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14 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

A prophet is only despised in his own country.
Among his own relations.
But we all can make our entry.
And our oblations.He could work no miracle there.
Though he cured a few.
We fail, we shed a tear.
And we start anew.

If he was not recognised.
Should we worry.
Even if we are despised.
For in this life we will not tarry.

We just carry on.
And time without us carries on.

…….

A prophet despised
In his very own country
Is very usual

…….

See Mark 6: 1-6

Saturday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time

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That day I will re-erect the tottering hut of David.
Make good the gaps in it, restore its ruins.
And nothing will he forbid.
All will be verifiable shoeins.

The days are coming.
When harvest will come directly after ploughing.
So we can carry on hoping.
And we can start succeeding.

The treading of grapes will come soon after growing.
When the mountains will run with new wine.
We just have to go on accepting.
And look to the holy sign.

They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.
Out of the land I have given them.

…….

Erect David’s hut
And restore all its ruins
That is our challenge

…….

See Amos 9: 11-15

Friday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time

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Listen to this , you who trample on the needy.
And try to suppress the poor people of the country.
And we ask this of ourselves, are we ready.
Can we do our duty, make our right entry.

You , who say when will the new moon be over.
So that we can sell our corn.
We will not all end up in clover.
But we are not forsworn.

I am going to turn your feasts into funerals.
All your singing into lamentation.
We will all find our levels.
But will we resist temptation.

Whatever the stress .
We are really fine, none the less.

………

Trample on needy
And suppress the poor people
Is this what we do

……

See Amos 8: 4-6 and 9-12

Thursday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time

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Without warning a storm broke over the lake.
So violent that the waves were breaking right over the boat.
And he was ready to act for their sake.
To keep them afloat.

Our future may be in doubt.
This may be a decision day.
But doubts can be set to rout.
If his name we say.

Our life’s boat is tossed.
We even despair.
But we are not crossed.
We need not fear.

There is hope anew.
And life anew.

…….

Storm over the lake
And then our own boat is tossed
But do not despair

…….

See Matthew 9: 1-8

St Thomas , Apostle

Unless I can put my hand into his side.
I refuse to believe.
And we , are we on his side.
Do we really believe.I love this reading .
I share St Thomas’ doubts.
I keep trying.
But they lurk and question , these doubts.

Like him , I want to say my lord and God.
I think it , I say it, but am I certain.
Do I really believe he is God.
On all these doubts can I pull the curtain

On life and resurrection, open the curtain.
Take the leap, be certain.

…….

Put hand in his side
That’s for us impossible
But we can believe

…….

See John 20 : 24-29

Tuesday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time


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Without warning a storm broke over the lake.
So violent that the waves were breaking right over the boat.
But he will do anything for our sake.
With prayer he will keep us afloat.

They went to him and woke him saying.
Save us Lord, we are going to drown.
Our hopes sometimes are dying.
We are not always up , sometimes we are down.

He said to them , why are you so frightened.
You men of little faith.
But with him our life burden is always lightened.
He is real , not some transparent wraith.

Times yes are trying .
And our boat he is steadying.

……..

Storm over the lake
But our Lord is still asleep
But he will awake

……..

See Matthew 8 : 23-27

St Oliver Plunket

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Master I will follow you wherever you go.
Jesus replied , the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.
And we complain if we feel a little low.
We so easily lose our thread.

St Oliver Plunket gave everything.
And paid the ultimate price.
And all because he wore a bishop’s ring.
A man unknown to any vice.

We will not be put to this sort of test.
Ours are small irritants and trials.
We seldom have to leave the comfort of our nest.
We can give the world some smiles.

We will not be called upon to be a martyr.
But to our own churning worries we are a martyr.

……..

I will follow him
Wherever he goes for us
Wherever he rests

…….

See Matthew 8 : 18-23

Ss Peter and Paul

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From all my terrors.
The Lord set me free.
He gives us all our favours.
And we now realise this is not all about me.

We wake in the middle of the night.
Depressed , worrying .
Seeing in the bedroom gloom no light.
Fearing the future , the past regretting.

But we need to remember , from all my terrors.
If we let him, the Lord will set me free.
We don’t need to obsess on our errors.
Please God, this is our plea.

St Peter by an angel was released.
And by our guardian angel , we will  be released.

…….

From all my terrors
The Lord has now set me free
If I have some faith

………

See Psalm 33

Saturday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time

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Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof.
Just give the word and my servant will be cured.
We cannot pass him by , stay aloof.
Only by him should we be lured.
I love this passage about the Centurion.
His giving and taking orders, his directness.
His faith should be our vision.
Above all his belief, his openness.
When Jesus heard this, he was astonished.
Nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this.
And thus our own lack of faith is abmonished.
And this truth we cannot miss.
Go back,  your servant is cured.
And we do we believe , is our future secured.
…….
I am not worthy
To have you under my my roof
But he’s forgiving
…….
See Matthew 8: 5-17
.

