have heard

But still they refuse to follow His word

Far better it be on the day of the Lord

For those who repented from all He abhorred

Great sinners forgiven, if just they repent

But smug, to the fire, with devils are sent

We see in reflection our so many sins

And sorrow for them is where healing begins

He comforts the humble who hear and obey

But those who won't listen, He just turns away

They're left in their selfishness, failing to turn

Firm grip on the rails that will lead them to burn

Wednesday

I praise you Lord for hidden things

For what Your word and action brings

An understanding far beyond

What on the wise and learned dawned

The little and the childlike

A vein of golden treasure strike

For when You speak, they hear and know

The way in which they're meant to go

You show the father's care for man

Which o'er the many ages span

And how, when time was fully crowned

The Lamb, upon the Cross, was found

Our sacrifice to save the soul

The Lamb consumed to make us whole

The Bread of Life to nourish well

And miracle of love to tell

The wise and learned, nay, can see

Forgiveness, offered them, by Thee

For in their eyes, they have no need

And so refuse to mercy plead

Thursday

Come to Me who labor

Come to Me and rest

Let me bear your burden

Come and be My guest

Find in Me your refuge

Find in Me your home

Nevermore you wander

Nevermore alone

Soon the pain abating

Soon the child is near

Gone will be the waiting

Gone will be the fear

Beauty in the offing

Glory in the morn

O'er the Tiber crossing

Where new life is born

Find the sweet surrender

Lay your weapons down

Be a truth defender

Wear the victor's crown

Friday

Far greater here before your eyes

The Son of God in thin disguise

So well you know the scriptures, though

Your understanding yet is slow

You fail to see what's plain as day

And carry on your wicked way

The signs are not some magic trick

Of mending lame, and healing sick

There's something Sabbath far exceeds

And something every good Jew needs

Messiah's here in plainest view

So, pull the blinders off of you.

Saturday

The wicked glories in his greed

His coveting is much to feed

The proud, with trickery, harass

The ones they see as lower class

A mouth of cursing, bitter lies

The evil tongue, our God defies

The innocent are murdered where

The poor and sick lie in despair

Why, oh Lord, are You aloof,

Not rescuing to offer proof?

We, too, have sinned, who better knew

And turned our face away from You

So, humbled now, we turn again

As poor and helpless, beaten men

You see our misery and grief

So, come now, Lord, and bring relief.