12/24/23 Through 12/30/23

 12/24/23 Through 12/30/23

Sunday

What kingdom lasts forever here

Where men grow old and death is near?

Like grass, they wither, flower fade

They last a while, then pull the shade.

But promise made him long ago

Within the hearts remained aglow

Somehow they knew the promise made

Would somehow in some way be paid.

A Virgin chosen who obeys

Who ponders in her heart and prays

To bear the One both God and man

To somehow reign forever can.

For this is One death cannot hold

Not bound by sin as kings of old.

One Holy King forever crowned

To free what chains of sin had bound.

Monday

What can I say that's left unsaid?

The Babe that's born will soon be dead

In all the world of ages past

There's nary but one thing to last.

Such love that God became a man

To show how much the mortal can

Be like unto the God above

If man would simply learn to love.

In manger lies the Prince of Peace

Whose love for man shall never cease.

His poverties endured for man

To show His love since time began.

Today we celebrate this gift

And praise unto the Savior lift

But lest our joy misunderstood

Recall to mind the sacred wood.

Tuesday

Jesus grants His grace to martyrs

Not the sort of thing one barters

But a gift that's freely given

To repentant and forgiven.

Love's the key to man's heroics

Love inspired martyred stoics

If we learn to love when steady

Grace will come when time is ready.

Love the neighbor brash and vicious

Though he be one found pernicious

Love is that which softens stone

And that which changes hearts alone.

Willingness to suffer hearkens

All whom pride and envy darkens

When they see love has no ceiling

Then the love becomes their healing.

Wednesday

What I've seen, what I've heard

What I know without a doubt

Him the Light, Him the Word

Him the prophets spoke about.

Now is risen who was dead

Now ascended to the throne

By His body we are fed

So to never be alone.

Be a lover, a disciple

Come and meet the Lord of love

He the One, the archetypal

From the Father up above.

Of the Father's love begotten

Co-eternal is the Son

Precious souls are not forgotten

Shown the way to be as one.

In His presence peace of mind

One contented, satisfied.

In His holy place we find

He, The Risen, Who once died.

Come and see, come and hear

Come to know whom I have known

Come in faith, not in fear

Let Him make you now His own.

Thursday

How well do I listen, how well do I hear?

Do I act out of wisdom, or act out of fear?

Am I tuned to the channel of Almighty God,

Or listening to that devilish fraud?

Is my self in the way of what's commonly good?

Do I act in the ways that I know that I should?

Do I care for the poor and the needy I see,

Or just pass them by thinking only of me?

Do I honor what's good and what's holy and pure?

Do I falter in trial, or do I endure?

Is commitment much deeper than surface that's seen,

Or all but a shell that disguises unclean?

You know me far better than even I know,

And that's why I ask, that You answer me so.

For blinded are many I see all around

And rarely those sighted with truth may be found.

So speak to me loudly, and speak to me clear

My hearing and seeing are faulty I fear

Sometimes I sure know as the Blessed Lord lives

That I need the persuasion a two-by-four gives.

Friday

Now let Your servant go in peace

Your word has been fulfilled

Your presence here shall now increase

Just as the Father willed.

The Light has come and darkness fades

Your glory now be known.

Let in the light, remove the shades

Soon Truth to man be shown.

Saturday

Things pondered in the Virgin's heart

Are just a way for man to start

To see with eyes of Heaven's gaze

And clear away the earthly haze.

What Earth can offer cannot fill

It's only in the Father's will

That satisfaction comes to man

In ways no Earthly chattel can.