Category Archives: General

20 December

IMG_1595

 

 

 

 

 

You will conceive in your womb.
And bear a son.
Who will release us from our own tomb.
And cast light as from a perpetual sun.
There will be no more everlasting tomb.

We wonder who are we.

A mere temporary brain process.
Or an immoral soul, not the physical me.
Does our soul go to heaven or someone else.

Whatever happens we survive.
Here or we pray there.
We will remain alive.
I doubt but I should be clear.

Gabriel’s message is for all.
Have faith , we can walk tall.

…….

Your womb will conceive
And then you will bear a son
And Mary said yes

…….

See Luke 1 : 26-38

19 December

You will have joy and gladness.
And many will rejoice at his birth.
We need to be content with less.
Rather than plenty, there is always occasional dearth.Zechariah had given up hope .
Elizabeth expected no more.
But Gabriel the angel told him there was hope.
A new child, a new more hopeful shore.

Not much may happen.
Our lives may be in a groove.
But something new will gladden.
We have nothing to prove.

But we must say yes , accept every crumb.
Or like Zechariah we might be struck dumb.

……

Your joy and gladness
Will come from then from your rebirth
For it is promised

……

O radix Iesse
Qui  stas in signum populorum
Super quem continebunt  reges os suum

See Luke 1: 5-25

18 December

And this is the name by which he will be called.
The Lord is our righteousness.
Our prayers are often still born or stalled.
We seem afflicted with mindlessness.The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
Saying do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.
Not always are our dreams as they seem.
They may point to new life.

I don’t have nightmares.
But most things in my dreams go wrong.
Tangled indeed are mens’ affairs.
I just bear it, awaken and sing my own song.

But Joseph’s dream was right.
And now he saw the light.

…….

We call him this name
The son of righteousness
He’s with us always

…….

See Jeremiah 23 :1-8  and Matthew 1: 18-24

17 December

IMG_1616

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O Sapientia , O wisdom.
You come forth from the mouth of the most high.
We ask who are we , where really are we from.
Is all of this true or mere legend, a lie.

We are told you fill the universe.
And hold all things together.
But sometimes we think the converse.
We are bound by our doubting tether.

O come , we ask.
Teach us the way of truth.
That surely is our task.
The only really meaningful truth.

The great feast of Christmas approaches.
Now is the time to end all reproaches.

….

Where is our wisdom
Do you come from the most high
Is this illusion

….

See The Sequence from today

Monday of the 3rd week of Advent

IMG_1664

 

 

 

 

Him who sees the vision of the almighty.
Falling down with his eyes uncovered.
We have so much in plenty.
If only we have always endeavoured.

Water shall flow from his buckets.
And his seed shall be in many quarters.
No more worries or needless rackets.
Or spoilt spiritual slaughters.

His king shall be higher than Agag.
And his Kingdom shall be exalted.
In our long race we need not lag.
Everything shall be duly salted.

The oracle of the man is opened.
But is our vision also opened.

…….

Almighty’s vision
And are our eyes uncovered
That is what we ask

….  …

See Numbers 24: 2-7 , 15-17a

3rd Sunday in Advent

IMG_1633

 

 

 

 

The spirit of the Lord is upon me.
He has sent me to proclaim good news to the poor.
So says the Lord but my spirit is blind, I cannot see.
I do not know what I am against or for.

Again the long sleepless night.
I must not think of myself , I promise.
And then surprised by the early light.
I forget this ultimate premise.

Think only of others .
They are all that matters.
Break our tethers.
And these cloying selfish fetters.

This is the spur of the Lord.
This the spirit of my Lord.

……

Spirit of the Lord
Come I pray down upon me
That is all I hope

….

See Today’s Gospel Acclamation

Saturday of the 2 nd Week of Advent. St John of the Cross

IMG_1653

 

 

 

 

 

 

The prophet Elijah rose like a fire.
And his word burned like a torch.
And one day we hope we will join the heavenly choir.
And approach tentatively the celestial porch.

I awoke worrying , regretting.
But there will always be those who achieve more.
Many less or  who are now dead or dying.
For happiness forget this life, look to the soul’s core.

And when I awake in the middle of the night .
It is not the long night of the soul.
Imagine we are monks praying in the early light.
Be content, we all have our role.

We all encounter the soul’s dryness.
Best to meet in with accepting openness.

……

We all encounter
The such long night of the soul
But with prayer persist

…….

See Sirach 48: 1-4

Friday of the 2nd week of Advent . St Lucy

IMG_1651

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh that you had paid attention.
To my commandments.
With prayer we move into another dimension.
Ending disenchantments.

Then your peace would have been like a river.
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
We can seek solace for ever.
As far as we can see .

Your offspring would have would have been like the sand.
And your descendants like its grains.
Whatever or wherever our land.
All worries, mere tiny grains.

St Lucy refused to compromise her belief.
Or from persecution to seek any relief.

…….

We paid attention
To every commandment
But did we really

…….

