Monthly Archives: January 2024

Wednesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time

A prophet is only despised .
In his own country.
And we rarely feel prized if not actually despised.
Even if we proceed humbly.Despised among his own relations.
And in his own house.
Let alone among all the nations.
And we ask what and where is his house.

He could do no miracle there.
Though he cured a few sick people by laying hands on them.
But have we the courage to dare.
Even if others condemn.

……..

A prophet despised
For he’s in his own country
And then so are we

……

See Mark 6 : 1-6

Tuesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time

She came up behind him through the crowd.
And touched his cloak.
We are so nervous too , we don’t want to shout out loud.
We seem to peer through heavy mystical  smoke.
If I can touch even his clothes.
I shall be healed .
We ask , is he God, who knows.
Nothing really is known or sealed.The source of the bleeding dried up instantly.
And se felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint.
But we only see the truth distantly.
For we will never be a saint.

Jesus felt instantly that power had gone out of him.
And he knows instantly when we were seek to touch him.

……..

She came up to him
And she tried to touch his cloak
That’s all we can do

See Mark 5 : 21-43

Monday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time

Go home to your people.
Tell them all that the Lord in his mercy has done for you.
If we ponder this we can spread our wings like an eagle.
We can live a life anew.I felt empowered by this verse.
To speak up for what I believed.
Things would get better and certainly not worse.
In this I surely was not deceived.

He has done so much .
Which chained, we never appreciate.
We feel always his touch.
Yet worn down by this great material weight.

But do we have the courage.
To go out and try to encourage.

……..

Go home to people
Tell them what the Lord in his
Mercy’s done for you

……

See Mark 5 : 1-20

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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His teaching made a deep impression.
Because unlike them he spoke with authority.
We always need to ask the difficult question.
Is our soul really our priority.

St Thomas Aquinas realised that as he neared the final shore.
That all his writings seemed like straw.
And he wrote no more .
Thus a great truth he finally saw.

It is not cleaver writings that count.
Nor profound theology or poetry.
It is faith that is truth’s ever flowing fount.
And that in all its infinity solely.

It is just thought that leads to calmness.
That overcomes all aloneness.

…….

Thus all his writings
Just seemed like so much mere straw
And thus too all ours

………

See Mark 1: 21-28

Saturday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time

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David pleaded for the child.
He spent the night on the bare ground covered with sacking.
In this life we feel exiled.
At the end so much seems lacking.

When all seemed forlorn.
I looked at the churches crucifix.
And then new hope was born.
There was no despair if no quick fix.

So I left the church’s door
Feeling a little better.
No longer sad to the core
No longer without any answer

Ready to start anew.
With a new view.

…..

When all seemed forlorn
I looked at the crucifix
And I felt better

…….

See 2 Samuel 12

Friday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time

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Using many parables.
He spoke the word so far as they were capable of understanding.
Yet they asked for miracles.
And like them we’re waiting for the King.

I was praying for life last week.
And didn’t get an answer.
All I could do was in vain to seek.
The worst had come, what was to be was to occur.

And then tonight I prayed again.
And I seemed to see a great light.
There was new life, prayer was not in vain.
It had not been in vain the fight.

And so out of seeming disaster.
We can have faith in the thereafter.

……..

A fruitless prayer
But that was only last week
Now I had answers

………

See Mark 4 : 26-34

Thursday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time

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I was nearly at Damascus.
When a bright light shone about me.
Perhaps this message is for us.
So that we might the better see.

Sad,  I entered the church and read this message.
If you are suffering ask for strength.
Words that are difficult but sage.
Helping us in hope , to go to any length.

And this too, if you are happy give thanks.
And ask that you remain so.
We are up and down held in endless ranks.
High or low.

But I left that church a little fortified.
That hope for the future has not died.

…..,.

A Damascus light
Anytime May shine on us
We just have to hope

…….

See Acts 22: 3-16

Tuesday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time

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Your mother and your sisters are outside.
He replied who are my bothers and sisters.
Perhaps we should start with the view that all are onside.
That there are as many good people as beautiful vistas.

Anyone who does the will of God.
That person is my brother and sister.
We should all surely be awed.
As we look on our own vista.

I was watching a program about older people in love .
They seemed to be so happy in each others company.
Maybe too we can  fly like  a dove.
We can all be somebody .

Love achieves so much
We know so little and not really much.

……

Who are my brothers
Are they not everybody
Part of one body

……..

See Mark 3 : 31-35

Monday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time

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If a kingdom is divided against itself.
It cannot stand.
Perhaps we should think less of self
More of the common good at hand.

