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