See Isaiah 48 : 17- 19

Thursday of the 2nd week of Advent

I the lord your God.
Hold your right hand.
Why despair when we can laud.
Not everything to seep into the sand.It is I who say to you.
The Lord says this to us.
Fear not , I am the one who helps you.
We need not worry , he is with us.

Behold I make of you a threshing sledge.
You shall make the hills like chaff.
We may shelter behind life’s flimsy hedge.
And be blown away like so much chaff.

But with him we will prevail.
And live after death to tell the tale.

……

I the lord your God
Do hold your right hand in mine
That’s our hope and dream

…..

See Isaiah 41 : 13-20

Wednesday of the 2nd week of Advent

The creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary.
With him we can overcome all dearth.
Is it fact , it’s certainly a comfortable theory.
I was at evening sung mass.
At the restored Notre Dame Cathedral.
A thousand people there in one great mass.
It was more wonderful emotion rather than cerebral.In this great crowd.
People praying quietly watching.
Nothing intrusive or loud.
Even from tourists photographing.

I walked up to communion.
With this great crowd in communion.

……

Creator of earth
He’s neither faint or weary
And he is with us

…….

Se Isaiah 40 : 25-31

Tuesday of the 2nd week of Advent

IMG_1641

 

 

 

 

 

A voice cries in the wilderness.
Prepare a way for the Lord.
Reject all bitterness , embrace quietness.
Cross into peace by the spiritual ford.

Make straight in the desert.
A highway for the Lord.
We can remain unhurt.
As we emerge from that dark ford.

Every valley shall be lifted up.
And every mountain and hill laid low.
As we drink of the communion cup.
We reap joyously after we sow.

…….

In the wilderness
Is often raised up
But we are then heard

…….

See Isaiah 40 : 1-11

Monday of the 2nd week of Advent . The Immaculate Conception

IMG_1557
She was greatly troubled at the saying.
And tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be .
We wonder too what is our calling.
Whether we are just this body or, what are we to be.

The angel said to her , do not be afraid.
For you have found favour.
We ask will our troubles ever be laid.
Where will we find our saviour.

Who are we anyway.
Do we really exist
Who can say.
All truth is shrouded in mist.

We just have to persist.
And not always resist.

….

Troubled by the saying
She tried to discern greetings
And we do the same

……

See Luke 1 : 26-38

 

 

2nd Sunday of Advent

IMG_1544

 

 

 

 

Take off the garment of your sorrow.
And affliction.
There is no need to be low.
We need to find faith in conviction.

We can put on for ever the beauty of the glory.
And put on the robe of righteousness.
We are more than our own story.
We can resist mindlessness.

But who are we really , what for us is in store.
Are we truly this transient consciousness.
Are we just this body or much more.

Ir are we, we fear, temporal and so much less.

Where is our mind and soul going.
Have faith, it is not  transient but everlasting.

……..

Take off our sorrow
And all of this affliction
For we are much more

……

See Baruch 5 : 1-9

Saturday of the 1st week of Advent

On every lofty mountain and every high hill.
There will be brooks running with water.
We look unsighted as through a grille.
Our hopes seeping as into a blotter.In the days of great slaughter.
When the towers fall.
Walls may indeed totter.
But we can them recall.

Notre Dame is reopened.
A beacon of hope redeemed.
It’s as if the fire never happened.
Emblem of France, our cultural inheritance reclaimed.

The light of the moon.
Will be as the light of the sun and soon.

…….

On every mountain
And on all and every hill
Brooks run with water

…….

See Isaiah 30

Friday of the 1st week of Advent

IMG_1548

 

 

 

 

Out of their gloom and darkness.
The eyes of the blind shall see .
We ask where is our spiritual fitness.
We are all born blind , will we see.

Two blind men followed him , crying aloud.
Have mercy on us , son of David.
How do we pierce our mortal shroud.
Is hope challenged and faded.

He touched their eyes.
Saying , according to your faith , let it be done.
We can reach for this ultimate prize.
Our race can be won.

Our eyes can be opened.
Our life renewed , heartened.

….

From gloom and darkness
The eyes of the blind shall see
This is for us all

….

See Isaiah 29 : 17-24 and Matthew 9 : 27-31

Thursday of the 1st week of Advent

IMG_1555

 

 

 

 

This song will be sung in the land of Judah.
We have a strong city.
With Isaiah into eternity we can see far.
For the fall of the Northern Kingdom he has pity.

Only God sets up salvation.
As walls and bulwarks.
This is the only God of creation.
His is his everlasting works.

Open the gates.
That the righteous nation may enter in.
Accept our fates.
Reject pride and sin.

You keep him in perfect peace.
Whose mind is stayed on you without cease.

.. ….

Sing in Judah’s land
For we have a strong city
As we also do

… …

See Isaiah 26 : 1-6

Wednesday of the 1st week of Advent

IMG_1545

 

 

 

 

 

He will swallow up on this mountain.
The covering that is cast on all peoples.
Hope’s glorious fountain.
Spreading ever further light filled ripples.