All men’s’ sins will be forgiven.
And all their blasphemies.
So perhaps there is hope we will be striven.
Despite all our infamies.

But we need to stand together.
However much we disagree.
Our differences are merely a floating feather.
Cast upon a turbulent sea.

One day we will see all this.
But only when at death we receive the Lord’s kiss.

…….

Kingdoms divided
Will certainly fall apart
So we must take care

…….

See Mark 3 : 22-30

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

God is close at hand.
Repent and believe the Good News.
But where do we stand.
What truly are our views.As I walked into Vespers this evening.
The alto cantor was singing the Our Father.
Suddenly my mind was resting.
I did not need to go any further.

The words were so soothing.
So manifestly true and inspiring.
And so in that moment arriving.
There was for a short time no need for more doubting.

There was no need for zest.
I was at rest.

…….

Singing Our Father
Just listening was enough
And just accepting

……..

See Mark 1: 14-20

Saturday in week 2 in Ordinary Time

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Jesus went home and such a crowd collected.
That they could not even have a meal.
On hearing this I recollected.
What was false and real.

His relatives set out to take charge of him.
Convinced he was out of his mind.
Against the tide we swim.
Do we truly see or are we blind.

When I heard of him calling his disciples by the lake.
I felt that we were being called too.
That we should do something for his sake.
And that is a pledge we would not rue.

But perhaps others think we are out of our mind.
Who knows , is it us or them who are blind.

…….

We think we are called
Or are we out of our mind
We just do not know

…….

See Mark 3: 20-21

Friday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time

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So they came to him snd he appointed twelve.
They were to be his companions and to be sent out to preach.
Like them we wander and we for truth delve.
Maybe just to ponder and not necessarily to teach.

Ita Missa Est.
Translated As Go The Mass is Ended.
But actually Go It Is Sent meaning us, est.
Perhaps he is sent or are we sended.

So at the end of Mass do we forget.
Or do we think of it for the rest of the day.
Remain calm or break out in a sweat.
Or perhaps better occasionally pray.

We walk out pondering.
Remembering, hoping.

…….

Ita Missa Est
And Go the Mass is Ended
Or just it is sent

…….

See Mark 3 : 13-19

Thursday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time

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In God I trust.
I shall not fear .
We will not just end up as dust.
We are not just here.

In the 1994 film Miracle on 34th Street, a one dollar note is produced.
It bears the words, In God  We Trust.
Some beliefs whether in Santa Claus or God cannot be induced.
We just have to take them on trust.

Of David , Saul was jealous
Jonathan persuaded him to forgive.
And we too must be loving not just zealous.
If so we will not die , we will live.

But in God we must trust.
That maybe is a must.

……..

In God do we trust
And with that we shall not fear
But of course we do

……..

See Psalm 55 and 1 Samuel 18

Wednesday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time

Stretch out your hand.
He stretched it out and it was better.
We seek out a spiritual land.
Where we will no longer merely be a debtor.
When we are beset with possible tragedy.
Everything else falls into perspective.
We just need to count our blessings thankfully.
And be reflective.It helps to pray.
Stand before Mary.
Petitions to lay.
Burdens she will help carry.

Time may heal.
And it may turn, the wheel.

…….

Just stretch out your hand
If we do so it’s better
Or that’s what we hope

…….

See Mark 3 : 1-6

Tuesday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time

Why are they doing something on the Sabbath day.
That is forbidden.
Ah, but what  is the way.
To what we ask , are we really bidden.
So there was something  I really wanted to do.
That I could not.
It was frustrating that this I knew.
How could I untie the mind’s knot.
I remembered the words of Galadriel when she resisted.
I have passed the test, I will diminish go into the West.
And thus in my resolve I felt assisted.
And to fate I could leave the rest.
We think , submitting to our will.
We can do good but it may be better to remain still.
…….
I have passed the test
And I will diminish now
It’s for the better
…….
See Mark 2: 23-28

Monday of Week 2 of Ordinary Time

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Why is it that John’s  disciples fast.
And yours do not.
Shall the first be last.
What will be our lot.

Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of fasting.
While the bridegroom is still with them.
Nothing is ever lasting.
But we will find eventually some comfort crumb.

I am watching Call The Midwife.
A simple tale of love despite poverty.
What’s important is not what you have but what you give in life.
And be imbued with simple sincerity.

The first may well end up last
And the last first.

…….

Should we be fasting
Perhaps it’s better giving
And also being

…….

