Monthly Archives: May 2023

Wednesday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time

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As Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting.
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Seeing was believing.
Faith has no limit.

The visitation shows we can always hope.
Elizabeth had been barren.
Now soon despair was followed by hope.
The desert is never entirely barren.

Whatever disasters happen.
We can always have hope.
We need not sadden.
Or have a good mope.

We just need to be positive
And not too negative

……..

To be positive
And not always negative
Is surely a start

……….

See Luke 1 : 39-56

Tuesday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time

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There is no one who has left brothers or sisters for my sake.
Who will not be repaid a hundred times over.
We must give and not take.
I felt I was on a life change over.

When I read these words silently.
Everything seemed clear and certain.
My mind into certainty moved quietly.
As if I was lifting a curtain.

But I have not left house or land.
I have not sacrificed anything.
I am just a shifting grain of sand.
Writing on a prayer and on a wing.

Holding somehow on.
Carrying on.

……….

There is no one who
Has left it all for my sake
Who will not be paid

……..

See Mark 10 : 28-31

Mary Mother of God, Monday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time

When they came to Jesus they found him already dead.
So one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance.
Soon we too will lose the golden thread.
And our own death is all down to chance.I dreamt last night that I was about to die.
It was a terrifying thought.
This will soon be our last sigh.
We all of us , eventually are caught.

But after all it’s only heaven or annihilation.
Is that so terrifying a prospect.
It’s jubilation.
Or just nothing at all kept.

He said it is accomplished.
The fear of death can be vanquished.

…….

It is accomplished
Fear of death can be vanquished
If we accept it

……..

See John 19 : 25- 34

Pentecost

 

 

 

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For whose sins you forgive.
They are forgiven.
Let us choose to live.
Whether or not striven.

For those whose sins you retain.
They are retained.
We will not leave forever, we will remain.
We will not be chained.

They heard what sounded like a powerful wind.
Which filled the entire house in which they were sitting.
Their sins like ours to rescind.

Something appeared to them like tongues of fire.
For them and us nothing any longer is dire.

…….

Whose sins you forgive
They are always forgiven
And they’re not retained

……..

See John 20 : 19-23 and Acts 2 : 1-11

Saturday of the 7 th week of Easter

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The harvest is rich.
But the labourers are few.
We search endlessly for our niche.
Always looking for something new.

I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no purse, no haversack , no sandals.
Look after not yourself but themselves.
You should  only need to carry metaphorical candles.

Whatever house you go into.
May your first words be peace to this house.
They will say of us , our faith grew and grew.
Our belief they could not douse.

Stay in the same house.
Do not move from house to house.

…. ..

The harvest is rich
But the labourers are few
Are we among them

…….

See Luke 10 : 1-9

Friday of the 7 th week of Easter

Feed my lambs.
Look after my sheep.
We will escape our tombs.
If faith we keep.St Philip dreamt he had an enlarged heart.
But actually his was a heart of giving.
Better to care than to be smart.
Better offering than receiving.Better a fun nature .
Than cast in gloom.
Rather than criticise , better to nurture.
Enjoy the present rather than think of the tomb.

Have fun.
Rather than run.

……….
Feed my lambs and sheep.
And then he asked do you love me
We are asked the same
……..

See John 21 : 15-19

Thursday of the 7 th week of Easter

Courage you have borne witness to me In Jerusalem.
Now you must do the same in Rome.
As I heard these words in Mass , joy came as a gem.
I felt I had come home.A plague killed all the monks.
Leaving only the Abbot and St Bede.
They still prospered and emerged from the dumps.
An object lesson, however few, have faith in the creed.

His tomb, Hac sunt in fossa Bedae Venerabilis ossa.
His prayer , when Rome falls the whole world will fall.
His words flowing from the spiritual volcano like lava.
For the first time English prose could walk tall.

So even if a monastery is reduced to two.
That is not too few.

………

Remember Bede’s words.
If Rome falls the world will fall
Something to conjure

……..

See Acts 22: 30 , 23 : 6-11

Wednesday of the 7 th week of Easter

When I have gone fierce wolves will invade you.
And will have no mercy on your flock.
But despite this their faith grew and grew.
Our life is so easy .
Our problem is indifference.
Perhaps we’re just a bit lazy.
Not really wanting to make a difference.
What saddened them most was his saying.
They would never see him again.
This was Paul’s last greeting.
Their loss but our gain.
We will never have his eloquence.
But who knows , we might make some small difference.
………
What saddened them most
They would not see him again
But their loss our gain
……..
See Acts 20 : 28-38

Tuesday of the 7th week of Easter

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I have served the Lord in all humility.

