Category Archives: General

Thursday of Week 18 in Ordinary Time

Thin sowing means thin reaping.
The more you sow the more you reap.
And there will be less weeping.
And to higher spirituality you will leap.It was night but I could still hear them harvesting.
With no moon there were thousands of stars.
Here was the universe and nature quietly becoming.
And far in the distance on the high road was the slight murmur of cars.

Unless a wheat grain falls to the ground and dies.
It remains only a single grain.
But if it dies.
It yields a rich harvest to all our gain.

Anyone who loves his life loses it.
Anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it.

………

Thin sowing thin reaping
The more you sow more you reap
And much less weeping

……..

See 2 Corinthians 9: 6-10 and John 13: 24-26

Wednesday of Week 18 in Ordinary Time

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So stay awake.
You do not know either the day or the hour.
At the harvest so much is at stake.
If we care to make good flour.

I was watching the harvesters late at night.
Their lights on , engines pounding.
A looming orange pink twilight, what a sight.
Nature overcome, a vision of power sounding.

But at harvest everything is about timing.
Just as in Jesus’s warning.
To the bridesmaids to keep the lamps burning.
And to keep the oil refilling.

We do not know the hour when we are called.
We may end up appalled.

……

You must stay awake
Not knowing the hour or day
When you will be called

….. ..

See Matthew 25: 1-15

Tuesday of Week 18 in Ordinary Time

Jesus called out to them saying.
Courage, do not be afraid, it is I.
They never stopped praying.
We never stop saying, why.
I went to a funeral of a nurse.
She’s probably done more good than most of us.
For better or for worse.
And all without any fuss.She never walked on water.
But I’m sure she said , be not afraid.
To all, a kindly mother and daughter.
All her many kindnesses will now be repaid.

Maybe she has no obituary in the Times.
But she was a woman for all times.

……..

When Jesus called out
Were they still water afraid
Did they find courage

……

See Matthew 14: 22-26

Wednesday of Week 22 in Ordinary Time

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He left the house and went to a lonely place.
The crowds wanted to prevent him leaving.
Sometimes we too cannot keep up with the pace.
And we too have problems with believing.

If Jesus had to flee to a lonely place.
I think we can be forgiven for doing so too.
To escape from life’s endless chase.
We can begin life anew.

Sometimes it is best to be alone.
In thoughts and prayers.
A chance to rejoice or maybe atone.
A place of joy and occasionally tears.

So Jesus continued his preaching.
And we continue our searching.

…….

He then left the house
And went to a lonely place
To  now pray alone

…. ….

See Luke 4 : 38-44

Monday of Week 18 in Ordinary Time

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Jesus withdrew by boat to a lonely place.
Where they could be by themselves.
We must sometimes leave the race.
If we want to be truly ourselves.

The disciples said this is a lonely place.
And the time slipped by.
But Jesus fed all the people in that place.
And saved many a sigh.

I was on a boat myself today.
It is good occasionally to be alone at sea.
A chance to worries lay.
And further to see.

I’m afraid I ran aground.
It teaches you to take everything in the round.

………

He withdrew by boat
But then he fed five thousand
And not desert them

………

See Matthew 14: 13-21

The Transfiguration of the Lord

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There, in their presence, his face was transfigured.
His face shine like the Sun and his clothes became white.
Their sight unlike ours was not blurred.
He became white like light.

He did this so that during his passion.
They would remember  this blessing.
But instead they cleared  with faces ashen.
Apart from John they didn’t stop running.

But we too forget the light.
Obscured by the world’s cares.
We neither have hearing nor sight.
We forget our blessings, but remember our tears.

One day we will climb the mountain.
And be forever certain.

…….

His face transfigured
His clothes were as white as light
But we do not see

…….

See Matthew 17: 1-9

Saturday of Week 17 in Ordinary Time

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So may your ways be known on earth.
And all nations know your saving help.
We all have our worth.
As long as we seek your help.

The words of this psalm are so familiar.
What is said in prayers for Parliament.
To help us all look to the distant far.
And to be in this moment present.

Let the nations be glad and exult.
For you rule the world with justice.
You do not need to look always for a result.
But you do need  seek out all injustice.

Let the people praise you.
O God, let all the peoples praise you.

……..

Let people’s praise you
Let all the people praise you
Let nations be glad

……..

See Psalm 80

Friday of Week 17 in Ordinary Time

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Raise a song and sound the thimble.
The sweet sounding harp and the lute.
We search for a sign, a symbol.
Our own music need never be mute.

I am reading the life of composer Carl Davis.
Listening to his World At War.
And hearing war’s threatening basis
So powerful and moving a score.

And yesterday  I watched Shindler’s List.
Portraying so profound a tragedy.
No true music , can we resist.
In its tones can we find some remedy.

Music reaches our inner soul.
And help keeps us whole.

…….

Sounding the thrimble
The sweet sounding harp and lute
And raise a song too

…….

See Psalm 80

Thursday of Week 17 in Ordinary Time

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One day within your courts.
Is better than a thousand elsewhere.
Sometimes we are out of sorts.
We shed even the odd tear.

