9/20/26 Through 9/26/26

 9/20/26 Through 9/26/26

Sunday

For long and many labored hours

In finite terms, what should be ours

Is more than tardy do receive

But infinite, we don't perceive

When infinite the daily wage

Our difference won't move the gauge

For all receive far more than due

And none have worked as hard as You

No Earthly good is ever owned

By any more than one alone

The more the all have claim to each

The less, for mine, a one can reach

Not so with gifts from God above

He has no limits for His love

For each of us shall all receive

And not a one with less perceive

Then even as we give away

The more and more we find each day

An inexhaustible supply

When Earthly ways we crucify

Monday

One weighed and found wanting, the story of man

Apostles and prophets, according to plan

Yes, all are found wanting, for none here receive

The height that each man was meant to achieve

Our sin is the obstacle holding us down

The source of all sadness and source of our frown

We reach for the fruit just to make it our own

And find the corruption our hearts have made known

Our selfishness seen in the words that we say

And also revealed in the way that we pray

They focus on self, while ignoring the King

So, surely there's none but division they bring

Somehow, it's in love we must speak every day

To conquer the self and to follow the Way

To draw forth the sinner, repentance to show

That peace in this world the sinner may know

Tuesday

The word of the day is to hear and obey

There's nothing so precious to God

So, come to me near so that clearly I hear

And know of the way I must trod

Be guide on the way, so that never I stray

Observing Your law to the tee

Your every command is just where I will stand

Your light on the pathway for me.

The truth I will choose so that never I lose

Salvation, right judgment, and peace

No foolishness lead to dysfunction and greed

My love for another not cease

My heart like a thing in the hand of the King

It flows any way He desires

The way of a man will not follow His plan

If listen he does to the liars.

Wednesday

Your word, oh Lord, will light the way

You guide me safely all the day

Remove the lies that tempt me to 

Reject a single word from You

From evil ways steer clear my feet

Your every word to me be sweet

Discernment comes with light from You

To guide me in whate'er I do.

I want no more than just my share.

Let truth alone become my fare

So poverty can't sway the mind

Nor riches, pride, within me bind

For You alone my soul desires

Your every word rekindles fires

Inflaming love before unknown

In every way, Your glory shown

Thursday

So much we seek is worth but naught

So little truly new

But every word that Jesus taught

Could spark a change in you

The haughty cannot see beyond

The here and now each day

But on the humble man has dawned

A bright and joyful ray

A light to see beyond the grave

To what was meant for man

No need for one to scrimp and save

What rots within our plan

Your mind so far above our own

Where things are truly new

The all on Earth that man could own

Cannot compare to You

So, change this heart to seek but You

And prosper every day

Yes, change my short and crooked view

To see the dawning ray.

Friday

The key is know what time it is

The time to make our life be His

The time to put our pride away

And focus on our final day

The time to recognize the King

To good and righteousness to cling

A time to all the bling destroy

And time to holy prayer employ

When once the King is recognized

Whate'er distracts must be despised

Our thoughts of how the world should be

Must fall in line with those of Thee.

Saturday

Afraid to question Him, they shied

To fit Him to their mold, they tried

Unwilling to believe the word

That from the mouth of Truth they heard

Too often, I refuse to ask 

Afraid of what might be the task

A coward, fearing of the pain

I must endure to find the gain

No Easter without Friday first

No comfort dares to slake the thirst

For that we have alone above

For truth and goodness, beauty, love.

With courage, we must face the day

And for His saving grace, but pray

United to the Cross we find

The peace of that eternal kind.

9/13/26 Through 9/19/26

 9/13/26 Through 9/19/26

Sunday

The debt I owe I cannot count

So, yes, I seek the Mercy Fount

Beyond the reckoning of man

The many times I've strayed His plan

Great mercy yet He offers me

And then He turns to set me free

But still I fail to mercy grant

When some offense is rare and scant.

I must reform and see the light

Or find myself cast in the night

Where never sins are washed away

And never shines the light of day

To turn the other cheek is hard

But if we fail the gate is barred

No entry without mercy shown

For all offenses we have known

Monday

Beneath the Cross all men are seen

The world within that sacred scene

The Crucified, upon the Tree

Around, the folks like you and me

A woman seven demons held

Another on a cross rebelled.

The mockers, reveling in pain

A thief who sought to Heaven gain

A one who only came at night

But, on the cross, had seen the Light

Apostles, all but one who fled

While on the Cross, their teacher bled

A merchant, wealthy in much gold

Would, on the Cross, True Love behold

The one whose lance had pierced Him through

Had now become believer, too

His Mother's arms received her child

All scourged and lifeless, so defiled

Within the tomb, was laid alone

And sealed behind a heavy stone

To look upon the Cross today

We see the horror of that day

But also see salvation, too

For Love was thinking then of you.