With all the sorrows and trials that came.
We move forward tentatively.
Even though all is much the same.
I have not hesitated to do anything helpful.
I have preached and instructed.
There is is here nothing regretful.
Or even mildly dispirited.
Now you see me a prisoner.
Already in spirit.
We are merely a petitioner.
But there is new life to inherit.
Life is not a thing to waste words on.
We just need to carry on.
………
I have served the Lord
And with all humility
With sorrows and trials
…….
See Acts 20: 17-27

Monday of the 7 th week of Easter

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The time will come when you will be scattered.
Each going his own way and leaving me alone.
Our own faith is so easily shattered.
Leaving us failing to atone.

I have told you  this so that you may have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble but be brave.
We can hear but we have to listen and to see.

Yes we may study , even pray but are we really brave.

We hear these reassuring words.
But do we listen.
Or are they for the birds.
Are we really Christian.

But as he said, be brave .
There’s a world to save.

……..

Have peace then in me
In the world you have trouble
But we must be brave

………

See John 16 : 29-33

7 th Sunday of Easter

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After Jesus was taken up, they went to the upper room.
All these joined in continuous prayer.
They knew he had risen from the tomb.
But could they go out and dare.
The time between the Ascension and Pentecost.
A time of fear , hope and waiting.
How often do we wait, counting the cost.
But they went on believing and praying.
Perhaps if we did less murmuring.
And more praying.
Giving patiently rather than taking.
It might be more worthwhile waiting.
But for us the endless wait continues.
We still have to resolve issues.
…. …..
After the Ascension.
They went to the upper room
They waited and prayed
…….
See Acts 1: 12-14

Saturday of the 6 th week of Easter

Ask and you will receive.
And so your joy will be complete.
With such gifts there is no need to grieve.

There is only joy to greet.

When that day comes you will ask in my name.
I do not say I will pray to the Father for you.
So he said, but when we pray we need to use his name.
For he tells us the Father loves you.

We have an intercessor.
God and man.
Knowing us to our very core.
And our every plan.

So to him we keep praying.
In the hope he keeps answering.

……..

Ask and you receive
And your joy will be complete
Answering prayer

……..

See John 16 : 23-28

Friday of the 6 th week of Easter

Do not be afraid to speak out.
Nor allow yourself to be silenced.
So much easier to remain silent than your truth shout.
And assume all truth anyway is nuanced.I have so many people on my side in this city.
That no one will even attempt to hurt you.
Thus said St Paul in Corinth’s city.
And all this applies to to me and you.

Well eventually he got his head cut off.
But his indomitable courage still inspires.
But I suppose I’ll go on remaining silent rather than sound off.
Courage and spirit tires.

So Paul stayed there preaching.
And we keep on hesitating.

……….

Speak, be not afraid
And you must not be silenced
Whoever says no

………

See Acts 18: 9-18

Thursday of the 6 th week of Easter

 

 

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Go therefore make disciples of all the nations.
Baptise them in the name of the father and of the son.
When I read these words I knew our true foundations.
And what despite all , we have won.

It’s amazing what a few words can do .
And these seemed to breathe confidence.
It all seemed so immediate and true.
This was something beyond all sentience.

Know that I am with you always.
Yes, to the end of time.
He is with us on and in all our ways.
On our ending and in our prime.

And he will return.
And in him we will take our turn.

……..

I’m always with you
Now and to the end of time
That is his promise

…….

See Matthew 28 : 16-20

Wednesday of the 6 th week of Easter

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It is in him that we live.
And move and exist.
Through him we thrive.
And thus penetrate the celestial mist .I was at a service of commemoration.
80 years after the Dambusters raid.
We remembered those in the air and in the inundation.
And we did all we could do , we prayed.

Our hymns rang out in prayer.
I vow to you my country.
For those in peril in the air.
We saluted courage humbly.

It was a long time ago.
But remembrance should grow.

……..

It’s in him we live
And through him move and exist
And through him we thrive

…..

See Acts 17

Tuesday of the 6th week of Easter

 

 

 

 
Suddenly there was an earthquake.

That shook the building to its foundations.
They were prepared to give up all for his sake.
Without reservations.
Sometimes too with us all seems lost.
And then an earthquake happens.
We thought we could not count the cost.
Suddenly they seem true, all those sermons.
All the doors flew open.
And the chains fell from all the prisoners.
If only we knew it, our world is never broken.
As long as we remain listeners.
We will lose our chains.
And will find cleansed all our stains.
……..
An earthquake happens
And everything is changed
And unexpected
….  ..
See Acts 16: 22-34

Monday of the 6 th week of Easter

And you too will be witnesses.
Because you have been with me from the outset.
Helping with so many stresses.
And from our final debt.Let them praise his name with dancing.
And make music with timbrel and harp.
All this is so entrancing.
What are we to carp.

For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Even us lay people.
Until we are all one nation.

So the people can rejoice in their glory.
As they read of his story.

…….

We are witnesses
We’ve been there since the outset
And praising his name

……..

See John 15 and psalm 149

6 th Sunday of Easter

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Love me , keep my commandments.

