Each one of us has been given his own share of grace.
Given as Christ allotted it.
One day , we hope, we will see his face.
As by a celestial lantern lit.

He ascended to the height, he captured prisoners.
He gave gifts to men.
As of n an echo we are his listeners.
We can barely describe this with an inadequate pen.

The one who rose higher to fill all things.
Is none other than the one who descended.
Greater than all the Kings.
But will ever all our doubts be suspended.

But to some his gift was to be Apostles.
Some teachers or mere disciples.

…..

Are we apostles
Teachers or prophets
Or mere disciples

……

See Ephesians 4: 7-16

 
Bear with one another charitably.
In complete selflessness, gentleness and patience.
Seeking always some greater spirituality.
And coming thereby into his presence.

Do all you can to preserve the unity of the spirit.
By the peace that binds you together.
We need not have much merit.
And our faith may be light as a feather.

There is one spirit, one body.
Just as you were all called into the same hope.
When we were called to embody
Pulled by the same scriptures rope.

There is one God who is father of all.
Over all , through all and within all.

…….

God, father of all
Over all and within all
And of course through all

…..

See Ephesians 4: 1-6

 
Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies.
And yet not one is forgotten in God’s sight.
To receive we only have to say please.
And there at the end of the tunnel,  is light.

I dreamt that I thought I had kept a role.
But strangely no one had asked me to do anything.
In fact I had been sacked, I was in a hole.
And no one had told me anything.

You are worth more than a hundred sparrows.
Do not be afraid .
So I was taken out of any lows.
Remembering his words so deftly made .

Remember that we are remembered.
And never surrendered.

…….

What then are we worth
Surely more than some sparrows
But they’re remembered.

……

See Luke 12: 1-7

Pardon what conscience dreads.
And give what prayer does not dare to ask.
Our life is weaved in delicate threads.
We hide our true nature behind a mask.

Surpass the desires of those who entreat you.
Pour out your mercy upon us.
Route out our sadness through and through.
Let us help others with prayer without any fuss.

In the abundance of your kindness.
Answer our prayers.
Cure our spiritual blindness.
And soothe away our many cares.

We can live in joy and hope .
If we can open the positive mind’s envelope.

……

Where is hopefulness
Is it here in mindfulness
Or in something else

….

See The Collect of the Day

Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for ruin.
And a household divided against itself collapses.
From Where comes our undoing.
Our life wanes and waxes.

I am at Rome for an anniversary mass.
It is for David Amess our murdered friend.
We are like cut grass.
We do not know whom innocently we offend.

A man you would think with no enemies.
With guileless charm and open friendship.
But we row our lives on turbulent seas.
Never knowing when we might lose our ship .

We salute David’s memory.
We know  he can  now see a greater glory.

……

We at Peter’s tomb
Say today mass for David
We will remember

……

See Luke 11: 15-26

Within your will , O Lord, all things are established.
And there is none that can resist your will.
Thus we are enriched.
Our destiny to fulfil.

I am watching Son et Lumiere on St Peter’s facade
It is Peter’s voice describing his mission.
I am truly awed .
Here is true ambition.

I do understand all the Italian.
The priest whispers the translation.
I feel I now understand I have joined Christ’s battalion.
A kind of enriched formation.

All senses invaded.
By music , light and story presented.

……

Then you are Peter
And on you I build my church
No need to hear more

…..

See The Entrance Antiphon of today’s mass

O God by whose gift St Francis was confirmed in poverty.
Grant that by walking in his footsteps.
Through joyful charity.
We may follow your son’s  distant steps.

But we cannot embrace poverty.
Something stands in our way.
I suppose it is property.
That’s why we remain lay.

But the example is there.
We make tiny steps forward.
Nothing is ever very clear.
But we have hopes henceforward.

Be content with what we have achieved.
Happy with what we have received.

….

St Francis’ example
Will always be before us
If we allow it

……

See The Collect of the day

Were your faith the size of a mustard seed.
You could say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted.
Yet still we can from doubt be freed.
Even if conviction is muted.

Perhaps we should not despair of faith we do not have.
But rather rejoice in what we have found.
Despair laid and hope to calve.
To the foothills of the heights we are bound.

I think I will never have faith complete.
I will always have these doubts.
But there is always a new morn to greet.
Out of this barren soil there will be new sprouts.

I will never move the mulberry tree.
However much in prayer I make my plea.

….

Faith is never found
In its full entirety
But we can just try

…..

See Luke 17: 5-10

I have been holding forth on matters I cannot understand.
On marvels beyond me and my knowledge.
While my life seeps slowly into the sand.
Can I this sincerely acknowledge.

We, jealous of what others do , or how they look.
Was not the life of St Therese  of no consequence.
Her only parting gift an exercise book.
It became great by some strange providence.

Our life here just a first step.
Towards something greater.
We’re in a kind of provincial rep.
Before we have a chance to meet the creator.

And on this stage who are we anyway.
Do we exist beyond our mind and this day .

…….

An exercise book
Is all that she left to us
And love of small things

……

See Job 42