Tuesday

Mother, knower of all pain

You have much for me to gain

You who stood beneath the Cross

Suffered every human loss

Patiently enduring death

Even to the final breath

Saw each wound, a gift of love

Hanging on the Cross above

There His naked body shamed

From the Cross, our Mother named

Martyrdom of Love Divine

Sharing every moment thine

No one else, the story knew

Fullest knowledge, only you

Full surrender to the will 

Of the Father, ever still

Make me feel as you have felt

Make my soul to glow and melt

Let me share your grief, Divine

Make my soul as unto thine

Sacrifice you came to see

Was the sign of love for thee

Help me too, to see that sign

Make of me a son of thine

One surrendered every day

One to follow in His way

One to love enough to give

All to prosper, all to live

Wednesday

Some never to be satisfied

The people of this day

Too much of foolish human pride

To clearly find the way

No good the gifts, when love not there

It falters, and it dies

The cupboard might as well be bare

When fully blind the eyes

For love can see another's need

And use their gift to serve

As so, the Master's voice they heed

and give as love deserves.

Thursday

Forgiven much, so we much love

In harmony with those above

A single sin lets darkness in

And turns our gaze away from Him

The source of beauty, peace, and grace

We find within His Holy Face

To gaze upon a One so pure

Will every ill and sickness cure

Our sin but shields from Holy Light

And welcomes in the dark of night

Behind the shield, we shrink in size

And fail to meet His piercing eyes

The eyes of Truth we can't deny

But if our sin we keep, we fry

It's best to drop the shield and say

Forgive, forgive, oh Lord I pray

Repentant souls, He can't resist

Anointed feet, she gently kissed

A multitude of sins, He cleared

The humble soul, to Him endeared

But if we think that none is wrong

Continuing our selfish song

The shield gets larger every day

And drives the Holy Light away

The Light may hurt for quite a while

As He removes the bitter guile

But if in love we persevere

He saves from punishment severe

So, come to Him without the pride

Confessing all the guilt inside

And see how good such love can be

When God alone is God for thee.

Friday

Without the resurrection scene,

Our hope in Christ cannot be seen.

For why rely on that beyond? 

If Christ is dead, we've all been conned

Without an afterlife, we find

No benefits of being kind

No use in loving man at all

No truth in stories of the fall

For pleasure only, then we feed

And use each other in our need

No value left in being good

Or acting as we know we should

The empty tomb, the reason why

With all the heart and mind we try

To follow in His loving way

And never ever go astray.

Saturday

One form sown, another reaped

Deep within the soil steeped

One form dies and change begins

Left behind, the Earthly sins

Fruitful harvest then received

What before was not conceived

Likeness unto Light alone

What before was never known

Thirty, sixty, hundredfold

Harvest righteous, now behold

When the soil rich and deep 

Great the harvest we shall reap

9/6/26 Through 9/12/26

 9/6/26 Through 9/12/26

Sunday

But love is the answer to every command

Love is the world that the Father had planned

It leads to all happiness, mercy, and grace

Creating a holy and comforting place

Monday

Much more than just a withered hand

We stand within a withered land

A land with truth no longer known

A land where lust and greed are sown

A narcissistic world afoul

A world with Satan on the prowl

One swayed by selfishness and greed

No longer truth, but lies to breed

So few can see the light beyond

So few, of truth and peace, are fond

In vogue, the wish to godly be 

When only but a creature, thee.

When shown the way, disgust revealed

No longer wickedness concealed

They seek but to the truth destroy  

And every selfish sin employ.

We must stretch out our withered hand

And do as though the Father planned

To have and hold the treasure there

Of selfless love beyond compare

He calls us not to silent be

But all to serve, and so be free

To give of self to gain the more

And follow Christ forevermore.

Tuesday

Oh Mary our Mother, conceived without sin

Please pray to your Son that the poor may come in

Each one with a mission, as you, to the King

The humble, all glory and honor, we bring.

All tainted by sin and unfit for the Lord

However, by grace of one sinless, afford

The passage to Heaven as won by your Son

Oh, Holy and Spotless, Magnificent One.

Oh, shower the graces obedience won

You stood by the Cross to the death of your Son

Receiving the body when all was complete

With wounds of the nails in His hands and His feet.