The veil that is spread over all nations.
He will swallow up death for ever.
As long as we send our oblations.
And see God as the ultimate lever.

The Lord God will wipe away tears.
From all faces.
Easing our innermost fears.
Removing despair’s last traces.

That he might save us, we have waited for him.
This is the lord , we have waited for him.

……..

He will swallow mountains
The covering that is cast on peoples
The veil on nations

…..

See Isaiah 25 : 6-10

Tuesday of the 1st week of Advent

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb.
And the leopard shall lie down with the young goat.
Hope comes from the smallest gram.
With faith we can keep just about afloat.With Advent comes the Isaiah’s poetry.
Lifting us up to the mountain top.
Leading us into a whole new sphere of beauty.
Praise with this vision need never stop.

The cow and the bear shall graze.
Their young shall lie down together.
With Isaiah our song can raise.
And cut away our material tether.

At Advent we are not just waiting.
But expectant, listening, hoping.

…….

The wolf and the lamb
Shall both lie down together
For Advent is here

….

See Isaiah 11 : 1-10

Monday of the 1st week of Advent

IMG_1558

 

 

 

 

Lord I am not worthy.
To have you come under my roof.
The start is to realise we are unworthy.
To not be proud and not to stand aloof.

We say this at mass every day.
But do we mean it really.
To believe is more than just to pray.
Lest we barely achieve any meaningful spiritual tally.

During the long sleepless night I kept   repeating.
I am not worthy.
Saying and believing.
I will be healed even if I am not yet ready or worthy .

But only say the word and yield.
And I will be healed.

…….

I am not worthy
But just only say the word
And I will be healed

……

See Matthew  8 : 5-11

1st Sunday of Advent

IMG_1546

 

 

 

 

 

 

There will be signs in sun and moon.
And on earth distress of nations in perplexity.
Probably we hope no time soon.
So no need for great anxiety.

The heavens will be shaken.
People fainting with fear and foreboding.
Will there be time for faith to awaken.
All this here will count for nothing.

But do we really believe the world will be ending.
That what was written will come to pass.
But Advent means waiting.
So we pay attention to today’s mass.

Everything is thus in perspective.
And we need to be reflective.

….  ..

Signs in sun and moon
And distress of nations
When will we get there

…….

See Luke 21

Saturday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time

IMG_1556

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.
Then you will be saved.
How many hundreds of times is this read.
Again and again is faith craved.

But we are told.
we must believe in our heart.
Our heart cannot be cold.
This surely is the start.

I can believe emotionally.
I know it makes sense.
But I struggle to believe rationally.
Well I just need to launch myself over the fence.

To accept the light.
And know all is alright.

…….

Jesus raised from dead
Just believe this in our hearts
And all will be well

……

See Romans 10 : 9-18

Friday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time

IMG_1506

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw an angel, come down from heaven with the key of the abyss.
And in his hand an enormous chain.
What awaits , emptiness or bliss.
Nothing, mere pain or God’s reign.

We talk a lot of dying.
Less of death.
What are we missing.
Is it new breath.

The breath of the unknown.
Silent not existing in this world  yet strong.
An other sense of life and tone.
For this, if true, we long.

This earthly abyss.
Surely we shall not miss.

……

The key of abyss
Is held in the angel’s hand
And will we see it

…….

See Apocalypse 20 : 1-4

Thursday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time

Happy are those who are invited.
To the wedding feast of the lamb.
Let the hope candle be lighted.
Secure in the mind’s own ashram.Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him singing for joy.
Why embrace sadness.
Always look for joy.

Know that he the Lord is God.
He made us, the sheep of his flock.

Let our faith be well shod.
Our hearts with him in lock.
Go within his gates giving praise.
Enter his courts with thanks of praise.
……
Happy those who are invited
To the lamb’s own wedding feast
As we also are
…..
See Psalm 99

Wednesday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time

Even if you have to die.
Keep faithful and I will give you the crown of life.
We wonder if our end is nigh.
We worry , fear of a painful death is rife.What do we think about assisted dying.
I hope for compassion in dying.
To help naturally with peoples dying.
Not to hasten people’s dying.

Death is not to be feared.
It is a new beginning.
Nor with care need dying be feared.
We need to focus on palliative caring.

The soul is eternal.
There is hope , that is the kernel.

…….

If you have to die
Keep faithful and I to receive life
Death is passing

…..

See Rv 2 : 10. Gospel Acclamation.

Tuesday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time

The time will come when not a single stone.
Will be laid on another.
Sometimes we think ourselves so alone.
At the end of our tether.This is something that must happen.
But the end is not so soon.
We needn’t sadden.
And we can gladden.

I was writing this waiting for an operation.
Obviously I am a bit worried
Even a short wait feels like duration.
We feel we have enough tarried.

God willing all will be well.

I’ m sure I’ll be well.

……

The op went okay
A prayer really does help
Thank you nurse , doctor
…….

See Luke 21: 12-19