Saying the Rosary helps the soul.
It’s a kind of focused mindfulness.
And keeps us present and whole.
A slow progression out of a mess.

We start with the joyful mysteries.
Our hearts are raised by the luminous ones.
We are cast down by the sorrowful mysteries.
But victory over death comes with the glorious ones.

So the long night of questions passes slowly.
But all is not worry , we can remember the holy.

…….

A day in your courts
Is worth a thousand elsewhere
That is what we know

……..

See Psalm 83

Wednesday of Week 17 in Ordinary Time

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant.
looking for fine pearls.
If he finds one of great value , a purchase is urgent.
And he sells all the other pearls.

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I am reading the last page of Tolstoy’s Resurrection.
That night an entirely new life began for Nekhlyudov.
He was seeking a new type of perfection.
His thoughts arose like a dove.

He realised that we live in the absurd conviction.
That in life, given for our enjoyment, we are masters of our lives.
So much of what we hold dear is fiction.
We do not know what really thrives.

If we have been sent into this world to till.
It must be for some purpose and by someone’s will.

……,

Sent into this world.
We come for a purpose by will
Not for enjoyment

……..

See Matthew 13 : 44-46

Tuesday of Week 17 in Ordinary Time

 

 

 

IMG_7316A God of tenderness and compassion.
Slow to anger, rich in kindness.
Something beyond all reason.
And waiting for us to bless.

The newly fully grown wheat’s scent.
The music of  Schubert’s Rosamunde playing.
The gentle twilight, all worries spent.
The chorus of blackbird and wood pigeon singing.

The night gently invading the cottage garden.
Here for a moment I am close to God’s compassion.
A falling away of every burden.
And pointless passion.

Why worry if God is near
When you have nature here.

……..

God’s compassion
Tenderness and no anger
Is here for us all

……..

See Exodus 33

Monday of Week 17 in Ordinary Time

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The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.
Which a man took and sowed in his field.
We ask, how can we, from doubt, be freed.
The truth seems divinely concealed.

As usual I spent the night asking is Jesus God.
Did he not say  , Before Abraham was, I am, is he the one.
Does it matter if he did not say I am God.
Is not his meaning clear in saying I and the Father are one.

The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds.
But when it is grown , it is the biggest shrub of all.
I continue to search all the scriptural leads.

I wait patiently for the call.

Do these countless stars come from nothing.
Or from a celestial hand divining and guiding.

……..

The mustard seed
Is the smallest of them all
Yet a mighty shrub

………

See Matthew 13: 31 to 35

17 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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God cooperates with all those who love him.

With all those he has called according to his purpose.
He copes with our every whim.
And with each and every one of us.
We wake in the middle of the night.
Worrying about what may or may not  happen.
There seems, in our troubles, no light.
In this half waking world everything seems misshapen.
Is it our health.
Or a relationship.
Or lack of wealth.
We slide down into a dream with no perceivable grip.
And then we remember St Paul’s promise.
And we become less of a St Thomas.
…..
If we love him
God cooperates with us
All to his purpose
…..
See Romans 8: 28-30

Saturday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time

I am the Resurrection and the Life.
If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live.
Maybe there is more to worry about than present strife.
As long as there is less take and more give.
Reading the promise in church today.
It seemed so true and real.
Then back home a thought said , who can truly say.
Conviction turns like a revolving wheel.
When you’re in your seventies.
There may not be much more time to go.
You never think of this in your forties.
And in your twenties time seems so slow.
I  just assume new life is true, it’s easier.
Than being a denier.
…….
Resurrection
Comes to all those who believe
That is what we hope
…….
See John 11: 19-27

Friday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time

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The Lord said, I show kindness to thousands.
Who love me and keep my commandments.
They come now , millions from many lands.
Bringing such great enchantments.
I was thinking of some event I didn’t want to go to.
But what’s important is not me, but others.
Not what I want to go to.
But what gives pleasure to others.
Just a little kindness.
However tiring.
Is more than selfish blindness.
But it takes some trying.
Such good intentions do not last .
Just like the last time I tried to fast.
……..
Show kindness to all
Love all of my commandments
But it’s difficult
……..
See Exodus 20: 1-17

Thursday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time

Moses spoke.
And God answered with peals of thunder.
And what is the message to us folk.
How can we renew our own wonder.
When I look at the stars I think we are just cosmic dust.
Yet when I sit in church I feel a spiritual presence.
What is the truth, where should I place my trust.
I just do not know if there is an omnipresence.
Then in one night I have a good dream of being church content.
Then later in my dreams I meet some unmerited disaster.
So I fail to find any true scent.
And doubt is allowed to fester.
But we remain at the foot of Mount Sinai.
For revelation , hoping , praying.
………
When Moses did speak
God answered with thunder peals
We wait for answers
…….
See Exodus 19

Wednesday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time

 

 

 
The whole community of Israel reached the wilderness.