His body was laid in a long linen shroud

Some dignity there in His death was allowed

Then quietly walking away, it was heard

"Not long will I be, in the earth here, interred".

Wednesday

The time is running out for all

To hear and answer well His call

The time for virtue now is here

Let how we act be loud and clear

The wealth we have will not survive

No Earthly honor there arrive

The food of kings a pittance there

Where all shall feast on Godly fare

The wealth that day shall be reversed

And every selfishness we nursed

Will put us near the end of line

And far away from His design

Thursday

Love the sinner, but not the sin

Here, the way the sinner to win

Pray for the ones who do you wrong

Let love be made your daily song

Withhold no good to change a heart

Let what you say, God's grace impart

No Earthly good a soul can weigh

One price alone for man can pay

His perfect sacrifice has won

Forgiveness now for everyone

But reconciled can never be

The ones who turn their back on Thee

Most loving God, and humble Lord

Such love as Yours was ne'er outpoured

As when You died upon the Tree

To save a sinner such as me.

So too, may I soon learn to love

And set my sights so far above

The fleeting sights of here below

The everlasting Light to know

Friday

If I could only clearly see

The sin that lurks around in me

And how it leads to deep despair

Then more and more, I'd choose to share

But all that seems so clear to me

Are specks I see in folks like thee

So blinded by the plank I own

In me, the sin remains unknown

Perfection seems a distant shore

For me who's always seeking more

But, as to sacrifice, I learn

The more and more, to love, I turn

Then as I turn to love I see

More clear the plank that blinded me

And when it's gone I must admit

It seems I've been a hypocrite.

Saturday

The Virgin pure and undefiled

Conceived within a tender Child

The fruit of love and holiness

Exalting high her lowliness

What Eve rejected, she embraced

Obedient, and highly placed

The covetous was naked found

And lowly one, as Queen, was crowned.

Like gods, the fruit of Eve would make

Our sins, the Fruit of Mary take

A hunger never filled by Eve

In Mary, Bread of Life, conceived.

The serpent came to greedy eye

But angel came to death defy

Said Eve, "I will not serve," reply

Said Mary, "Every word comply."

The King, the perfect Queen had found

Where sin had all its tendrils wound

A One obedient and good

Would bear the One to bear the Wood.

8/30/26 Through 9/5/26

 8/30/26 Through 9/5/26

Sunday

A living sacrifice of praise

To You in humble form we raise

A mind transformed to see Your will

Yet one in deepest conflict still

Does flesh or Spirit rule the day?

Does true discernment lead the way?

When love for one offends the more

Then all but one are shown the door

The choice is hard despite the way

So, help me choose the light of day

And help the one who's turned away

To heal the wounds without delay.

Monday

The devil likes to tickle ears

To play with words and play on fears

He puffs us up to pull us down

And offers but a withered crown

But fancy words appearing wise

Are just a veiled and thin disguise

The Word of life is sacrifice

Not always soft, or sweet, and nice.

He wants the all we have to give

The everything on which we live

So He alone can be our King

And peace to faithful people bring

The home, a place not well-received

For thoughts therein are ill-conceived

They look for magic shows to win

But fail to turn away from sin

Far more than magic, what we need

Is faith the size of mustard seed

To move the mountain sin has formed

And face eternal life reformed.

Tuesday

So, do I have the mind of Christ?

A mind for others sacrificed?

Or does the world still dwell within,

Attached unto a life of sin?

In some ways, yes; in some ways, no;

For still I have some way to go

The saints were clean and fully in

Rejecting any form of sin.

But as I look, I clearly see

In many ways, that isn't me.

Enticements of the world remain

And still I fall for temporal gain.

A little pleasure here and there

Can soon become a daily snare

To feed the flesh its base desire

Not mindful of the holy fire.

A flaming sword the angel wields

And every way, the weapon shields

The Garden from the slightest sin

For nothing such can enter in.

It severs, burns, and purifies

All that unworthy of the prize

For, yea, before we enter in

We must detach from every sin

He cuts and burns the dross away

Before we pass the narrow way

It comes to all, no sin survives

Nor to the Land of Love arrives

Oh, help me Lord, that here below

I have the sense to just say, no

To sinful pleasures of the day

And learn the sacrificial way

Then cleansed the easy way, I'll find

Akin to Christ, becomes the mind

Then Heaven's way to me would clear

And death would come without much fear.

Wednesday

One who plants, and one who waters

Are not One who makes things grow

He who calls us sons and daughters

Paints the field of faith below.

Only such a One can save us

Others but to serve His will

Freedom, all on Earth, He gave us

Brothers meant to love, not kill

We must grow beyond the infant

More than milk must feed the soul

Looking not to feed the instant

But to benefit the whole.