Friday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time


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A leper now came up.
And bowed low before him.
With whom are we prepared to sup.
Even what others think are grim.
Sir , if you want to.
You can cure me.
And not just from the flu.
Here was a desperate plea.
Of course I want to.
Be cured.
And , if we care, we too.
Can be cured.We just have to ask.
Not so difficult a task.

…….

Sir if you want to
You really can cure me
Of course I want to

……..

See Matthew z8 : 1-4

Thursday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time

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Everyone who listens to these words of mine.
Will be like the sensible man who built his house on rock.
Here is the only true sign.
And here is the truth we must unlock.

Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew.
And hurled themselves against the house.
It did not fall down , it remained as good as new.
It remained a strong house.

But everyone who does not listen to these words of mine.
Is like a man who builds his house on sand.
He ignored the spiritual sign.

he will search in vain for his true land.

Thus Jesus spoke with authority
He is my authority.

…….

Listen to these words
You will build your house on rock
Whether rain or shine

…….,

See Matthew 7 : 21-29

Wednesday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time

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Beware of false prophets.
That come disguised as sheep.
They may offer extra profits.
But you will in the end sow what you reap.

Underneath they are ravenous wolves.
You will be able to tell them by their fruits.
They may look harmless but underneath they are still wolves.
And you know them by their roots.

Can people pick grapes from thorns.
Or figs  from thistles.
But they come in all forms.
Bearing all types of epistles.

A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit.
Nor a rotten tree bear good fruit.

……

Beware false prophets
They can come desguised as sheep
They’re ravenous wolves

…….

See Matthew 6 : 15-20

Tuesday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time

So always treat others.
As you would like them to treat you.
Self regards are mere useless tethers .
This is what works through and through.
Enter by the narrow gate.
Since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious.
So accept your fate.
And be gracious.
We worry so much about small things like being late.
But in a brief moment of historical time we will be dead.
We will meet our fate.
Our life will have been read.All that really matters is being kind.
Rather than worrying about the daily grind.

……..

Always treat others
You would like them to treat you
It’s a fair balance

……..

See Matthew 7 : 6,  12-14

Monday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time

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The Lord called me before I was born.
From my mother’s womb he pronounced my name.
Thus to eternal life we are sworn.
It doesn’t matter if to obscurity or fame.

He said to me you are my servant.
In whom I shall be glorified.
Questioning or observant.
Undeserving or merited.

While  I was thinking, I have toiled in vain.
I have exhausted myself for nothing.
I hoped for sun and have just endured more rain.
First running and now slowly walking.

And all the while my cause was with the Lord.
I was honoured , I pray, in the eyes of the Lord.

…….

Called before our birth
Our name pronounced from the womb
To eternal life

…….

See Isaiah 49: 1- 6

12 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Quiet now be calm.
And the wind dropped and all was calm again.
We need to be in this moment and not in some future alarm.
The sun may shine, it won’t necessarily rain.
Why are you so frightened.
How is it you have so little faith.
Can we be more enlightened.
We need to keep working on our spiritual lathe.
They were filled with awe.
And said who can this be, even the wind and sea obey him.
He went beyond the old law.
To sing a new  hopeful hymn.
But storms will come and go, they will pass.
There will highs and a low and it will pass.
……
Quiet now and be calm
Stormy now, the wind will drop
We are not alone
……
See Mark 35-41

Saturday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time

Even though for a moment I avoid execution.
I can never living or dead elude the grasp of the almighty.
A good conscience is the only absolution.
The only thing truly mighty.
St John Fisher said. I condemn no other man’s conscience.
Their conscience may save them and mine me.
Doesn’t this make profound sense.
We all must pay to God our own personal fee.St Thomas More said I am the Kings good servant.
But God’s first.
Forgiving more than fervent.
Thinking the best of everyone not the worst.

And whose servant are we , we ask.
To know that is our true task.

…….

This our conscience
Is truly all that matters
That’s our task always

……..

See 2 Maccabees 6

Friday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time

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Do not store up treasures for yourself on earth.
Where moths and woodworms destroy them.
Ultimately all is consumed and in dearth.
Leaving not a single breadcrumb.

But store up treasures for yourself in heaven.
Where neither moths nor woodworms destroy.
Where all is raised up pure by holy leaven.
In a purest alloy.