And the whole community began to complain against Moses.
We are given so much but we think we are given less.
We always in our lives complain to an imaginary Moses.
Today suddenly, the oven no longer worked.
The coffee jug lid fell and smashed.
But some true disaster might have happened.
Someone might have fallen with a broken head.
I was walking in the countryside.
My head full of thoughts and fresh air.
I entered the church and closed the door against outside.
Here you feel a presence and still , heavy air.
Here time and worries stopped .
And timeless truth was unlocked.
…….
You enter the church
Here all is still and silent
You feel a presence
……
See Exodus 16: 1-5 , 9-15

Tuesday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time

We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure.
To make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.
Everything we do is at his pleasure.
It is , always will be and always has been thus.We are in difficulties on all sides.
And never cornered.
He is the only one though there are many guides.
There is only really one way to move forward.

Even though our enthusiasm comes in rising and falling tides.

We see no answer to our problems.
But never despair.
Nothing condemns.
We only need to dare.

We have been persecuted.
But never deserted.

…….

We earthenware jars
But we do hold this treasure
And it comes from God

.. …..

See 2 Corinthians 4: 7-15

Monday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time

I will sing to the Lord , glorious his triumph.
Horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
If we have faith, we will have enough.
You just have to have more  faith, just look, see.Nekhlyudov knows the truth in the novel Resurrection.
Love is invincible.
Despite Maslova’s rejection.
Hope is made stronger in love’s crucible.The Israelites complained when they saw Pharaoh approaching.
But they were not deserted.
How often do I start despairing.
And feel neglected.

But love is invincible.
And certainly irreversible.

……..

I sing to the lord
Glorious is his triumph
He does not desert

…..

See Exodus 15 : 1-6

16 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

IMG_7250Your justice has its source in strength.
Your sovereignty over all makes you lenient over all.
Are we prepared to go any length.
To prevent our own fall.
You govern us with great lenience.
For you have only to will and your power is there.
You know and govern our every sense.
You are the arbiter of what is fair.But disposing of such strength.
You are mild in judgement.
To save us you go any length.
Although we have paid no way enough rent.

You show us how virtuous men.
Must be kindly to their fellow men.

……
Your justice has source
In strength, your sovereignty
Is lenient too
…….

See  Wisdom 12: 13, 16-19

Saturday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time. St Mary Magdela

She saw Jesus standing there though she did not recognise him.
Jesus said Mary, she knew him then and said Rabbuni.
We peer uncertainly over a spiritual rim.
We listen , we hear, but we cannot see.
If he walked down the street.
Would we know who it was.
I fear we would want to be discreet.
Would we just walk on or pause.
So Mary of Magdela went and told  the disciples.
That she had seen the Lord.
And us , would we just keep our heads buried in our bibles.
Or would we with acclamation go overboard.
Would we say repent.
Or just remain silent
……..
If we saw Jesus
First , would we recognise him
Then would we speak out
…..
See John 20 : 1-2, 11-18

Friday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time

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The Lord made Pharaoh’s heart stubborn.
And he did not let the sons of Israel leave his country.
So often our hopes are stillborn.
Blocked by some unseen spiritual sentry.

The blood shall mark the houses you live in.
I will pass over you and you will escape the destroying plague.
He passes over and spares us even if we have sin.
Even if our commitment is all too vague.

This day is to be a day of remembrance.
You must celebrate it as a feast in the Lord ‘s honour.
Nothing can approach it in resemblance.
And nothing would be the same as before.

……..

Our hearts are stubborn
Do we listen to others
We may pay a price

…….

See Exodus 11

Thursday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time

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Come to me all ye who Labour .
And are overburdened.
Words to savour.
We are never abandoned.

And  I will give you rest .
Shoulder my yoke.
And we might find more zest.
A message for all folk.

Learn from me .
For I am gentle and humble.
We can all the better see.
We need never tremble.

You will find rest for your souls
Whatever and however humble, our roles.

…. ….

Come to me all ye
Who labour, overburdened
My yoke is easy

….  …

See Matthew 11 : 28-30

Wednesday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time

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Moses was looking after the flock of Jethro.
He led his flock to the far side of the wilderness.
Well , like him there are many times we feel low.
We are abandoned , found , question our fitness.

During the long night I tried in my soul to look further.
Did I really believe in God , why was I feeling low.
Then quite simply I said the Our Father.
It was a shaft of light, I felt such great joy.

You can muse all you like, down layer by layer.
Pursue every unanswerable question in sight.
But the answer comes in the answer to prayer.
It comes with joy like a dawning light.

I went back to sleep.
Contentment deep.

…….

 

The wilderness flock

with Moses looking for it

Are we just like him

 

 

 

See Exodus 3, 1-6, 9-12

Tuesday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time

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If the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon.
They would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
We have been given so much , by now we should have won
But our faith just comes in flashes.

Like Chorazin and Bethzaida
We have been given so much .
But from acceptance we are far , so very far.
We remain out of spiritual touch.

Like Capernhaum we wanted to be exalted.
We aimed for heaven , will we be thrown done to hell.
How did we come to be so faulted.
Who can tell.

What then willl happen to us on judgement day.
Who can truly say.

……..

If the miracles
Done in many other towns
Had been here what then

…….

See Matthew 11 : 20-24