Monthly Archives: January 2023

Tuesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time

Do not be afraid.
Only have faith.
That’s all that can be said.
Although our faith is like a wraith.

Why all this commotion and crying.
The child is not dead but asleep.
We’re quite good at sighing.
And being like lost sheep.

But do we reach out to touch his hem.
Or are we too unbelieving or shy.
So we don’t seize this offered gem.
And we don’t keep him in our mind’s eye.

The child really was alive, just sleeping.

And here if only we knew it, is an end to all weeping.

……

The child was sleeping

Yet all thought that she was dead

That’s until he came

…..

See Mark 5: 21-43

Monday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time

Come out of this man.
Unclean spirit.
We do not know his spiritual plan.
Although we strive to hear it.

What is your name , Jesus asked.
My name is legion.
Truth is often masked.
From whatever region.

We too may be afflicted.
With many demons.
But with Jesus we can find them lifted.
If we have faith and do not demand reasons.

No one could secure him, even with a chain.
But for us there is a marked redemption lane.

….

Come out of this man
Jesus said to him and us
If we just listen

…..

See Mark 5 : 1-20

4 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Seek integrity.
Seek humility.
With clemency.
And gentility.

Blessed the peacemakers .
They shall be called sons of God.

More than the warmakers.
For they are so flawed.

It’s better to aim to be blessed.
Than striving to be happy.

By doing right than always being contented.

Even if sometimes a bit crabby.

Lord , strengthen my weakness.

And May I show a little meekness.

…..

Witter be blessed

Then trying to be happy

It is doing right

….

See Zephaniah 2 and Matthew 5 : 1-12

Saturday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time

They are in search of their real homeland.

They can not have meant the country they came from.

We are always seeking another country.

For that is where we truly come from.

They were longing for a better homeland.

The heavenly homeland.

A better land .

Even if no more now than a strand.

Today at a funeral I pondered this.

Is the next life our true country.

Or is this life that we will miss.

Together with all and sundry.

But certainly this very old lady longed for death.

And with it a new heavenly breath.

…..

Where is our country

Is it this or another

But we do not know

…..

See Hebrews 11: 1-2, 8-19

Friday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time

Though he stumble.
He shall never fall.
We go through life with fumble after fumble.
Awaiting, none too patiently, his call.

I could not catch all the French reading.
But I certainly heard Esperance and Dure.
Life is full of hard things yet with hope arising.
So we anticipate, but never can be sure.

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Their stronghold in times of distress.
As they seek their reward.
And slowly they progress.

However hard the trial.
We get through with a smile.

……

Life is often hard
But where there is life there’s hope
So we keep going

……

See Psalm 36

Saints Timothy and Titus( friends of St Paul)

I remember your tears.
And long to see you again to complete my happiness.
We pray that we can sweep away our fears.
And all our restlessness.

I was struggling to find the place in the book.
And somebody kindly helped me.
So at the Magnificat now, I could look.
And truly see.

It’s all about loving.
And caring.
Not shoving.
Nor denying.

It’s strange how one kind gesture.
Can be such comfortable vesture.

…..

It’s one kind gesture
That makes all the difference
To all that we do

…..

See 2 Timothy 1 : 1-8

The Conversion of St Paul

I fell to the ground.

And immediately heard a voice telling me.

Are we just too earthbound.

So that we never truly see.

Brother Saul , receive your sight.

Instantly my sight came back.

Yet we still wait for this blinding light.

Knowing there is something we lack.

You are to be a witness before all mankind.

Testifying to what you have seen and heard.

Are we hopeful or just resigned.

Only half listening to the word.

We are on our own road to Damascus travelling.

Hoping , listening , seeing and waiting.

……

When will the light come

Blinded yet one can still hear

We can only wait

….

See Acts 22: 3-16

Tuesday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time

I waited for the Lord.

And he stooped down to me.

While we wait our reward.

Knowing that he is the key.

He heard my cry.

He put a new song in my mouth.

We can only express a sigh.

As we search for him north and south.

You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings.

But an open ear.

Nor do you demand sufferings.

I know that you see and hear.

Your justice we have proclaimed.

In the great assembly gathered.

……

You see and you hear

And not demand sufferings

For that is enough

……

See Psalm 39

Monday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time

If a kingdom is divided against itself.

That kingdom cannot last.

But we are divided within ourself.

Upbeat one moment then downcast.

If a household is divided against itself.

That household cannot stand.

But to many are divided within themself.

Enmeshed in emotional quicksand.

No one can burgle his property.

Unless he has tied up the strong man first.

Our greatest defence is our liberty.

And for truth , our thirst.

If with him we try to be united.

To union with him , we will be united.

……

Our house divided

Will we be able to stand

Yes if united

…..

See Mark 3: 22-30

The 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The people that walked in darkness.
Has seen a great light.
And we now must seek the greater stillness.
Keeping him ever in sight.