See mark 2: 18-22

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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As John stood with two of his disciples Jesus passed.
John stared at him and said there is the lamb of God.
And what would we do if we were asked.
Even if by his side we trod.

Why do we measure ourselves against others.
Could we not just feel part of the same whole.
We wrap ourselves in these jealous tethers.
And dig ourselves deeper in an anxious hole.

Can we not just look at others as we look at a sunset.
Marvelling at its beauty and timelessness.
Not trying to be by it won or beset.
Not pursued by restlessness.

When in the night sky we marvel at Venus.
We do not say it is less or greater than us.

……..

Looking at others
We should sunset staring
Not just comparing

…….

See John 1: 35-42

Saturday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time

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It is not the healthy that need the doctor.
But the sick.
And perhaps the not so proper
And the not so quick.

All suffering or dissatisfaction.
Arises from a mistaken understanding.
That we are a separate and distinct self in tension.
I think of the Buddha’s words often even if they’re demanding.

We are so self judgmental.
But we need to free ourselves from our ego.
We are part of something monumental.
A universe where there is no ego.

If only we could learn to see.
We could burst free.

……

All this suffering
Comes from our sense of ego
But we can feel free

…….

See Mark 2: 13-17

Friday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time

When they had made an opening.
They lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay.
We wonder how we will find our own healing.
And we do not know the way.
The paralytic like us had to be carried.
He did not even asked to be healed.
We too often need to be ferried.
Before our fate is sealed.
I had not wanted to do some work.
And then I remembered how he cured the paralytic.
Doubts always lurk.
My senses are so arthritic.
I need his inspiration ongoing.
Just to keep going.
…….
An opening made
And a stretcher was lowered
But is it for us
……..
See Mark 2 : 1-12

Thursday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time

If you want to, you can cure me.
Of course , Jesus replied , I want to, be cured.
But do we ask for the right thing, for our soul to be free.
Or just to be reassured.We won’t  always  be given what we ask for.
It may not smooth our path to heaven.
We may by attracted not by truth but the lure.
So much of what we want is mere digression.

The leprosy left him at once.
And he was cured.
And what we suffer from may leave us at once.
But do we need to go without even if long endured.

Do we ask for what helps the soul.
Or is it really about the body and nothing about the soul.

……

What do we ask for
Really, is it the right thing
Or just what we want

………

See Mark 1: 40-45

Wednesday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time

The Lord called Samuel, Samuel.
He answered here I am.
Who calls , how can we tell.
Is it God’s lamb.How often do we lie awake at night.
What calls do we receive.
We cannot tell the night from the call of the light .
Is this punishment or reprieve.

Samuel answered , Speak.
Your servant is listening.
And thus we are told how to seek.
And to whom we are answering.

And thus the call comes as light.
Dispelling the perils of the night.

…….

When the Lord does call
How do we answer this call
It is as servant

…..

See 1 Samuel 3

Tuesday of Week 1 of Ordinary Time

Here is a teaching that is new.
And with authority.
And yet we increasingly are not the many but the few.
Filled with temerity.What is the Greek for authority.
It is exousia or power.
But he does not exude superiority.
His is as delicate as a flower.

The unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions.
And with a loud cry went out of him.
Thus he releases all tensions.
Nothing will deter him.

If we have faith to seek.
We must surely speak.

…….

It’s a new teaching
It’s filled with authority
And a new power

…….

See Mark 1: 21-28

The Baptism of the Lord

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Come to the water , all you who are thirsty.
Why spend money on what is not bread.
The way surely is mercy.
Our minds are after all read.

What is baptism.
But the annihilation of previous sin.
Or is all this mere escapism.
I think it’s more a way to win.

Water is soothing.
It washes away imperfections.
The past diffusing.
A sense of new directions.

But like John do we accept.
Or question and reject.

……

When baptism comes
Do we accept the witness
Or question it

…..

See Isaiah 55: 1-11

The Epiphany of the Lord

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The nations come to your light.
And Kings to your dawning brightness.
And yet often he seems tantalisingly out of sight.
As if it was too great , his very lightness.

Sometimes a  nagging depression  descends.
Of course we can go for a good walk.
We can realise that life doesn’t give, only lends.
Or we can meditate more and give up the talk.

But still like the Kings on a journey.
We seek a distant star .
The road twists and is all too thorny
We are like the three kings of Orient are.

Born is the King of Israel.
Let’s be content in the now, the future we cannot tell.

…….

When depression comes.
We can talk less and think more
And follow our star

…….

See Isaiah 60: 1-6