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Tuesday of the 6 th Week of Easter

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We speak, not to please man.
But to please God who tests our hearts.
Impressing people need  not be part of the plan.
But it may involve many false starts.

We never came with words of flattery.
Nor with a pretext for greed.
But we are sustained with a spiritual battery.
This is the new seed.

Nor did we seek glory.
Whether from you or others.
This is our story.
Thus we cast aside our tethers.

…….

We speak not please man
But to please God who tests hearts
Without flattery

…….

See 1 Thessalonians 2

Monday of the 6 th Week of Easter, St Philip Neri

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When the helper comes.
Whom shall I send to you from the father.
We are left with much more than crumbs.
We have here a true spiritual brother.

I will send to you the spirit of truth.
He will bear witness about me.
To our old age from our youth.
So that we may see.

St Philip was light hearted.
And we should see the light side of religion.
So that our way might be joyfully charted.
Slowly cooked in our spiritual kitchen.

You will bear witness about me from the beginning.
Because you have been with me from the beginning.

…….

When the helper comes
Whom shall I send from father
The spirit of truth

……

See John 15

6 th Sunday of Easter

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If anyone loves me.
He will keep the word.
And find the only way to be truly free.
This is salvation’s password.

My father will love him.
And we will come to him.
And make our home with him.
This is our own personal hymn.

Whoever does not love me.
Does not keep my words.
They have not paid the spiritual fee.
They are not his shepherds.

These things I have spoken to you .
While I am still with you.

………

If people love me
They will surely keep my words
My father loves them

…….

See John 14 : 23-29

Saturday of the 5 th Week of Easter

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If the world hates you.
Know that it had hated me .
Before it hated you .
And much of it still hates me.

If you were of the world.
The world would love you as its own.
But you are not of the world.
We are in this material world no one’s own.

But I chose you out of the world.
Therefore the world hates you .
But what does it matter, this world.
For me or you.

If they kept my word.
They would also keep your word.

…..

If the world hates you
Know that it had hated me
We’re not of this world

….

See John 15 : 18-21

Friday of the 5 th Week of Easter

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This is my commandment.
That you love one another as I have loved you.
This is his testament.
For everyone , me and you.

Greater love has no man than this.
That he lay down his life for his friend.
Something surely we should not miss.
We must give  not even lend.

You are my friend.
If you do as I command you.
Thus all of humanity is our friend.
We are there for the many not the few.

These commandments , so beautiful.
So utterly joyful.

…….

This my commandment
That you love one another
As I have loved you

……

See John 15 : 12-17

Thursday of the 5 th Week of Easter

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Peter said , God made no distinction.
Between us and them.
This is the primary lesson
There is no us and them.

Paul  related what signs and wonders.
God had done through them for the disciples.
Of their faith they became lenders.
Leaders , no longer mere disciples.

Seek all the gentiles that are called by my name.
Says the Lord , who makes all these things of old.
Thus winning everlasting fame.
Of that we do not need to be told.

All are welcome.
Not all will come.

…..

God no distinction
Between us and all of them
Seek all the gentiles

……

See Acts 15: 7-21

Wednesday of the 5 th week of Easter

I am the true vine.
And my father is the vine dresser.
We try to step down the true line
For the good of the greater and the lesser.Every branch in me that does not bear fruit.
He takes away .
And he prunes every branch that does bear fruit.
So that it might bear more fruit in the tree’s beautiful array.

You are clean .
Because of the word I have spoken to you.
This with our own eyes we have seen.
A message for me and you.

Abide in me .
And I in you as created by me.

…….

I am the true vine
My father the vine dresser
For our good he prunes

…….

See John 15 : 1-8

Tuesday of the 5 th week of Easter

He had opened a door of faith to the gentiles.
And they remained no little time with the disciples.
Walking to spread the faith for miles.
Building the spiritual roof with many tiles.
Your friends shall make known.
The glorious splendour of your reign.
Thus the seed of faith was sown.
Embarking on faith’s new lane.They were preaching.
To a new community.
Always searching.
Creating a new fraternity.

Can we follow on their footsteps.
As we hope others will follow in our steps.

…….

He opened faith’s door
To all the many gentiles
Start of something big

…….

See Acts 14 : 19-28 and Psalm 45

Monday of the 5 th week of Easter . St Dunstan. Archbishop of Canterbury

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He allowed all the nations their own ways.
Yet he did not leave himself without witness.
There was one who established our English ways.
And as a nation our fitness.