On those who live in a land of shadow.
A light has shone.
For us , who seek , we can never entirely know.
Even if we atone.

You have made their joy increase.
They rejoice in your presence.
But again and again we fail to find peace.

Not realising your omnipresence.

The rod of his oppressor.

Is now, we pray, all the lessor.

……

What’s our oppressor

Perhaps it is just ourself

Can we let it go

…….

See Isaiah 8 : 23-9 : 3

Saturday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time

He has passed through the the more perfect tent.

Which is better than the one made by men’s hands.

All that passes, by him has been sent.

Throughout all the spiritual and material lands.

A great worry and burden was lifted.

Then in my dreams another appeared.

It’s as if scales need to balanced.

That what is welcomed must be with what is feared.

But of course if we focus on ideas.

Rather than the physical present.

They will always lead to more and more ideas.

And on what often is not positive or pleasant.

We need to purify ourself from dead actions.

That can only lead to worse and worse reactions.

……

Focus on ideas

Rather than this the moment

Leads to more worry

…..

See Hebrews 9: 2-3, 11-14

Friday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time

I will establish a new covenant.
With the house of Israel and of Judah.
Here was a new holy government.
And not to forget Mohammed , Krishna and the Buddha.

I was dreaming about passing.
Not a dreadful moment but a moment of dread.
Do we live on , it is a question beyond reasoning.
Really we do not know where we will tread.

But dreaming I saw not a brick wall , a dead end.
But a simple brown door which I could push open.
Here was hope, we can indeed ascend.
This was the new covenant spoken.

Here in the dream was a simple image.
I knew I could walk through that door, no mirage.

……

At death we go where
Just reasoning will not help
But the door’s open

……

See Hebrews 8: 6-18

Thursday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time

He asked his disciples to have a boat ready.
To keep him from being crushed.
On our road he keeps us steady.
By his mercy we feel touched.

He had cured so many.
That all who were afflicted were crowding forward.
Even we who have plenty.

Need his aid for nothing is straightforward.

We try to rush forward around him.

Sometimes he seems far away in his boat.

Even below the horizon’s rim.

And we following, can barely keep

afloat.

We can only say a prayer.

Seeking truth layer by layer.

…..

We try to find Christ

But then are we too many

We hope surely not

……

See Mark 3 : 7-12

Wednesday of the 2 nd week in Ordinary Time

He said to the man with the withered hand.
Stand up out in the middle.
We wonder where we are in this life and land.
For life is a perplexing immutable riddle.

I was in a depressed dream.
And as often happens a way opened out.
It’s true that things are not as bad as it may seem.
Even if everything may seem rather drawn out.

One moment everything was bad.
Never ending .
The world seemed mad.
And then a door opened with a happy ending.

Now I knew what I had to do.
At last I had some clue.

…. ..

It may seem hopeless
Then comes a solution
Just out of the blue

….

See Mark 3 : 1-6

Tuesday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time

You should go on showing earnestness to the end.

To the perfect fulfilment of our hopes.

Always knowing that in need, we have a friend.

Who if we ask, will show us the ropes.

Imitating those who have the faith and perseverance.

To inherit the promises.

Never worrying about appearance.

Doubting followers of St Thomas’s.

Here we have an anchor for our soul.

As sure as it is firm.

However modest our life’s role.

And something for the long term.

We try to reach right through beyond the veil.

Where Jesus has entered before us without fail.

……

There beyond the veil

Jesus has entered before

We need to follow

……

See Hebrews 6 : 10-20

Monday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time

Nobody puts new wine into old wine skins.
If he does the wine will burst the skins.
Despite or because of all our sins.
There are both losses and wins.I happened by this church, walking.
For a Sunday evening mass.
For some reason it was beautiful and inspiring.
For once I didn’t look through a dark glass.There was nothing really new here .
Or old and tried except an intense emotion.
For the first time I seemed truly to hear.
Now faith seemed as deep as the ocean.

This was just new wine in old wine skins.
But it did not break the skins.

……

New wine , old wine skins
So will it break the wineskins
Depends on the wine

……

See Mark2: 18-22

2 nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

I will make you the light of the nations.

So that my salvation may reach to the ends of earth.

Thus can we know our true foundations.

And a find a new house of our rebirth.

Today’s readings are all about the call.

But a call means little if not answered.

And if we are prepared for the long haul.

But is our reply loudly confident or quietly stammered.

I thought on the contrast.

Between these readings and newspapers.

The one based on love, eternal, present and past.

The other on conflicts and pointless vapours.

Do we see before us Jesus coming.

Or do we turn our back on him, retreating.

…..

There’s the lamb of God

Who takes away the world’s sins

Is that our response.

……

See Isaiah 49: 3 , 5-6 and John 1: 29-34

Saturday of Week 1 of Ordinary Time

The word of God is something alive and active.
It cuts like any sword but more finely.
But still we are restive.
And missing his presence , lonely.

