5/10/26 Through 5/16/26

 5/10/26 Through 5/16/26

Sunday

The Spirit comes to be our guide

Not as a means of boastful pride

But one to teach as Jesus taught

And spread the gifts that Jesus bought

He gives the words we need to speak

He strengthens us when we are weak

Emboldening the bashful one

And seeing that His work gets done

Monday

So open your heart and hear what He says

Then kindle that spark and make it a blaze

And make of your home a place of Good News

A harbor of love for pilgrims to choose

The evil will crowd you with noise every day

Too drown out the word that you're hearing Him say

But quiet will counter the evil design

And teach you to Heaven, your ears to incline.

The child will search for immediate gain

But hopefully learn that it breeds lasting pain

Mature will be patient and giving of time

As on to the Heavenly Heights they will climb

The children need leaders who show them the way

Who sacrifice now for the coming new day

Who pleasure forsake, for another's true good

And choose like adults to shoulder the wood.

Tuesday

The Spirit will come and rejoicing will sound

When truth of the Gospel by Pagans is found

When clearly they see what the Father has done

By His sending in flesh the gift of His Son.

The bars and the chains are no match for His pow'rs

He comes to our aid in the darkest of hours

One shaking the Earth as He enters the room

Of hearts that are trapped in the darkness and doom

The Light brings a joy that before never known

But there on the faces of beaten was shown

In such a condition, they raised to His name

A song that His love and His glory acclaim.

Wednesday

Our Lord, not leaving men to fall

Has sent the One on whom we call

His Spirit from the Godhead Three

To open eyes and hearts to see

The world has many gods to praise

But only One to whom we raise

Our heart and voice to so proclaim

The glory of His Sacred Name

For One but died and rose again

As Sacrifice for sinful men

This One has borne our weight of sin

And calls us now to enter in.

Since we, as men, are free to choose

The life He offers, we may lose

Unless we turn from evil ways

And offer One the rightful praise

Thursday

Told to love another clearly

Spirit of our Lord is nearly

There with every grace that's needed

When His voice is closely heeded.

Well the chosen teachers seeded

And for newborn Christians pleaded

That the Spirit come with graces

Filling all the needed places.

Friday

When new life comes, it brings a joy

To pain and suffering destroy

The newness and the purity

Arrives amid obscurity

Yet comes to waken love within

And turn our hearts away from sin

To see our duty here to give

For such a precious one to live

The hardest thing we'll ever do

Is make a sacrifice like You

A total gift of self to win

Our vict'ry over death and sin

You showed the way on Calvary

How real men all were meant to be

As husbands, fathers, men who love

And take their cues from God above

Our chance at glory here below

Is raise a tender child to know

The love of God, and right from wrong

Then write a new and diff'rent song

Saturday

Oh, let Your words be on my lips

So they, my feeble words eclipse

So they might reach one deep within

And lead to turning far from sin

Your blaze of mercy melts away

Dear Father, this, I humbly pray

In Jesus' name, in firm resolve

My sinfulness that You absolve

I pray that too, my life be seen 

A one, within the din, serene

With comfort in Your mercy, Lord

A broken one who's been restored

A one Your Spirit uses well

To of Your grace and glory tell

Obedient in every way

And trusting every word You say/

.

5/3/26 Through 5/9/26

 5/3/26 Through 5/9/26

Sunday

So oft repeated in our day

We stumble and we lose our way

We hear the word, but heed it not

Then lose whate'er we think we've got

Don't get distracted by the good

But focus on the word, we should

For when we listen and obey

It keeps us on the narrow way

He makes a place for man to dwell

But never shall the man compel

He offers man a home above

But only when we learn to love

Monday

Not to us, but to Your Name

Belongs the glory, Lord

No good for man is Earthly fame

Or Earthly riches stored.

For all we have has come from You

And naught we claim our own

Our best is all that we can do

To make Your glory known.

Unworthy as a man may be

Each one a task You give

To help another plainly see

For You, a man must live

The self-reliance of our time

To false assurance leads

For when the final church bells chime

Then all we have are needs

For naked to the world we came

And naked we shall leave

No good for man is Earthly fame

To Jesus, we must cleave

Our glory must be His akin

Obtained by giving all

By opening our ears to Him

And answering His call.

Tuesday

To suffer much, the Christian's call

So, give Him nothing less than all

From early on, our Jesus knew

The worst that evil men would do

Yet, undeterred, He stood His ground

And boldly faced the evil found.

Scorned upon the Cross, He bled

Humiliated, cold, and dead

When evil thought the battle won

The torture and the killing done

He showed the pow'r of love to save

And rose again from in the grave

Now those who follow Him will know

That sufferings will come and go

Whate'er the trials though they find

He offers joy and peace of mind

For only in the Father's will

No matter how they maim or kill

The spirit cannot be controlled

And all will one day be consoled.