St Dunstan helped create England.
Not just with his Regularis Concordia written.
But with an idea of this land.
But rejecting all that was before rotten.

He made the works of God a reality.
For the English people.
He emphasised prayer and pity.
For all of his people.

Thus he gave us our freedom and independence.
A true patriotic national sense.

……

Nations have their ways
But they must too have witness.
That is what God did

……..

See Acts Acts 14 : 5-18

5 th Sunday of Easter

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Now the son of man is glorified.
And in him God is glorified.
So this man is now condemned , derided.
Because his accusers had lied.

I give you a new commandment.
That you love one another.
A fitting testament.
To free us from hate’s tether.

I am at the papal inauguration.
Here is a man who proclaims love and peace.
The age old words to relieve all tension.
We can only pray for it without cease.

Is it enough then to pray.
We hope , but who can say.

…….

A new commandment
That you love one another
But do we do it

……

See John 13

Saturday of the 4 th week of Easter

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They began to contradict.
What was spoken by Paul.
Seeking conflict.
Remembering he had been Saul.
It was necessary that the word of God be spoken..
You have thrust it aside.
This was no mere token.
Not something to deride.
You judge yourself.
Unworthy of eternal life
That could be said of ourself.
We all to rarely ponder eternal life.
We are the same , we don’t listen.
To reason.
……
We too contradict
Would we have listened to to Paul
No probably not
… …
See Acts 13 : 44-52

Friday of the 4 th week of Lent

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You are my son.
It is I who have begotten you this day.
As bright and glorious as the sun.
Who can this gainsay.

Take warning rulers.
Exult with trembling embrace.
As you await all callers.
You must accept every face.

Like a potters jar.
You will scatter them.
From near and far .
All of them.

It is I who have appointed my king.
This I will sing.

……

For you are my son
I have begotten you now
This day and always
…..

See Psalm 2

Thursday of the 4 th Week of Easter

 

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Brothers if you have any words of encouragement.
Paul said, say it.
And we too seek enlightenment.
And hope that our own spiritual lamp is lit.

Paul and his companions.
Set sail.
We too have our intentions.
Not, we pray, to fail.

But fail we often do.
Often through no fault of our own.
But in that we are like the many not the few.
Life is not a freehold, only a loan.

So like Paul , we keep travelling.
Sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding.

……

They set off to sail
Spreading the gospel here there
Failing, succeeding

…….

See. Acts 13: 13-25

Wednesday of the 4 th Week of Easter

This is my commandment.
That you love one another.
Such a simple and true testament.
That we are all one , there is no other.If you keep my commandments.
You will be able to abide in my love.
Just as I have kept my father’s commandments.
And abide in his love.

We just don’t love enough.
We go our own way.
We know this commandment is tough.
But his really is the only true way.

I , he says, have spoken to you.
That my joy might be in you.

…..

This my commandment
That you love one another
We abide in love

…. ..

See John 15 : 9-17

Tuesday of the 4 th week of Easter . St Ercanwald of Lindsey

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In Antioch.
The disciples were first called Christian.
They began to unlock the new life lock.
And here is the first mention.

What explains  the rapid growth of Christianity.
Is it providence .
Or just their courage and temerity.
God’s will or just good hopeful sense.

I’ m not sure I believe In God rationally.
But in a different sphere of understanding.
I believe in him as a presence emotionally.
It’s a he is here feeling.

In the spirit of he is everywhere.
In our material world, nowhere.

…….

So in Antioch
Disciples were called Christian
And for the first time

……

See Acts 11 : 19-26

Monday of the 4 th week of Easter

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O send forth your light.
And your truth.
Give us new sight.
That we may no longer stand aloof.

They will guide me on.
They will bring me to your holy mountain.
Despite all adversity , carrying on.
Helping us to spiritually train.

To the place.
Where you dwell.
Finishing our race.
Despite life’s pell mell.

My soul is thirsting.
For my God appearing.

….

O send forth your light
Let me see your truth and light
Now and for ever

……

See Psalm 42

4 th Sunday of Easter . Good Shepherd Sunday

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My sheep hear my voice.
And follow me.
The cardinals have made their choice.
They prayed, they could see.

I and the father.
Are one.
They have found a new father.
A pilgrimage of service is won.

They travelled to Rome to listen and see.
And to conclave
And found the key.
And a new Pastor to cherish and save.

What will this journey be like.
We pray it is something we will like.

…….

If you hear my voice
You will then be my true sheep
I am your shepherd

…….

