Love takes no pleasure in other peoples sins.

 
He rebuked the wind and said to the sea be calm.

This what the Kingdom of God is like.

 
There is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed.

 
Some fell on rocky ground where it found little soil.

He has sent me to bring good news.

When his relatives heard of this.
They were convinced he was out of his mind.
Where was the consuming  bliss.
What were they trying to find.

Jesus was saying something so different.
Few were prepared to listen at all.
He said it and it was meant.
For it is saving from our fall.

His teaching was difficult.
And now many won’t accept it.
This  , we now know was no cult.
Only our conscience will reject or accept it .

Are we out of our mind
It’s for us to search and find .

…….

Many think us wrong.
We will continue to search
It is just our fate

…..

See Mark 3: 20-21

Have mercy on me God , have mercy.
For in you my soul has taken refuge.
Free us from  final controversy.
And from all consuming deluge.

I was at a small funeral .
Outside we heard the children.
In the playground playful.
They were someone’s grandchildren.

Here was the end of life
Outside joyful playing .
The very beginning of young life .
Perhaps this was not a time of mourning.

We who are near the end of our journey.
Can rejoice in those starting their journey.

………

At the end of life
We can rejoice in new life
It is there always

………

See Psalm 56

He asked his disciples to have a boat ready .

They were watching him.

Why are they doing something on the Sabbath day.

That is is forbidden.

As long as they have the bridegroom with them.
They could not think of fasting.
But the bridegroom will be taken away from them.
And then they will start fasting.

The Pharisees were judgemental .
A good moral for life .
Don’t be too judgemental .
Hypocrisy is rife.

No one sows unshrunken cloth on an old cloak .
If he does the patch pulls away from it .
Wise words folk.
Keep thinking on it.

Let’s concentrate on ourselves.
Rather than all the otherselves.

………

All the Pharisees
Were all just too judgemental
But are we also

.. .. ….

See Mark 2:18-22

There are a variety of gifts .

Jesus took them to the shore of the lake.

The people said No, we want a king.

So that we can be like other nations .

The Lord then came and stood by.
Calling as he had done before , Samuel.
Who does the lord look in the eye.
Whom does he choose to tell .

Whether David or Mary often the weakest .
And they respond the best .
They are put to the test .
And listen more than the rest .

What do we do when we hear .
Do we say , here I am.
Or perhaps we don’t care.
We are more tired sheep than lamb.

We are free.
But we have to see.

……..

During the long night
We often receive the call
And what do we do

…….

See 1 Samuel 3: 1-10, 19-20

I was pouring out my soul before the Lord.
I have been speaking from the depth of my grief and resentment.
Hannah’s entreaty was stored.
Leading to ultimate contentment .

I cannot get the film ,A hidden life, out of my mind .
One man , Franz Jagerstatter’s fight against tyranny.
Greater honesty and courage you will not find .
He only offered a peaceful no to infamy.

A simple farmer .
Tilling in solitude under the sky
Husband and father.
Condemned horribly to die .

At the end was his silent prayer answered.
We do not know but his future is assured.

…….

Pause pray silently
Forget your endless troubles
They have even more

……..

See 1 Samuel 1: 9-20

 
Why are you not eating , why so sad.
Am I not more to you than ten sons.
About the things we have. let’s be glad.
And not worry too much about the lost runs.

Hannah was taunted and miserable.
Because her rival called her barren .
We too ignore what’s on the table .
For our own love is not barren .

Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.
And at once they left their nets and followed him.
Are we too slow to respond our own zen.
Too slow to respond to a whim.

Give me the courage to get up and go .
And about it , not be too slow.

…….

When the call is made
Do we hasten to answer
Or stand on the shore

……..

See 1 Samuel 1: 1-8 and Mark 1: 14-20 Us

I baptise you with water.
But someone is coming , someone who is more powerful.
And this was firewater
Something all powerful .

Do we remember the date of our own baptism.
What a pity that we’ve forgotten it.
This holy chrism.
A lamp for us lit.

But why did he need to be baptised.
He who need bow to no one .
But was content to be despised.
He did it for everyone .

We may not remember .
But it will help us be tender .

……..

Our own baptism
Lost in our own memory
But so important

…….

See Luke 3 : 15-16,21-22

 
God’s love for us was revealed.
When God sent into the world his only son.
If only we listened we would be healed.
A crown of immortality won.

Our love is always conditional.
His is always unconditional.
Our life is transitional.
His life was inspirational.

Let us love one another.
Because love comes from God.
Yes but we cannot cut the ego’s tether.
We just make the nod.

But we could do a lot better.
If we cut our ego’s fetter .

…….

We are told to love
But we just love those we love
That’s the way of love

……..

See 1 John 4: 7-10

 
Grant that the nativity of the Saviour of the World.
May be revealed ever more fully to our minds.
May our doubts be furled.
And blown to the winds.

When we listen to the orthodox ritual.
We are immersed in sound , smell , beauty and holy voice.
And the Archbishop’s words make us less of an individual.
He asked us to come together to rejoice.

A light has risen in the darkness for the upright.
The Lord is generous , merciful and just .
God has arrived in the smallest child, not might.
And we will not end up just as dust.

So we can rejoice.
With one voice.

……..

We come together
Rejoice in the saviour.
He is as a child

……..

See Entrance Antiphon of Mass and. The Collect

Behold the Lord, the mighty one has come.
And kingship is in his grasp and power and dominion.
Sound the drum.
Shout aloud your opinion.

Then Herod summoned the wise men privately.
He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared.
Thus Christ was manifested to the gentiles publicly .
To this our own insights are geared

God used the wise men to make clear his vision.
Now he needs us too to help this task.
Are we extending his dominion.
If not we will be taken to task.

We all have a role to play .
Great or small we cannot say.

……

We are all wise men
Coming from far to worship
That is now our task

……

See Entrance Antiphon of today’s Mass and Matthew 2:1-12