Category Archives: General

Tuesday of 4th week in Lent

A stream came out from the Temple threshold.

And flowed eastwards.

Everything is put on hold.

To the east then our sight turns towards.

From the temple flowed from sacrifice .

Both blood and water.

Now there is a new bloodless sacrifice .

An innocent lamb put to the slaughter.

The stream of love, I see.

Gets wider and wider

Until it meets the sea.

Its plaintiff song louder and louder.

Wherever the water flows all creatures will live.

And we ourselves will thrive .

……..

A new sacrifice

Is with all of us always

Of love not of blood

…….

See Ezekiel 47 : 1-9 , 12

Monday of 4 th week in Lent

Go home, your son will live.

The man believed what Jesus had said.

We have we to know not just to take but give.

To know how to be led.

It’s strange how our prayers are answered.

Not always in the way we want.

Sometimes the answer is unclear , stammered.

Even in a death crisis it almost seems a taunt.

The court official asked Jesus to come with him.

But he had faith when that didn’t happen.

Do we have faith even if our position is grim.

Or do we expect always our hearts to gladden.

After prayer we often turn on our heel.

Not ready in gratitude to kneel.

…..

Often in prayer

We do not receive answers

But just be patient

…….

See John 4 : 43-54

4th Sunday in Lent

Your brother here was dead.

And has come to life, he was lost and is found.

Rejection has fled.

Love is crowned.

When you hear this Gospel reading.

A tear comes to the eye.

It is reconciliation spreading

Fatherhood’s loving cry.

But what of us who do the work to the full.

Who are left behind .

Are we resentful .

Perhaps we shouldn’t mind.

Our father is with us always.

Ready for all our faults to give us praise.

…….

Are we the lost one

Going to another land

We are welcome home

…. …

See Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Saturday of 3rd week in Lent

Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled.

But the man who humbles himself will be exalted.

We know we are truly rumbled.

We so often find ourselves faulted.

We hate criticism.

But we must not let it get us down.

We rejoice in our own rightism.

Even if we are quick to put others down.

He beat his breast and said.

God be merciful to me a sinner.

Shall we just take it as read .

We’re no better than any other trier.

Actually criticism is a good thing .

It is God’s and humility’s ring .

…….

I am not grasping

Unlike the other man there

But he is better .

……..

See Luke 18: 9-14

Fridy of 3rd week in Lent . The Annunciation of the Lord . 25 March 2022

Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly

My lips I have not sealed.

Our hearts can never be empty.

Because all is revealed.

I just opened todays readings at random.

And came up with the line from the psalm.

We need to read no memorandum.

A psalm a day keeps us calm.

You do not ask for Holocaust or victim.

Instead here am I .

Another line by chance , thinking of him.

We just need to ask why.

But today we recall Mary’s answer , yes.

We too only have to say yes .

…….

So when we are called

Will our answer then be yes

Or will we temper

……

See Psalm 39

Thursday of 3rd Week in Lent

Follow right to the end of the way.
That I mark out and you will prosper.
We have to do this anew every day .
The spiritual horizon the spur.

Listen to my voice.
Then I will be your God.
We only have to make our choice.
Our walking feet well shod.

But they have not listened to me.
Have not paid attention.
They refuse to let their eyes see.
Your long ago ascension.

I left behind the church on the hill walking .
Attempting as I strode on to increase my understanding.

…….

A far horizon
An old stone church on the hill
And then brisk walking

…….

See Jeremiah 7 : 23-28

Wednesday of 3rd week in Lent

Do not think I have come to abolish the law.

I have come not to abolish but complete them.

We stand in awe.

Ready to pick up any last crumb.

Not one dot will disappear from the law.

Till it’s purpose is achieved.

This belief is the core.

This is what we hope to have achieved.

The man who infringes even the least of these commandments.

Will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven.

These are no mere enactments.

They are our path to heaven.

But we are weak.

We can only seek.

…….

To fulfil the law

That indeed may be our aim

But it is so hard

….. ..

See Matthew 5:17-19

Tuesday of 2nd week in Lent

That is how my Heavenly Father will deal with you .

Unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.

They are so few .

Who take this to heart.

Just after I listened to this mass reading.

I promptly felt angry against someone.

But we know forgiveness is healing.

Yet every day we are undone.

We are like the wicked servant .

Demanding our debt be redeemed.

But for our own loan to be returned we are fervent.

Acceptance is merely dreamed.

I wonder if one day we will have to pay the price.

For all our petty angry vice.

…..

Do we then forgive

As we are now forgiven

Really I doubt it

……

See Matthew 18: 21-35

Sent from my iPhone

Monday of 3rd week in Lent

There were many lepers in Israel .

Yet none were cured except Naaman.

When will our time come, we cannot tell.

Our fate is of every man and no man.

Why does God act in one moment .

Why this particularity.

Can we try and discern more in Lent.

Does he just choose and act in his charity.

Out of the whole history of the Universe.

Why did he choose that place and time.

Can we ever put time forward or into into reverse.

Can we ever understand his reason and rhyme.

And thus all is mystery.

And part of our future and history.

…….

Of this we are sure

No prophet is accepted

In his own country

…..

See Luke 4 24-30

3rd Sunday in Lent

But if they ask me what his name is.

What am I to tell them.

We only know that we are his.

We only say Come Lord , come.

And God said to Moses.

I am who I am.

An answer as beautiful and prickly as roses.

And as gentle as a lamb.

Do not try and worry what God is .

Only that God is.

That all of creation is his.

That all encompassing mystery is his.

We stare too into the ever burning bush.

We do not now understand but there is no rush.

…….

We ask what God is

We only know that God is.

Is that not enough

……..

