9/13/15 through 9/19/15

9/13/15 through 9/19/15

Sunday

Change this mind and ways I think

Let me Your sacred chalice drink

Give me the will to suffer for

The Way of Love that offers more.

Monday

To look upon the tortured Lamb

I stop and wonder who I am,

That He would count the world as loss

And choose to die upon the cross.

Such love unknown before or since

The depth of which can sure convince

The hardest heart to turn around

And let eternal life be found.

Tuesday

Most surely on the day He rose

His Mother first to greet He chose

The one who freely gave up all 

In answer to His loving call.

Wednesday

Oh may I think of others first

And not my daily needs

For though the selfish one is cursed,

The humble one He heeds.

Thursday

By humble acts of service now

We show great love and then somehow

Like her of hair and ointment fame

We're snatched from that eternal flame.

Friday

To stewards of this awesome treasure

Send your wisdom without measure

Let us not be filled with greed

But let us help the ones in need.

Saturday

Make of me a fertile soil

In this land where people quarrel

Let the seed of love take root

That I may bear abundant fruit.

9/6/15 through 9/12/15

9/6/15 through 9/12/15

Sunday

Ephphatha spoken by the King

Made sounds in quiet ears to ring

It's true!  He can do anything.

He even makes the silent sing.

What joy to now communicate

Without the need of chalk and slate

With spoken word elucidate

And thirsty souls rejuvinate.

Monday

When life itself is trumped by pride

The wickedness grows well inside

They'd rather curse and reprimand

Than see the cure of withered hand.

Have we ourselves not fallen prey

To prideful thinking of the day,

Devaluing the gift of life,

Forsaking vows of man and wife?

Tuesday

Sinless Mary came to birth

The dawn of hope for sinful earth

For through her holy child of light

The Son of God would end the night.

Wednesday

Blessed poverty, spiritual gift

To God, our pains and troubles we lift

Only when trusting He's given us all

Are we free to abandon and answer His call.

Thursday

Mary, Mary, pure and bright

Constant source of joy and light

Bring your charm to every room

Dispel the darkness, chase the gloom.

Follow in your patron's way

And seek His will for every day

Put on the dress of holy one

Be kind and meek, with blessing tongue.

When troubled by a daily trial

Just sit with Him and rest a while

There you'll find a love so deep

He cares for loved ones as they sleep.

And as you travel down life's road
No matter what the heavy load
Be sure to listen for His voice
To help you make a proper choice.

Friday

Pursuing truth, I find on the way

Faults in my deeds, and things that I say.

I find them at first, as a splinter you see

In the eye of some other, but surely, not me.

In quiet reflection, my time of great peace,

Talking to Him, I advise without cease.

When finally stopping a moment to thank,

I find that my eye has been filled with a plank.

Saturday

Reflecting on the day's events

The mind looks back, and heart repents

Failures lead to bitter sorrow

Hope is for a better morrow.

8/30/15 through 9/5/15

8/30/15 through 9/5/15

Sunday

Oh wash me Lord and make me clean

From sinfulness in me unseen

From judgments rash, and lust inside

From selfish greed and foolish pride.

Monday

Today this passage is fulfilled

He's come to set us free

The long expectant hearts were thrilled 

His mighty works to see.

Tuesday

Let me accept with grace this day

The will of Christ my Lord

My debts no way I could repay

His gifts could not afford

Wednesday

Thank you Lord for giving me

The things that do me good.

Instead of what my thinking be

When I've misunderstood.

Thursday

No looking back with longing eyes

To former ways of life

Leave all for Him with piercing eyes

Who gives eternal life.

Friday

When pride in me, self-flattery

Invades the heart and mind

Then wisdom flies before my eyes

And folly's all you find.

Saturday

Without love how can we last 

As creatures on this earth?

A day of doom approaches when

There's judgement for our past.

8/23/15 through 8/29/15

8/23/15 through 8/29/15

Sunday

The Eucharist is our main course

It strengthens and provides the force

To meet the challenge of each day

And help us follow in His way.

Monday

In every life a certain one

Shines with a special glow

A light reflective of the Son

That beckons us to grow.

A mom or dad, or family friend

That truly knows the Lord.

Who trusts in Him until the end

Relying on His Word.

Oh, let me be, so many see

In me that special light.

The light of love, from God above,

Dispelling darkest night.

Tuesday

It seems to me, in daily spats,

We often tend, to choke on gnats.

While the highest court that we impanel

Can swallow with ease the whole darn camel.

Wednesday

Receive it as the Word of God

And not the word of men.

Be not a whited sepulchre,

But living flesh! Amen.

Thursday

Be ready not to hide away

Be ready to embrace.

The Master shall return one day,

And Him we all must face.