I have again started to paint.
Mystical abstract water colours.
We know we will never be a saint.
But we can still find solace creating for others.

There are so many ways of witnessing.
And sometimes a picture can do just as well.
As long as we keep trying.
And we realise it will never sell.

And so we keep painting.

And as we do so, meditating.

…….

His double edged sword

Divides the soul from spirit

Joints from the marrow

……

See Hebrews 4 : 12-16

Friday of Week 1 of Ordinary Time

We must do everything we can.
To reach this place of rest.
Or we might be lost down the can.
Or at least lose all our zest.

I was dreaming Cardinal Martini’s prayer.
I promise to accept all you permit to happen to me.
I understood at last it was just accept in this prayer.
That’s not to like all that happens to me.

It’s not a very high bar.
Just to put up with fate.
It needn’t leave too bad a scar.
We just patiently have to wait.

If the soul can accept.
Cannot we accept.

…….

We must just accept
That’s not like everything
That happens to us

……

See Hebrews 4:1-5 , 11

Thursday of Week 1 of Ordinary Time

Harden not your hearts as at Meribah.

As on that day at Massah in the desert.

We must follow the guiding star.

In order to lessen all hurt.

Why does prayer for the dead make us feel good.

I think it’s because it’s an act of unselfish kindness.

Its contentment’s dreaming greenwood.

A reply to spiritual blindness.

Apparently studies show being kind.

Beats therapy for depression.

It’s a positive state of mind.

And a foil to mental aggression.

If you feel blue.

To boost yourself doing something kind is the clue.

……..

To perk yourself up

Just try doing some kindness

It may be the clue

……

See Psalm 94

Wednesday of Week 1 of Ordinary Time

Because he has himself been through temptation.
He is able to help others who are tempted.
He has already offered his oblation.
So that we may be, by grace, contented.

A priest friend has died after suffering illness.
So I did to him a little prayer.
I seemed to sense his , or at least mine, happiness.
Through sleep’s heavy disguising layer.

Should we pray for the dead.
Do they know, but we feel better.
Nothing else can be taken as read.
Anyway we certainly can’t send a letter.

Does it do good to pray .
For us yes , for others who can say.

…..

Is it good to pray
For us certainly it is
As for others?

……

See Hebrews 2: 14- 18

Tuesday of Week 1 of Ordinary Time

At present we are not able to see.

That everything has been put under his command.

So in a sense we are always sheltering in his lee.

But we need the fires of our faith fanned.

Remember that we are the beloved child.

Of a loving God .

If we do that we are always reconciled.

However much we are flawed.

If we remember how each time.

We are enlightened , guided , strengthened

And we do this at bedtime.

We will be consoled.

It was his purpose to bring his sons into glory.

And so we are part of his story.

…….

We’re the beloved child

Of a loving God always

That we need to know

.. …..

See Hebrews 2 : 5-12

Monday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time

He is the radiant light of God’s glory.

Sustaining the Universe by his command.

And thus day by day, we need to read his story.

Every day he can lend us, if we want, his hand.

Suddenly it came to me in a dream.

Always consider at the hidden bright side.

It’s not nearly as bad as it may seem.

We always have this silent yet attentive guide.

Every problem can be viewed two ways.

Either negatively or positively.

In doom or gloom or lit by the sun’s rays.

This is an attitude of mind rather than a plea.

And so we just carry on.

Until we are gone.

……

There is a bright side

Hidden behind that dark cloud

We just need to look

……

See Hebrews 1: 1-6

The Baptism of the Lord

He does not break the crushed reed.
Nor quench the wavering flame.
Of all new life he is the seed.
When it comes to his mercy we are all the same.

Leave it like this for the time being.
It is fitting that we should do all that righteousness demands.
This is a gradual fulfilment of a new revealing.
And new hopes rather than old commands.

The Epiphany, The Baptism and The Wedding at Cana.
Everything gradually unfolds.
And it falls like revitalising mana.
In all our households.

Today we are reminded of water’s healing power.
Poured in libation on a beautiful flower.

……

We share this baptism
It’s waters are for us all
As we move through life

…….

See Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7 and Matthew 3: 13-17

7 th January . Christian Orthodox Christmas Day

The people that lived in darkness.

Has seen a great light.

We on earth dwell in a kind of mistiness.

Not having anything spiritual clearly in sight.

On those who dwell in the land and shadow of death.

A light has dawned.

We can feel this celestial breath.

If we have prayed and listened.

Today is Christian Orthodox Christmas.

A time to celebrate and remember.

A different ancient unchanging wiseness.

Equally inspiring beautiful and tender.

Today, not rationalising but accepting, I fell asleep.

On waking , I felt great joy rising from the deep.

……

If you just accept

And not rationalise

A great peace can come

…….

See Matthew 4 : 12-17, 23-25

Another Country

Thoughts from a Christian perspective — by Edward Leigh