Why do we and the Pharisees fast.
But your disciples do not fast .
Will our own good intentions last .
Can we mail our intentions to the mast.

Can the wedding guests mourn.
As long as the bridegroom is with them.
Why be forlorn.
We are not like them.

The day will come when the bridegroom is taken away.
And then they will fast.
Then we will see the spiritual ray
And all this good will certainly last.

We will see him.
We will know him.

….

Do we also fast
Like the Pharisees did then
No there’s no need  now

…..

See Matthew 9 : 14-17

You are no longer strangers.
But fellow citizens.
Spiritual rangers:
And holy denizens.

Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails.
And place my hand into his side.
And place my hand in the mark of the nails.
I will not believe and will deride.

Yet Thomas was all for saving Lazarus.
He was not such a faint heart.
A faithful follower of Jesus.
A man set apart.

We too are always doubting
Then wondering and finally believing.

……

We see the nail’s marks
We place our hand into his his side
Just in our mind’s eye

…….

See Ephesians 2 : 19-22 and John 20 : 24-29

Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city.
Will you then sweep away the place.
Of course the Lord will show pity.
As he cares lovingly for every race.

The Lord is compassionate.
And gracious.
We need never be irate.
Just for truth tenacious.

When I read this psalm.
I felt restored, renewed
A sense of pervasive calm.
Peace viewed in infinitude.

He will show mercy just for the sake of one.
Thus redemption for us all is won.

…….

For five righteous
The city will now be spared
The Lord shows mercy

……..

See Genesis 18 : 16-33 and Psalm 103

I am already being poured out as a drink offering.
And the time of my departure has come.
This is just the beginning not the ending.
For us all and not just some.

I have fought the good fight.
I have finished the race.
Here is our true directing light.
One day we shall look our Lord in the face.

St Peter the Apostle of faith and unity.
St Paul the Apostle of mission.
Men of true untiring temerity.
To proclaim Jesus, their only ambition.

We try to follow their footsteps.
But do so only in tiny doubting steps

..  …..

He fought the good fight
And he did finish the race
And for all of us

….  …

See 2 Timothy 4

The glory that you have given me.
I have given them.
I in them and you in me.
You sent me and loved them.

Reading these words I felt inexplicably moved.
Going to my heart.
Thus for a moment we are called.
And in our spirituality find a new start.

Then I read I desire also that they whom you have given me.
To see my glory.
And may, where I am, be with me.
To continue redemption’s story.

Like him we pray even though the world does not know you.
I pray that I may come one day to know you,

…….

The glory given
He has now given to us
He was sent to love

…….

See John 17 : 20-26

The Lord is my shepherd.
There is nothing I shall want.
Nothing really to be feared.
Even in the greatest want.

Fresh and green are the pastures.
Where he gives me repose.
As I follow the master.
In scripture’s verse and prose.

Near restful waters he leads me.
He revives my soul.
I only make this plea.
To drink from his spiritual bowl.

To ponder his sacred heart.
Is surely a good start.

……

The Lord is my shepherd
There is nothing I shall want
Fresh is his pasture

……

See Psalm 23

Not everyone who says Lord, Lord.
Will enter the Kingdom of heaven.
But the one who does the will of the father lord.
Will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Lord , did we not prophesy in your name.
And cast out demons in your name.
And do mighty deeds in your name.
But that is not enough to call out his name.

How often do we call out his name.
Say we believe in his name.
But what actually do we do in his name.
Do we act with love and charity in his name.

We are not up to it.
Let’s not deny it

……

Just saying Lord, Lord
And not doing his real will
Is just not enough

….

See Mathew 7: 21-29

Listen to me O coastlands.
And give attention, you people from afar.
We come listening from all lands.
From near and far.

The Lord called me from the womb.
From the body of my mother he named my name.
And he will remember me in my tomb.
By my own name.

He made my mouth like a sharp sword.
In the shadow of his hand he hid me.
I will always call him Lord.
For always he is with me.

He said to me you are my servant.
I answered yes , I am your servant.

……..

I’m called from the womb
The Lord knew me even then
And he knows me now

….

See Isaiah 49: 1-6

Judge not.
And you will not be judged
Untie the judgemental knot.
You yourself may be misjudged.

For with the judgement you pronounce.
You will be judged.
Assume we are not worth an ounce.
And that so much we do is merely fudged.

The measure you use.
However small.
Will be measured to you.
Expect at the end the call.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
But do not notice the log that is in your own eye.

…..

If you judge someone
You will be then judged yourself
So  then do not try

….

See Matthew 7 : 1-5

Praise , O Sion , praise your saviour.
With hymns and solemn song.
Praise your captain and your saviour.
For this earnestly we long.

Perform what pow’r affords indeed.
None can reach his dignity.
His worth all praises far exceed.
For all eternity.

And they all ate.
And were satisfied.
We come to the supper late.
But still we are exalted.

This extraordinary transformation.
This transubstantiation.

…….

Praise O Sion praise
With hymns and some solemn song
You praise your saviour

……..

See The Sequence Lauda Sion and Luke 9 : 11-17

I am content with weaknesses, insults.
Hardships , persecutions and calamity.
With few good results.
And ultimate fatality

For when I am weak.
Then I am strong.
Thus I continue to seek
For new life I long.

Which of you by being anxious.
Can add a single hour to his span of life.
Why indeed be vexatious.
Doubt is all too rife.

Worry about this present day.
Not every other past or future day .

…. ..

For when I am weak
As  truly then I am strong
Now and for ever

…….

See 2 Corinthians 12 and Matthew 6 : 24-34

Do not lay treasures for yourself on earth.
Where moth and rust destroy.
Better here dearth.
Look not here for joy.

Paul says three times was I shipwrecked.
For a night and a day I was adrift.
Sometimes our hopes are wrecked
We can scarcely survive let alone lift.

Our troubles are so petty.
He had the faith to carry on.
Do we jump off doubt’s jetty.
Can we face another dawn.

Yes we will.
If we have the will.

…..

No treasures on earth
Here most and rust will destroy
Just wait for heaven

……

See Matthew 6 : 19-23 and 2 Corin 11

Whoever sows sparingly.
Will also reap sparingly.
Is that our problem, are we really trying.
Is that why we’re failing.

Whoever sows bountifully.
Will also reap bountifully.
We don’t do that to the best of our ability sadly.
Do we try hard enough , truly.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart.
Not reluctantly as under compulsion.
Follow your heart not your head as a start.
Anyway , we can start to reduce tension.

Be a cheerful giver.
Not a complaining receiver.

…….

We sow sparingly
Then we will reap sparingly
And we start again

…….

See 2 Corinthians 9

Their abundance of joy and extreme poverty.
Have overflowed in a wealth of generosity.
But still they have spiritual plenty.
Despite all adversity.

For they have gone according to their means.
Of their own accord.
And beyond their means.
To the Lord.

How could these early Christian communities.
Have such strong faith.
While our own communities.
Are so lacking in faith.

Are we too far in time from the Lord.
Has time cut the connecting cord.

…….

Abundance of joy
Was the privilege of them
The early Christians

……..

See 2 Corinthians 8

We commend ourselves by great endurance.
In afflictions and sleepless nights.
We take our stance.
Guided by the eternal lights.

By truthful speech.
By the power of God with the weapons of righteousness.
Extending our reach
In loving acceptance.

Through honour.
Slander and praise.
And dishonour.
Walking undaunted through life’s maize.

Always rejoicing.
Although having nothing.

…….

Commend endurance
Afflictions and sleepless nights
We just keep going

……

See 2 Corinthians 6 : 1-10