And my Father will give you another advocate.
These are our hope inspired sentiments.
This is our will and our fate.
I was up very early for the dawn chorus.
The air misty, the garden vibrant with life.
In May all is growing , sonorous.
Still , mind filling , with no stress or strife.
And later I stood in front of the Coates rood screen.
A lone survivor from before the the  Reformation.
Here too in deep countryside,  the senses were keen.
Here we create our own little holy Zion.
And thus the  past and present merges.
And early summer hope surges.
……..
Keep my commandments
I give you an advocate
This is his promise
……..
See John 14 : 15 – 21

Saturday of the 5 th week of Easter

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So the churches grew strong in the faith.
As well as growing daily in numbers.
But is our belief as light as a wraith.
Despite his manifold wonders.
I am touring The  Lindsey Open Churches Festival.
A feast of architectural beauty.
So much here is epochal.
And reminding us of our greater duty.
I stand inside the magnificence of the Church at Stow.
Here is its towering nave and chancel.
No greater beauty can bestow
Here is all Saxon and Norman substantial.
And these rural churches stand to faith witness.
And to history an eyewitness.
……..
The churches grow strong
In faith as told in the Acts
Now they bear witness
………
See Acts 26 : 1-10

Friday of the 5 th week of Easter

We hear that our members disturbed you with demands.
And have unsettled your minds.
They came from many lands.
Brought by many winds.The apostles send greetings to brothers of pagan birth.
In Antioch , Syria and Cilicia.
All should be welcome from the whole earth.
Commoner and patricia.

It has been decided by the Holy Spirit.
Not to saddle you with any burden beyond these essentials.
We should welcome all, with or without merit.
Or any burdensome credentials.

Are we welcoming.
Or are we resisting.

…….

Their demand disturbed
And unsettled people’s minds
Do we do the same

……

See Acts 15 : 22-31

Thursday of the 5 th week of Easter

It would only provoke God’s anger if you imposed on the disciples.
The very burden that neither we nor they were able to support.
We must lay aside our scruples.
Despite occasionally things being fraught.This silenced the whole assembly.
And they listened to the wonders worked through pagans.
Hope is never empty.
For all our daughters and sons.

I shall return and rebuild the house of David
I shall rebuild it from its ruins.
Hope is never faded.
For escape from all our sins.

In the early days God made his choice among you.
He read your heart , you too.
……..
Lay aside our scruples
We impose on all people
And then just have faith
………
See Acts 15 : 7-21

Wednesday of the 5 th week of Easter

They told how the pagans had been converted.
And this news was received with the greatest satisfaction.
By God, they knew they never would be deserted.
Theirs was not a belief based on abstraction.The letters of Dionysius were read at mass .
Explaining that as Christians they followed local customs.
They were people of heaven, voyaging through a spiritual pass.

They were not part of the usual temporal systems.

And thus we are part of society.
Yet set apart , looking to another world.

In all our variegated variety.
Young or old, smooth  or gnarled.
The early church was prepared for martyrdom.
Our own beliefs and courage are more random.
………
Part society
And part people of heaven
In variety
………

See Acts 1-6

Tuesday of the 5 th week of Easter

The Prince of this world is on his way.
He has no power over me.
Over him no one has any sway.
He is the eternal ever present key.

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The King holds the sovereign’s sceptre with cross.
Representing the monarch’s temporal authority.
But his gain is not the greater’s  loss.
There is an ultimate greater superiority.

Jesus said, I am going to the Father.
For the Father is  greater than I.
Even a King cannot see any  further.
Nor see through the ultimate mystical eye.

Before the eternal being .
We all , Kings and commoners lack seeing.

….. ..

The Prince of the World
Is now on his way to us
By authority

…….

See John 14 : 27-31

Monday of the 5 th week of Easter

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Anyone who receives my commandments and keeps them.

Will be the one who loves me .

This is the holy income.
Which makes us truly free.
At the coronation the King receives the golden spurs.
Symbol of knightly virtues and chivalry.
With them he proves he is truly yours.
Subject to service and the Trinity.
Melted down by Cromwell .
Remade for the second Charles.
Thus can be reforged all that is not well.
And now given to the third Charles.
Thus nothing is destroyed for ever.
We can always rejoin what we sever.
……..
Receive his commandments
And then always keep them close
Is one that loves him
………
See John 14 : 21 -26

5 th Sunday of Easter

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The Lord is the living stone.
Chosen by God , yet rejected by men.
But with him we are never alone.
More inspiring even than meditative zen.

At mass today they sang Zadok the Priest.
And a Te Deum in honour of the king.
Of music and liturgy a veritable feast.
And so we honour as we sing.

To think that Zadok anointed King Solomon.
And that is still used in our coronation ritual.
And then the Supertunica is put on.
To emphasise that the King’s coronation is spiritual.

Thus we are all a royal priesthood.
And still at the anointing, time stood.

…….

The Lord living stone
Rejected by men , chosen
By God and by us

…….

See 1 Peter 2 : 4-9