Wednesday

One firmly attached to the life-giving Vine

Whose fruit will produce an abundance of wine

Is always relying on strength from above

Renewing the soul with the power of love

The fruits of the Spirit abundantly grow

When graces, to branches, will lavishly flow

Apart from the Vine, they but wither and fade

Dried up, they but fuel for the fire are made

Oh, never let me, interrupt such a flow

But open each channel to flourish and grow

Then prune every branch so it bears the best fruit

As one well aware of my final pursuit.

Thursday

His word was meant for all to hear

All hearts were meant to Him be near

The God of love was meant for man

Since long before the time began

A chosen people all His own

Were first to whom our God was known

They had the law to bring them near

And yet the path remained unclear

It wasn't 'till Messiah came

And love became His claim to fame

That man could see His love extends

To even the remotest ends

Our task is carrying His word

'Till nations everywhere have heard

And Love's dominion grows to find

Its home in hearts of all mankind

Friday

Our friends are called upon in need

And friends are those the Master heed

A wondrous gift to be His friend

And always on His grace depend

Not slaves without Your goal in mind

But friends who to Your mission bind

And work to bear the fruit Divine

From those well grafted on the Vine

The friends are those who learn to love

Accepting graces from above

To bring the Kingdom here below

So sinners may forgiveness know.

Saturday

To know the Father, know the Son

For they are with the Spirit One

The ways of love so strange to man

Since in the Garden, time began

The time when man first turned away

From following the Father's way

Corruption entered perfect joy

And tries now to the man destroy

But Jesus came, redeeming man

According to the Father's plan

Not using pow'r, but using love

And teaching man to look above

To see the world beyond the Earth

And find therein a second birth

To where His love will rule the day

And all will walk the Father's way

Our job is but to spread the news

And help those here to rightly choose

Though some will hear yet go astray

There's some who listen and obey.

The Harvest is Rich

 The Harvest is Rich

The harvest is rich, but the laborers few. (Mt 9:37)

So, ask if the Lord may be calling on you.

The fields are in danger of falling to seed,

Of losing the wheat and sowing the weed.

 

Much labor is needed to harvest the field

Our Lord is expecting a maximum yield.

Don’t be one that meets Him with nothing in hand

To show that you’ve followed His greatest command. (Mt 28:19-20)

 

You say, how can I help, or what can I do?

Well, what is it God has been speaking to you?

The gifts you’ve been given were meant to be used

So, be not a one, that to use them, refused.  (Jn 2:5)

4/26/26 Through 5/2/26

 4/26/26 Through 5/2/26

Sunday

You're Shepherd, Sheep, and the Gate

But why have I learned this so late?

To follow Your voice, and make You my choice

Is how, my desires, I sate.

You're Leader who shows us the way

To sacrifice something each day

A servant to be, and through serving to see

Through all different shades of the gray

The Lamb to atone for our sin

A new way of life to begin

Your shedding of blood, an incredible flood

For sinners, salvation to win.

Our Gate to the heavens above

The land of the purest of love

Where Father we meet, and Spirit we greet

In no other form than a Dove.

And here's how I know that it's true

They're words that were spoken by You

And all that You say, no matter the day

Is straight in a world that's askew.

Monday

In varied ways You speak to me

But many times it's hard to see

Just what You wish for me to do

And how I best can answer You

Is it too much to ask of Thee

To speak with simple clarity;

I know Your ways exceed my own,

But can't a ray of light be shown?

You made me, and You know I'm weak

I try to listen when You speak

A servant I but want to be

But need to know what's asked of me.

Tuesday

Disciples were scattered to spread the Good News

The wicked surpressing whatever they choose

The people believing and seeing the light

While all around them was threat of a fight

The mission was clear to disciples back then

And they were courageous, obedient men

Determined to act on Your every command

Regardless of what they had formerly planned

I need such conviction to follow this way

And trust that the gifts will be coming to stay

Not just for a moment, then leaving me dry

I need all the gifts and the vision to try.

It seems like a selfish and gutless excuse

But I see awaiting, an obvious noose

It's not of the dying that gives me the pause

But failing a worthy and noble good cause

We need one with vision inspired by love

A one with a pipeline directly above

A one to inspire the masses to sign

And join to this odd, but uplifting design.

Wednesday

One set apart to speak of You

One given grace for what we do

For spreading truth throughout the land

Completing all the work You planned

Each one a worker in the field

Expectant of a mighty yield

Determined that all men should hear

And lend a willing, docile ear

A one to serve in varied ways

Regardless of our elder days

For long as well the body breathes

We must be gathering the sheaves

Thursday

If one has a word, he should speak it out loud

And not be a one who gets lost in the crowd

He calls on us all to be heralds of love

And sends us His Spirit for strength from above

A slave, never more than his master, will be

When Master is Servant, so too, it's for thee

We give to the needy without a return

The Master's true message, in quiet, we learn

The works we accomplish are all through His hands

Which make up a lifeline of many such strands

Once firmly affixed to the Master, we grow

To lines that will bring many others in tow.