When things go really badly.
Remember this is all temporary.
Heaven is coming really.
And we can then forget all that’s so scary.

At the end of this tunnel there is light.
Let’s just keep that in sight.

……….

Store treasures on earth
What is the point of all that
All of this will pass

…….

See Matthew 6 : 19-23

Thursday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time

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Your father knows what you need before you ask him.
So pray like this.
He knows your every whim.
Nothing does he miss.

Our father in heaven.
May your name be held holy.
Let not the noise of the world us deafen.
Let us hear spiritual things more clearly.

Your kingdom come.
Your will be done.
Let our spirituality not be dumb.
Remembering the race we must run.

Forgive us our debt.
As we forgive those to us in debt.

…….

Your father knows all
So pray to him in this way
Father in heaven

……..

See Matthew 6 : 7-15

Wednesday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time

Be careful not to project your good deeds.
To demand some notice.
They are mere broken reeds.
To us , entice.
When you give alms.
Do not have it trumpeted.
So just listen to some psalms.
Assume most things are merited.When you give alms..
Your left hand must not know what your right is doing.
All is calms.
We just need to keep giving.

Go to your private room to pray.
And to your father pray.

……..

When you give some alms
Left hand must not know right hand
Do it in secret

……

See Matthew 6

Tuesday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time

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Love your enemies.
And pray for those who persecute you.
Despite even their half truths and lies.
They harm themselves not you.

He causes his sun to rise on bad men aswell as good.
And his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike.
But we will be judged on where we stood.
Fundamentally we are all alike.

We dwell too much on the past.
We identify too much with our mind.
We should just be a witness of thoughts that don’t last.
We might then be rather more relaxed and kind.

We are not one being .
We are ever being.

…….

Love your enemies
And those who persecute you
We are just all one

…….

See Matthew 5: 43-48

Monday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time

It is  said an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
But I say offer the wicked man no resistance.
Seek the truth.
In any circumstance.If anyone hits you on the right cheek.
Offer the other one aswell.
We just have to ask and to seek.
And we will be well.

Give to anyone who asks.
And if anyone wants to borrow do not turn away.
Just carry on with our usual duties and tasks.
Worries on one side, we can lay.

So worry not .
Be happy with our lot.

……..

An eye for an eye
Also a tooth for a tooth
But is that a good thing

……..

See Matthew 5: 38-42

11 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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What can we say the Kingdom of God is like.
It is like the mustard seed.
So small , almost dreamlike.
Into this, what can we read.

It is the smallest of seeds at its sowing.
Yet it grows into the biggest shrub of them all.
And we too in body and spirit are always growing.
Eventually walking tall.

It puts out big branches.
So that the birds of the air can shelter on its shade.
And he is the vine, we the branches.
By him all things are made.

So what starts off so  very tiny.
Can be admired by the many.

……..

The small mustard seed
Becomes biggest shrub of all
That is just like us

…….

See Mark 4 : 26-34

Saturday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time

Do not swear by your own head either.
Since you cannot turn a single hair white or black.
Our own anger can be a remorseless tether.
About this we just have to be frank.I was walking in the summer twilight.
All was deathly still .
The trees not moving in the yellowing light.
Calm, nothing shrill.

The long shadows.
The soft light.
Breathless breeze slows.
Dimming sight.

But a good feeling.
And happiness revealing.

…….

Do not swear by head
You cannot change  just one hair
You have what you have.

……..

See Matthew 5  33-37

Friday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time

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After the earthquake came the fire.
But the Lord was not in the fire.
Sit quietly in the quire.
Do not give way to ire.

After the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze.
And when Elijah heard this he covered his face with his cloak.
We are not always in a kind of freeze.
We are just like all the other folk.

As I read these words in church of the prophet.
I heard, saw outside the trees sway, the wind sigh.
Worries don’t need to be hard set.
We can break the negative tie.

Does the Lord come fiercely.
No he comes  like a breath  , gently.

…….

The Lord not in fire
Nor was he in the earthquake
He was in the breeze

… …..

See 1 Kings 19

Thursday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time

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Now there is a cloud, as small as man’s hand.
Rising from the sea.
Our life runs through our hands like sand.
One day there will be no you or me.

Anyone who is angry with his brother.
Will answer for it before the court.
We have so little time, why be angry with brother, sister.
Life is just too short.

They were shouting at each other on television.
I turned over to John Barry on Classic FM.
Much calmer as I kept the garden outside in vision.
That was enough noise pro tem.

Peace for a time .
Because all we have is this time.

………

Now there is a cloud
As small as a hand of man
But is it for us

…….

See 1 Kings 18 and Matthew 5 : 20-26