Unity means no division

All forgiving every wrong

All as one, the Godly vision

Patient love our daily song

Take the word to furthest reaches

Everyone must hear the call

Of the One who feeds and teaches

Prompting men to give their all.

Thursday

So, leave it all to follow Him

It seems like such a foolish whim

But seems the thing that I must do

To find the lasting life anew

So many things that hold my sway

I bow to them throughout the day

To find a little pleasure there

Instead of turning to my prayer

He is The Way, The Truth, The Life

But seemingly a way of strife

The good must give to better gain

No triumph comes without much pain

To want my neighbor's every good

Means I must shoulder well the wood

And follow Christ in every way

To meet my goal the final day

Friday

No judgment passed before the time

For judgment then will fit the crime

The One alone who sees the heart

Is One alone to grace impart

When Perfect Love compares to me

So many faults I then can see

Perfection is the standard there

And none on Earth, to that, compare

Salvation comes as gift to all

For all are children of the fall

We all have sinned and so have earned

Far less than Perfect Love returned

Saturday

Revealed to just the simple ones

The way to be His chosen sons

To serve each one as Christ the Lord

Receiving so, a great reward.

The hungry, homeless, naked one

Is Jesus Christ, God's only Son

Each helpless soul in dire straits

The hand of one to help awaits

By serving them, it's Christ we feed

For He's the one we help in need

In every living soul we find

The loving source of all mankind

Give eyes to see beyond the screen

And through the mire, treasure glean

For in the poor, the Light remains

By serving them, the servant gains

8/23/26 Through 8/29/26

 8/23/26 Through 8/29/26

Sunday

In deepest sleep, from Adam's side

A rib was formed into his bride

So, blood and water from Christ's side,

The seed from which the Church arrived

The gift of self to form the bonds

The love to which the bride responds

No greater gift when we believe

By giving self, so we receive

How deep beyond the mind of man

The details of the Father's plan

No man could ever know the scope

Or more than in the darkness grope

So, say ye now, what you believe

So Kingdom Keys you may receive

All debt on Earth is in your hand

Make giving all, your one command

Monday

Your friends, oh Lord, all make it known

The splendor all Your works have shown

We draw the disbelieving in

And call them to repent from sin

Not loving when we treat the lie

As truth and let the wayward die

In sin, estranged from Love Divine

To dwell amidst the evil swine

The sinner needs to know the truth

They should have learned as just a youth

What God has said is truth indeed

And that is what we all must heed

His truth is like a precious stone

With each a beauty all its own

A masterpiece of art displayed

When just the way of truth obeyed

Tuesday

Strain the gnat, the camel swallow

Blinded guides the blinded follow

In the pit they both are falling

None can see or hear their calling

All of great import be seeing

From the lesser tasks be fleeing

Cleanse the inside, clear the sin

Make it truly clean within

Tithes of mint and rue all flowing

Yet inside the evil growing

Judgment, Mercy, Heaven, Hell

Weighty things of which we tell

Turn around and clean the inside

Stand erect and face the wind side

Be a man and choose the truth

Be example for the youth

Wednesday

A hypocrite so many times

The perpetrator of the crimes

Not wise enough to see my guilt

On shifting sand, a dwelling built

Facade of righteousness outside

But filth upon the other side

It's not but empty show inside

A store of only foolish pride

Humility the antidote

To counteract this prideful bloat

A placing others high above

And serving all with faithful love

Thursday

A steady job we all must do

Not failing in our task from you

For when at last You come to reap

We must be seen as not asleep

We must be found one hard at work

Not as the ones who duties shirk.

For on that day is just reward

Some fortunes lost, and some restored

Friday

Unsearchable the depths of God

The core of Truth, within no fraud

So far beyond the mind of man

To question Him, no mortal can

The wise He shows to be the fool

The humble chosen all to rule

The wisdom in the Father's way

Confounds the wisest of the day

Be ready now at anytime

To hear the final church bell chime

The wise, with love, their lamps will show

Within, a deep and warming glow

The fool, surprised, is unprepared

And love within, cannot be shared

So, cultivate while time remains

To so avoid eternal pains

Saturday

For simple truth, he lost his head

Precursor of the Lord was dead

The immorality was clear

But sinful ears refused to hear

With every word he stood between

Morality, and king and queen

Her wickedness in thirst of blood

Came forth amid an evil flood

A man of truth and purity

The likes of which we rarely see

Was silenced for a righteous deed

The sinful leaders failed to heed

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.