Friday

A day for workers, set aside

A Saint with men to be allied

A humble, docile, holy man

A key to working out God's plan

A man of pure unselfish love

With ears attuned to God above

A man who acts on what he's heard

With trust in God, the way preferred

No selfish motives here at play

But pure intent to never stray

A hand that's strong and highly skilled

A one that's trained to mold and build

A quiet one we nary hear

But one who's waiting always near

To serve whate'er the Father's will

And so, His role of dad fulfill.

Saturday

The word must spread to every land

And we must follow His command

To make disciples of all men

To see His mighty works again

All ends of Earth must know His name

And know from whom the Savior came

The Father, too, they must embrace

And see Him in the Savior's face.

For both are One, and yet there's more

The Spirit, too, completes the core

A triune God of Three in One

The Father, Spirit, and the Son.

His word will often, mind, exceed

But if in faith and love, we plead

For understanding, knowledge, too,

His light will often shine for you

The prideful heart brings darkest night

But littleness of heart brings light

For humble see, where proud are blind

And teachable, the truth will find

4/19/26 Through 4/25/26

 4/19/26 Through 4/25/26

Sunday

The Bread of Life is not a sign

It's as He said, Himself, Divine

Disciples saw beyond the Bread

And recognized by whom, they're fed

The Mass is more than sacred meal

It's more than what emotions feel

It's Christ Himself, as food for man

To help us live the Father's plan

It's daily Bread we're told to seek

It's strength for all the poor and weak

It's what sustains us every day

And leads us through the narrow way

No sign or symbol brings relief

It's only sure and true belief.

Christ shows Himself when we believe

It's truly Him that we receive.

Monday

Angelic in appearance

Filled with grace and power

Loving, wise adherence 

To God in final hour

Wisdom none could master

His spirit from above

Word of God, broadcaster

Who reached their hearts with love

But some among the crowded

Debated what he said

Their lying message clouded

As such, to want him dead.

But light would shine around

His face for all to see

The man of love was found

To glow angelically

No fear of death was shown

For confident was he

The love of God was known

He wanted all to see.

Tuesday

We fall at rest into His hands

The One who gave us His commands

We trust His love to save our soul

And, once again, to make us whole

We take the Bread of Life He gives

In form of bread, but He who lives

We trust the Father's love for man

Which all eternity shall span

Forgiveness is the holy way

To bring His Kingdom in our day

To love another as He did

And selfishness and sin forbid

Wednesday

The Bread of Life from Heaven came

Becoming One of great acclaim

But those in power soon resolved

His influence must be dissolved

We can't allow His cult to grow

For He would often leaders show

As insincere and self-absorbed

A wicked and a sinful hoard.

Though crucified, He rose again

And turned His weak and feeble men

Into a band both bold and brave

A zealous bunch to sinners save

The more we tried, the more they grew

And off to other towns they flew

With signs and wonders, hearts will turn

When they, about Messiah learn

I swore I'd do my very best

To silence this unruly pest

From house to house, I rooted out

The ones both faithful and devout

I thought myself a faithful Jew

Just doing what the righteous do

I had no clue that someday soon

I too, with them, would so commune.

Thursday

So, send me, Lord, as Philip was

A one to spread Your word

I want to work for You because

Of all the truth I've heard

It resonates and strikes a chord

A ringing sound so clear

Each word You speak, my God and Lord

Keeps drawing me more near

They all must hear and understand

How wrong we've been before

Far greater how the Father planned

To cleanse our sinful core.

The Son of God, the Perfect Lamb

Was sent from up above

To die for man, the Great I AM

To show us, perfect love

He left behind the Holy Mass

To feed in many ways

For generations, on to pass

The Bread of Life with praise

How true it is, and all should know

This food arrives each morn

If all but to the Mass would go

To find themselves reborn

Friday

No symbol or sign, but real food and real drink

Not hard to believe, in His context, I think.

The miracles shown in the span of three years

Should be proof enough for our eyes and our ears.

Whoever such wonders before has performed?

Whoever before has the cold-hearted warmed?

Whose words cause a fire to burn in our hearts?

Whose clemency quenches the evil one's darts?

Christ Jesus alone ever made such a claim

Christ Jesus, our Lamb of Redemption, became.

He suffered and died and was laid in the tomb

But rose to dispel all the darkness and gloom

With power like His, it is simple to see

Bread truly becomes, but His Body, for me.

So wine, to His Blood, will be changed by the word

Of priestly profession we've so often heard.

No nicety granted for feelings of peace

But sacrifice, timeless, and never to cease.