Friday

The virgins wise, their lamps kept filled

While waiting for the groom

The foolish ones came unprepared,

No trials were assumed.

The oil within, our Faith and Hope,

Supplied by God above.

To keep the lamp flame burning bright

With fire of ardent love.

A flame of empty outward signs

Temptation blows away,

But coaxing winds make steadfast hearts

Burn brighter everyday.

Saturday

The Baptist's tongue will speak no more

His dark set eyes will pierce no hearts.

Though man could separate his parts

His words live on for evermore.

Make straight the path.  Repent.  Believe.

Be washed, and be set free.

He must increase, I must decrease.

Behold the Lamb of God.

8/16/15 through 8/22/15

8/16/15 Through 8/22/15

Sunday

This bread becomes our very breath

The body of our Lord.

Redemption from our certain death

A price could none afford.

The wine, His blood, our saving drink

For parched and thirsty souls

The sinners saved from darkest brink,

The lowly ones consoled.

Monday

Before you lies a blessing

Before you lies a curse

The freedom from confessing,

Or lies to make things worse.

Tuesday

Least in all Manasseh

He hides to thresh his wheat

But called by God to challenge, and

Bring Midian defeat.

The angel of the Lord he saw

And spoke to face to face

Behold, oh mighty one said he

You're called to cleanse this place

Wednesday

With leadership comes sacrifice

A gift of one to all

Controlling of our appetites

And answering the call.

Thursday

Not one thing can be claimed as mine

No praise for things I do.

All I have comes from Divine

Even praise I offer You.

Friday

To love the Lord with heart and mind

The greatest of the laws, we find.

Then like yourself, to love all men

Will please the Father once again.

Saturday

Teach me to choose the lowest place

Teach me to always seek your face

Then finding in humility

Who You intended me to be.

8/9/15 Through 8/15/15

8/9/15 through 8/15/15

Sunday

Strength for the journey

Bond with the Lord

Bread of compassion 

Life giving Word

Lord give me hunger

Lord give me thirst

For what is holy

Placing You first

For in Your Passion

Is my redemption

Life without ending

In resurrection!

Monday

The giver of the gifts should know

Just what we need to bloom and grow

He spoke the word and made it all

His grace is plenty for us all.

Tuesday

The memory of a child's embrace

Is slow to fade away

The innocence upon their face

The loving words they say.

This pure and simple, spotless love

Is how our lives should be

Reliance on our God above

Should be our path, you see.

Wednesday

A glow of light beyond the door

A thirsting soul desires more

A knock to say:  "May I come in?"

The pathway choked by years of sin.

Thursday

Oh Jesus, in this bread so fine

Great comfort, and great strength of mine,

Cleanse me Lord from all my sin

Grant that I, Your favor win.

Friday

His body offered up for her

Her will subordinate to his

Such love will demonstrate for sure

What marriage made in heaven is.

Saturday

The Ark of God, that holy place,

The lowly Virgin, Full of Grace,

The humble and obedient one,

Now reigns in splendor with her Son.

8/2/15 Through 8/8/15

8/2/15 through 8/8/15

Sunday

Do I believe the way I should,

Have His words been understood?

The works I've seen and things I know,

Have shown quite clear the way to go.

But somehow still, I choose my way

That easy and that broad highway

Instead of trusting what He said

And finding Him within the bread.

Monday

For leeks and melons people longed

And would at once return

To slavery where their rights were wronged

If food they could discern.

What price for freedom would I pay,
Have I a will so strong

To disregard the easy way

And find where I belong?

Tuesday

Majestic words cannot describe

No awesome sight could dare explain

The truth to which my heart ascribes

The blessing in His Holy Name.

Wednesday

You see but just the surface

And think you know the whole

Your lips do you no service

When God you don't extoll.

Thursday

In splendid light they heard the voice

He's my beloved Son

So listen now and make your choice

Be like this Holy One.

Friday

Take up your cross and follow me

He offers every soul

The way to find the life you seek

Is giving to the full.

Saturday

Feet on the ground, and hands up high

I ask His holy will

To give to me a loving eye

And help me speak with skill.

7/26/15 through 8/1/15

7/26/15 through 8/1/15

Sunday

The foolish look for merely bread

When even though five thousand fed

On just five loaves, and but two fish

The multitude He gave their wish

Much more He gives to those who see

It's God who works in mystery

With not so ordinary bread

At Mass the multitude is fed.

Monday

A doer, not a hearer

Is what I'm called to be

Not one who finds a mirror

And looks, but fails to see.

But peering at perfection

With persevering stare

Our God provides protection

And blessings everywhere.

Tuesday

The prophets to our fathers spoke

In words disguised within a cloak,

But in our day, with clarity, 

He speaks direct to you and me.

