Category Archives: General

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

Wednesday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time

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Preserve me God.
I take refuge in you.
Where though , we ask, is God.
Is he everywhere , nowhere , in me or you.

I was awake in the middle of the night.
Worrying positive and negative thoughts churning.
I said the rosary mysteries of the light.
My thoughts conquered, I started sleeping.

I sat quietly in our church.
And found refuge in a spiritual presence.
God would never leave me on the lurch.
As long as I allowed my mind to dwell on his essence.

So we keep praying.
And searching, hoping.

…….

Preserve me then God
I will take refuge in you
Are we really sure

…….

See Psalm 15

Tuesday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time

If salt  becomes tasteless.
What can make it salty again.
We will soon become in body less.
But in spirit more, we will leave no stain.
You are the light of the world.
A city built on a hill top cannot be hidden.
But our flag will finally be furled.
Our death lingering or sudden.No one lights a lamp  to put it under a tub.
They put it on the lamp stand.
There’s the rub.
One day we will only lie down, we will no longer stand .

Your light must shine.
And one day , if not now , it will shine.

…..

Salt becomes tasteless
It’s never salt again
And we are the same

……

See Mathew 5 : 13-16

Monday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time

Happy those who mourn.
They shall be comforted.
Let us not be too forlorn.
Ultimately we will be rested, if tested.
Happy those who hunger and thirst.
For what is right.
We cannot always be first.
We just need to keep the universal spirit in sight.Happy the merciful.
They shall have mercy shown them.
Hope should be plentiful.
One die we will die , but we will not be struck dumb.Happy those who are persecuted.
In heaven they will be comforted.

……..

Happy those who mourn
They shall all be comforted
Or that’s what we hope

……..

See Matthew 5 : 1-12

10 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Though this outer man of ours may be falling into decay.
And if we think of our ageing body, we may despair.
The inner man is renewed day by day.
As long as it is the universal spirit for which we care.

We are enslaved by our mind.
And by passing time.
But to ourselves we need to be kind.
For what is truly real is not bound by time.

Yes the troubles that are soon over.
Train us for the weight of carrying eternal glory.
Here we stumble , one day we will be lying in clover.
And it will matter little if people don’t remember our story.

And so we have no eyes for things that are visible.
Only for things that are invisible.

……..

We fall to decay
Our inner body renews
And so we survive

……..

See 2 Corinthians 4

Saturday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time

Proclaim the message.
And welcome or unwelcome,  insist on it.
For this and every age.
A lamp is lit.Refute falsehood.
Correct error .
Say not I won’t but maybe I could.
There is only hope not terror.But do all with patience.
And the intention of teaching.
Rejecting impatience.
And perhaps not too much preaching.

Have I fought the good fight to the end.
Have I run the race to the finish, the end.

………

Proclaim the message
And welcome or unwelcome
Do insist on it

……..

See 2 Timothy 4 :  1-8

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

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I will not give rein to my fierce anger.
I will not destroy Ephraim again.
We will be fruitful for longer.
We will leave no angry stain.

Jesus has a heart.
He has emotions.
But he learns always to make a new start.
His anger has reasons.

Does our anger have cause.
Can we quieten our mind’s emotions.
Are we really swayed by just cause.
And by sound reasons.

Or do we fight.
Rather than light.

…….

Are we giving way
To our angry emotions
Or do we sit still

………

See Hosea 11

Thursday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time

If we have died with him.
We may be unfaithful.
But we shall live with him.
He is always faithful.If we have died with him.
Then we shall live with  him.
If we hold firm then we shall reign with him.
He will disown us if we disown him.

There is to be no wrangling about words.
All that this achieves is the destruction of those listening.
Are they really so important, words.
What matters is not talking but listening.

Do not be ashamed of your life’s work
For it is yours and no one else’s work.
……..
We will die with him
We will live with him, surely
That is our best hope
…….

See 2 Timothy 2 : 8-15

Wednesday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time

God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity.
But the spirit of power and of love.
Or for that matter of undue temerity.
I looked at my wife and felt great love.And then in my waking dream.
I dreamt that I loved the whole world.
Why does this feeling only really come in a dream.
Why is compassion in us too often furled.But we should love all.
Irrespective of who they are.
Then truly we could walk tall.
And with amazing vision see far from afar.

That time will come in life.
But maybe not now in this life.

……..

God’s gift is not fear
Or timidity in life
It is just true hope

…….

See 2 Timothy 1

Tuesday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time

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Give back to Caesar.
What belongs.
To Caesar.
Accepting any wrongs

And give back to God.
What belongs.
To God.
Who does no wrongs.

But most importantly.
Is that God is everything.
And all beginning and finality.
In , for, from and to everything.

We know to whom we must give.
And what we must sieve.

……..

Give back to Caesar
What belongs to the Caesar.
And to God the rest

…….

See Mark 12 : 13-17

St Charles Lwanga and his companions

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May you have more and more grace and peace.
As you come to know our Lord more and more .
We pray this without cease.
Unto our innermost core.

By his divine power he has given us all the things we need.
For life and for true devotion.
The blood of the martyrs is the church’s seed.
Reminding us of our true creation.

But to attain this you will have to do your utmost yourselves.
Adding goodness to the faith you have.
Self control, patience in ourselves.
Kindnesses’  salve.

And to kindness love.
The ascending spiritual dove.

…….

We seek just some peace
We  come to live with the Lord
With kindness and love

…….

See 2 Peter 1

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

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Take it, he said , this is my body.
This is my blood , the blood of the covenant.
For this gift are we alert and ready.
Our thanks and prayers lovingly sent.

At the last supper.
He gave a gift of himself.
Now our succour.
For everyone not just ourself.

Did anyone before.
Give such a gift.
Loving us to our core.
Healing every rift.

At communion .
With him we are in union.

…….

This is my body
And this he said is my blood
Now and for ever

……..

See  Mark 14

Saturday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time

You must use your most holy faith.
As your foundation.
Not view it as some sort of intangible wraith.
Or as some way of avoiding damnation.
Build on that .
Praying to the Holy Spirit.
Never falling flat.
Or being some sort of hypocrite.When there are some who have doubts.
Reassure them.
Everywhere and hereabouts.
Rather than with doubt being struck dumb.

When there are some who have doubts reassure them.
And in every way try to help them.

……..

Use your holy faith
As all your foundation
For you and others

……..

See Jude 1:17

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Of all women you are the most blessed.
And blessed is the fruit of your womb.
What future pain and joy could then be guessed.
Or what greatness would loom.Why should I be honoured.
With a visit of the mother of my lord.
And why should we be honoured.
With salvation from our Lord.

Yes blessed is she who believed.
That the promise of the Lord would be fulfilled.
And will it be said of us that we believed.
That this two thousand year old promise would be fulfilled.

We will never receive a visit from the mother of our Lord.
But we  ask for help from the mother of our Lord.

……..

You blessed woman
You the mother of our Lord
We ask for your help

…..

See Luke 1: 39-56

Thursday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time

You are new born and you should be hungry.
Which will help you grow to salvation.
Going humbly.
Whatever our condition.Now that you have tasted the goodness of the Lord.
He is the living stone rejected by men, but chosen by God.
Connecting us to heaven by a spiritual cord.
Till finally in us there is nothing flawed.

Set yourself close to him.
So that you may be living stones making a spiritual house.
Our light will not grow dim.
With our holy spouse.

You are a chosen race.
A royal priesthood , you will finish this race.

……

You are then new born
You should therefore be hungry
For salvation

…….

See 1 Peter 2