A love so profound that it's Christ we receive

And humbly we come, 'cause it's what we believe.

Saturday

A life of many ups and downs

A passing through of many towns

He spread the word both far and near

To all who take the time to hear

One fatherless in what we read

But one the voice of Christ would heed

One seized, but naked, ran away

From in the garden on that day

One filled with zeal, but also fear

Desired that all men would hear

But left before the job was done

Becoming one that Paul would shun

But still, his faith and courage grew

Until his martyrdom, he knew

He wrote so Gentile men could see

That Jesus came to set all free.

Alike to many here today

He had his bumps along the way

But finished strong, a saint to be

Whose Gospel has meant much to me

4/12/26 Through 4/18/26

 4/12/26 Through 4/18/26

Sunday

It's hard to believe all that Jesus has done

The vict'ry o'er sin, on the Cross that He won.

The rising again from a cold, lonely tomb

Like flowers in Spring that will open to bloom.

His mercy to Thomas, His mercy to me

Is far more than I ever thought there could be.

Devotion to teaching and prayer, we must heed

For this is the source of the joy that we need.

A little we suffer in various ways

But all in the hope of our Heavenly days

As gold in the furnace is tested by fire,

By trial, a beauty unknown we acquire.

Monday

Born of the Spirit, beyond of the known

With signs and with wonders, the people are shown

That Jesus is Lord and He comes from above

To show us the truth about mercy and love.

So little we know, but of what we can see

The Spirit illumines what's hidden from thee

Unless we are born in a spiritual way

We'll never be more that the old lump of clay.

The breath of the Spirit gives life to the soul

One taking the broken and making them whole.

His word will direct us as guide on the road

With all of His gifts on the humble bestowed

He "callifies" simple to speak in the name

Of Jesus, our Savior, from Heaven who came

To show us the Father, whose love never ends

On whom all existing, forever depends

Tuesday

Lord, Heavenly things are all foreign to me

I don't have such eyes that enable to see

I need, for my blindness, a wave of Your hand

A clearing of doubts in Your every command.

You know of my weakness, You know how I fail

You know that I'm worried, distracted, and frail

I hear of Your teaching, attractive and good

But see that it's leading You straight to the wood.

I want what You're teaching, but not with a cross

Most surely, there's Heaven without such a loss?

So, you are a teacher, but never have heard

That love is demanding, is truly absurd.

All love must require a giving away

Of all that we have to salvage the day

So, piercing the darkness with light, we will find

That gold, in the fires of love, is refined.

Once lifted, you'll see who I AM, and believe

In giving of all, is the way we receive.

Your faith is a pipeline for graces and love

And giving increases the flow from above.

Wednesday

Those teaching the word are both humble and true

Those fully in love and devoted to You

Those touched by the Spirit, enflamed with Your love

Ones here now on Earth, but destined above

His Son was but given for man to believe

Abundance of mercy and grace to receive

Not sent to condemn, but to heal and to save

To conquer o'er death, and rise from the grave.

The ones who believe will all come to the light

By turning from drear, and the dark of the night.

For truth is in light, where we all clearly see

That Jesus is God and He's setting us free.

The word is so true, and it must be proclaimed

So believers are bold and never ashamed.

They speak every word that the angel commands

And heed not the threats of the evil demands

Help me be a one who's so bold and so brave

One giving the body, when soul, it will save.

One speaking the truth on whatever the day

Regardless of warnings, the evil convey.

Thursday

Just who should we obey?

The man of Earthly way?

Or One above who deals in love

And not what wicked say?

The choice is clear to all,

But still so many fall.

The Earthly way is wide, they say.

But deadly after all.

What Christ has shown is good

And, follow it, we should

But in the light, we see in fright

The horror of the wood.

His sacrifice has shown

The way to glory own

Embrace the Cross, but not for loss,

To make His rising known.

For so, the Spirit comes

And man on Earth becomes

A wealthy one who's just begun

The depths of God, to plumb

No limit to the love

Of Him who reigns above

Our little loss, joined with the Cross

His recompense thereof.

Friday

A river winds through desert sand

Eleven follow His command

The signs and wonders show the way

But those in power still say, nay

A threat to power they perceive

And so, the lash, the men receive

But this they treasure as a sign

They've come to know the Man Divine

As Jesus did with five and two

He made a feast for me and you

His body here, in form of bread

He gives so we are richly fed.

Saturday

Let nothing hinder, Lord, I pray

From teaching Your exalted way

The way of sacrifice You chose

To conquer all our sinful foes

For love of Man, You chose to die

Each heart contains your reason why

A sinful and perverted soul

Who needs Your love to be made whole

The word must spread throughout the land

And we must follow Your command

To make disciples of all men

And shine Your light to them again

The seas are stormy, tossed, and gray

But quick, You make Your servant's way

If we would hear and answer well

All fear and worry You dispel.