Wednesday

A countenance of Holy Light

The skin of Moses shining bright

Encountering our Holy Lord

The one he worshiped and adored.

Thursday

He walked about in veiled disguise

His face too bright for normal eyes

His features glowing full of grace

When e're he left that holy place.

Friday

It's sad to see the healing art

Become an industry

Forgetting that the true healthcare

Is really ministry.

The Sabbath celebration was 

A gift from God on high

A solemn day of rest because

We need it to get by.

Saturday

He called the sinner to repent

By how he lived and what he said

But Herod, that great coward, sent

And on a whim, John lost his head.

7/19/15 through 7/25/15

7/19/15 through 7/25/15

Sunday

With pride we often entertain

The pleasures that we seek

Instead of trying to abstain

And learning to be meek

Monday

Ignoring what they cannot hide

Creating overwhelming tide 

Denying truth they know inside

The court has ruled along gay pride

Tuesday

The waters of the Red Sea part

To freedom now the slaves depart

The people that the Lord has named

Through water now the Lord has claimed

When like the sea, His heart was split

The blood and water flowed from it

An overwhelming, precious tide

Of grace and mercy from His side.

Wednesday

Baptismal waters cleanse and bless

As we our sinful past confess

Through water now His dove descends

And sinful hearts He heals and mends

Unfading mark upon the brow

To claim one as the Lord's somehow

To wash away the stain of sin

And pave the way to Heaven win.

Thursday

How often Lord I stop to pray

But fail to practice what You say

Let Your word in  me be found

And make of me Your fertile ground

Friday

The peaceful morn a holy time

And I have learned to call it mine

A time to watch the dawn awake

And quietly reflection take

The varied birds that sing their song

The air that's cooled by darkness long

This calm before the busy day

I've found the perfect time to pray

Saturday

In jars of clay we carry gold

That you should know what we've been told

Is from the power of God, not man

And all our works are in His plan.

7/12/15 through 7/18/15

7/12/15 through 7/18/15

Sunday

The beauty of the earth down deep

So very few have known

Such grandeur there one shouldn't keep

For just his very own

Monday

Not knowing how God's children are

The rulers try to keep

Their numbers from increasing far

And roots from growing deep

For not this world the roots were meant

Such children must increase

The ones who offer this sweet scent

Of service and of peace

Tuesday

If His voice should come to me

Attentive pray that I should be

And willing that I would repent

I offer that I would be sent

Wednesday

Thy word oh Lord and not my own

Has power to light the way

Give me the words to make You known

In all I do and say

Thursday

The first time I received the Lord 

I found uncommon grace

Somehow to me His love out poured

That special time and place.

Friday

Impatient with his lagging pace

I grumbled quietly

Forgetful of the mighty grace

I was about to see

I heard a voice as plain as day

That reprimanded me

"Look at his hands" I heard Him say

"Be blind no more, but see"

How many times this aged man

With ordinary bread

Has lifted up those holy hands

And hungry souls were fed.

"So who are you, self righteous one
Who can't afford this time
To criticize the pace of one
Whose life is fully Mine"


Saturday
The people left in hurried pace
With just unleavened bread
They left that awful slavery place
To be with manna fed.

7/5/15 through 7/11/15

7/5/15 through 7/11/15

Sunday

Embrace the weakness quell the sin

And let the word of God come in

Then in temptation's strongest hour

Discover He provides the power

Monday

It's time to offer God this day

It's time to fast and time to pray

It's time to learn the key to peace

It's time for carelessness to cease

Tuesday

Worthy of trust is Jesus our Lord

Gift of the Father and life giving word

He raises the one who was cast in the pit

To govern the land and rule over it.

Wednesday

Authority was given us

O'er demons filled with greed and lust

The power to live in holiness

The power to cure and teach and bless

Thursday

Now when we humbly serve and greet

Or wash the lowly servant's feet

The gift of love is all around

And this is where true wealth is found.

Friday

When you hear these rhyming words

Don't think our God is split in thirds

The three are bound forever one

The Father, Spirit, and the Son.

And the Father sent the Son

To show us how to live as one

To take the lowly place at feast

To learn to love and serve the least.

Saturday

Regression without precedence

The former century brought

Man seeking to redeem by new

Progressive ways of thought

Utopia one cannot find 

By forcing to conform

The will of each and every soul

According to your norm.

The paradise they're looking for 

Comes not from power and might

But from the gift of servant love

In radiance and light.

6/28/15 through 7/4/15

6/28/15 Through 7/4/15

Sunday

Attempts to fill our emptiness

Are made in vain and more distress

We work to fill the hole inside

But find we're never satisfied.