See John 10: 27-30

Saturday of the 3 rd week of Easter

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The church throughout Galilee.
Was being built up and had peace.
Unlike us they could see.
Praying without cease.
Walking in fear of the Lord.
And in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Holding fast to the spiritual cord.
Treating all the same whatever their merit.
Peter said, Aeneas arise.
And immediately he rose.
Confounding the doubting lies.
And confounding those.
Peter had faith and cured.
And thus we are reassured.…….Walk in fear of Lord
Comfort of Holy Spirit
Now and for ever

…..

See Acts 9 : 31-42

Friday of the 3rd week of Easter

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As he approached Damascus.
A light shone about him.
Did he know how much he would soon do for us.
And what God would soon do for him.

Falling to the ground he heard a voice saying.
Saul, Saul, what are you doing.
I often wonder why I am not listening.
To the word not understanding.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful.
If we received this call.
How joyful.
To be awakened like Saul.

So we keep on the road travelling.
Always doubting yet seeking.

……

Approach Damascus
And you may yet see a light
To guide your spirit

……

See Acts 9 : 1-20

Thursday of the 3rd week of Easter

Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter.
And like a lamb before his shearer is silent.
He asked for no quarter.
He did not complain or resent.
He opens not his mouth.
Justice is denied him in his humiliation.
No mercy from  East , West , North and South.
To save himself he resisted all temptation.
Who can describe his generation.
For from the earth , his life was taken away.
But still he is our inspiration.
From dark tomb now all time a sunlit ray.For our today.
He gave his tomorrow.

…….

Sheep led to slaughter
Lamb silent before shearer
Opens not his mouth

…..

See Acts 8

Wednesday of the 3rd week of Easter

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You have seen me.
All that the father gives will come to me.
Whoever comes to me .
I shall never cast out from me.

I have come down from heaven.
Not to do mine own will.
But the one who sent me from heaven.
And this is one who sent me with his will.

This is the will of the one who loves me.
That I should lose nothing of all that he has given me.
But raise it up on the last day for me.
For this is the will of the father who sent me.

Everyone who looks on the son and believes in him.
Will have eternal life in him.

…….

For you have seen me
All that the father gives comes
From his heaven

……

See John 6 : 35-40

Tuesday of the3rd week of Easter

I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me shall not hunger.
Yet doubt is increasingly rife.
We doubt though we spiritually labour.
Whoever believes in me.
Shall never thirst.
It is him that counts not us or me.
We just have to learn to be last rather than first.
If only we cared less about number one.
And thought more about the real number one .
There’s a crown to be won.
And it is belief in the son.Now and for ever .
So to truth never say never.

…..

I’m the bread of life
And whoever goes to him
Surely shall not thirst

…….

See John 6 : 30-35

Monday of the 3rd week of Easter

Do not work for the food that does perish.
But for the food that gives eternal life.
We ask really what do we cherish.
What will matter when we face death’s final knife.
It’s extraordinary outside our cottage at night.
Your vision extends from the present to millions of years ago.
You are surrounded by by nature , you see all in a new light.
Somehow the soul is filled with a new glow.
Beneath starlight.
How petty is today’s news
Everything seen in new light.
In perspective all our different views.
Let the eyes follow the stars.
Even beyond Venus and Mars.…….
……..

 

Do not work for food
Work for the food of real life
That is our main task

……

See John 6 : 22-29

3rd Sunday of Easter

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Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore.
Full of large fish, one hundred and fifty three.
The number of fish at that time according to ancient lore.
In all the lakes, rivers and in the sea.

The net is the church community.
We are the fish in the net .
In its world wide entirety.
Caught happily in a spiritual drag net.

Jesus said a third time.
Simon, you love me.
To match the denial at the passion for the third time.

Any many times do we deny.
Rejecting the truth , accepting any lie.

……

He hauled in the net
153 fish in total
That is all of us

……

See John 21 -19

Saturday of the 2 nd week of Easter

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Jesus said to Thomas, I am the way and the truth.
And the life.
But like Thomas I struggle with the truth.
Perhaps I will never find new life.

No one comes to the father except through me.
If you had known me you would have known my father.
But still my blurred vision does not allow me to see.
I wish I was clear sighted , could see further.

Philip said , show us the father.
And it is enough for us.
True , no one has ever seen this father.
But they saw the son , isn’t that enough for us.

He said I am in the father.
That will have to suffice for belief in the father.

……

He said I’m the way
The truth and the life always
That must be enough

…..

See John 14: 6-14