For even if the Lord we try

To touch his garments passing by

It' not enough to meet with him

Our souls were meant to BE in him.

Monday

This day I set before the Lord

My sacrifice of praise

That I may feed upon his word

And love him all my days.

Tuesday

It's time to tame that awful beast

Who makes the flesh cry out

To rid myself of greedy yeast

And cast the glutton out.

I must rely on higher power

To cleanse me of this guile

Unfailing in my weakest hour

With strength to bear the trial

Wednesday

What should I say when I haven't a clue

Of what You are saying or what I should do?

Be patient and listen, take time to relax

The words you are given are much more than scraps

First taste, and then chew, consuming the whole.

Let them give you courage and nourish your soul

My body true bread and my blood is true drink.

You're given the grace to proclaim, and not shrink.

Thursday

Baptized in God's family

I'm called to be all I can be.

To follow him through anything

To share God's love in everything

Friday

My Lord and God did Thomas speak

No longer strong, he joined the weak

The weak who trust their sovereign Lord

The weak who drink his love out poured.

Saturday

This day of independence

From tyranny and strife

Our fathers sought transcendence 

From ordinary life

In freedom for the masses

To worship and believe

This liberty surpasses

What all hoped to achieve.

For freedom places on each soul

A duty to be true

To choose the best thing for the whole

Not just what's best for you.

6/21/15 through 6/27/15

6/21/15 through 6/27/15

Sunday

Your justice and mercy I can't comprehend

Understanding and wisdom are yours without end

The grandeur of God is far beyond reach

The depth of your love through the cross do you teach

Monday

Refusing to condone one sin

St.  Thomas lost his head

This day our courts deliberate 

If men should share one bed.

Tuesday

How can I find the narrow gate

When wide the way of sin?

How can I learn to concentrate

On what will let me in?

Wednesday

Brand New Me

Another day comes to an end

And goals remain unmet

Oh Lord I cannot comprehend

The promises un-kept

If I were jilted half as much

As I have jilted You

I wouldn't have much use for such

Who say, but never do.

Dear God please help me turn around

And follow after Thee

Then let your splendid grace abound

Create a brand new me.

Thursday

The mansions built on shifting sand 

Are everywhere around

For oft we hear the word of God

With little action found.

Friday

If sinful plots the heart invade

What loss for all that God has made!

For once the sin takes hold of thee

The wisdom of the Lord will flee.

Saturday

Do you get discouraged by things in the news?

Do repeated defeats sometimes give you the blues?

Regardless of what the high court has to say

It isn't a marriage when joined in that way.

For years many rulers tried telling the throng

Their actions were right, when they knew they were wrong

Just look throughout history, see what they've become

Then look once again at the love of the Son.

Our job is to trust in the power of love

Believing the words of the one up above

To soften hard hearts by our love we must try

For his power can change in the blink of an eye.

6/14/15 through 6/20/15

6/14/15 through 6/20/15

Sunday

Will our branch like Aaron's flower

To help us stand in judgement's hour,

To greet the master's homeward stride

In hope, with talents multiplied?

Lord let your love make bright my way

Give me the perfect words to say,

And may the daily things I do

Help lead the folks I meet to you

Monday

An eye for an eye will get you no place

The way to advance is with mercy and grace

To love those who love you is not a great feat,

Try loving the mean and the ornery you meet.

Tuesday

A blessing for community

Is ready generosity

With no shade of graft or greed

But swiftly meeting every need.

Our gifts are given to be shared

That any wanting may be spared

And spreading what we have around

Is how, in truth, the bounty's found.

Wednesday

Though all believe in things not seen

Some say that faith's absurd.

But not to those whose eyes have seen

The power of His word.

He speaks to all who take the time

To listen to His voice

To those who offer Him their prime

He helps to make a choice.

Thursday

Our daily prayers contain within

Great words of hope, release from sin

Our father holds in words the key

To sanctify and set us free.

Hail Mary draws the Full of Grace

To meet us any time and place

And when we say the Glory be

We all portray eternity.

Friday

The treasure that these vessels hold

Is worth far more than precious gold

For no amount of gold can buy

The maker of the earth and sky.

Saturday AM

Oh Lord, that I might persevere

To You my heart be always near

And never let my soul astray

By wandering from Your guiding way.

PM

Great beauty in these souls of thine

The different shapes and varied kind

Wherever Lord Your light does shine

The artistry of God we find.

Not a Match, but a Mate

I thank you Jesus for my bride

Of now these many years

A helpmate always at my side

Through joyful times and tears.

The perfect one designed for me

In each and every way

To cure me of delinquency

In things I do and say

Far from a match, she is my mate

The one whose every part

Was joined with me, that we might be

Two of one mind and heart.