See Exodus 3 : 1-8, 13-15

Saturday of 2nd week in Lent , St Joseph

That is why what fulfils the promise.

Depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift .

Is there something here that I miss.

How can I end my endless drift .

We often lack self confidence in Lent.

But recall, this world as we know it is passing away.

All that we cherish most is in descent.

We can live only for one day , this day.

Our view of God must be like that of a child.

Guileless , seeing him as a living mystery.

Rationality , pre determined views filed.

Stepping away from the detritus of our history.

My depression can surely be lifted.

With the spirit’s help I can be gifted.

……

Why do I question .

Can I not accept freely

And be like a child

…..

See Romans 4 : 13, 16-18 ,22

1 Cor 7: 29-31

Friday of 2nd week in Lent

It was the stone rejected by the builders.
That became the keystone.
With faith these are the pillars.
We know we are never alone.

I could not sleep.
So I concentrated on breath and scripture.
The effort seemed to work better than counting sheep.
Here was behind closed eyes a calming picture.

What brings joy
It is Lectio Divina
The purest alloy
The most delicate china.

It is a picture into the kingdom.
A country of so much wisdom.

…….

Where do we find joy
It’s in lectio divina
It’s all so simple

……

See Matthew 21: 33-46

Thursday of 2nd week in Lent

I have made you a light for the nations.

So that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.

Receive our oblations.

Cover the world with quiet mirth.

The candle was nearing the end of its short life.

But it’s guttering end took a long time.

Ours too soon will be cut with a knife.

Those of us long past our prime.

But staring at the candle.

Time slowed down .

Meditation was given a handle.

No more was there a need to frown.

Thus even long past our might.

We can give our gentle light.

…..

Our light is passing.

Shadows may be increasing

But we cast shadows

……

See Acts 13: 46-49

Wednesday of 2nd Week in Lent

I have heard the slander of the crowd.
Fear is all around me.
It’s not necessarily true even if loud.
Best if we neither hear nor see.

But as for me I trust in you Lord.
I say , you are my God.
I keep my reply stored.
Merely giving a polite nod.

Don’t worry about what your enemies say.
Don’t even read it .
Live just for this day .
And remember his holy writ.

How soothing it was to read in mass this psalm.
Suddenly all was calm.

…..

Your thoughts are not you
This life is not permanent
Think on this moment

……

See Psalm 30

Tuesday of 2nd week in Lent

Nor must you allow yourself to be called teachers.

Since you only have one teacher.

Perhaps we are only just reachers.

I certainly don’t want to be a preacher.

I just want to understand the truth.

And hope that reading will help me

I know I will always be a poor sleuth.

But maybe all this will help me to see.

I doubt if anyone knows for sure .

What awaits us eventually.

But a sense of peace is the lure.

So it is all just there potentially.

But one thing is certain.

We know not what lies behind death’s curtain.

……

I am no preacher

I do not know for certain

What is beyond death

……

See Matthew 23 : 1-12

Monday of 2nd week of Lent

Do not treat us according to our sins.

We are left in the depth of distress.

Is it really about who wins.

We are mere pawns in life’s game of chess.

We know our name, where we live, that we are alive.

But we do not really know our true essence.

Do we know who we are however much we strive.

But we are a creature of sentience.

What happens to this consciousness.

Where did it come from or go.

What is its final address.

We are on a melting ice flow.

We search high and low.

Until we die we will not know.

……

Where do we come from

Where will we go in the end

At death we will know

……..

See Psalm 78

2 nd Sunday in Lent

For us our homeland is in heaven.

And from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for .

We can repeat this seven times seven.

This goes to our very core.

He will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours.

Into copies of his glorious body.

At the end of our hours.

We hopefully will be ready .

He will do that by the same power.

With which he can subdue the whole universe.

So with fear we need not cower.

Soon our prose life will be transformed into verse

We are not destined to be lost .

Nor surrender at any cost .

……

We are transfigured

In the love we show others

That is our true fate

……

See Philippians 3 : 17- 4 : 1

Saturday of 1st week of Lent

He causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good.
And his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike .
A good rule , the can’t is not as good as the could.
To accept does not mean that you have to like .

The criticism and abuse was wearing me down.
Then I remembered, soon we will be dead and gone.
Everything then falls into perspective, the up and the down.
Who then will remember or care when we are gone.

What did he say, love your enemies.
And pray for those who persecute you.
Think not of decades but centuries.
And not of ours but the other crew.

In all a sense of proportion.
Avoids so much distortion.

…….

Love those who love you
Well that is all so easy
It’s the other bit that hurts

……

See Matthew 5 : 43-48

Friday of 1st week in Lent

Anyone who is angry with his brother.
Must answer for it before the court.
We just have to accept every another.
And make sure , before it erupts , our anger is caught.

Yesterday I stood in the basement of an office in Westminster.
I was standing in a trickle of water .
It was the Tyburn River.
My thoughts passed to where the gibbets were.

Here a comfortable modern office block.
Then the martyr’s rope and misery.
Thus flows time’s unregarding clock.
Now just the commuter’s delay, then grave injury.

I thought back to these words , forgive your brother.
Hardly surely too much bother .

……..

Forgive your brother
Surely that’s not hard to do
But it really is

……..

See Matthew 5 : 20- 26

Thursday of 1st Week of Lent

Remember Lord , reveal yourself .

At the time of our distress.

So often we are not ourself .

But we are not any less.

For we are not alone .

We only have to pray.

We just have to realise that life is a loan.

Then we can keep distress at bay .

For the one who asks always receives .

The one who searches always finds.

We may be but falling leaves.

But we can read the spiritual signs.

So ask the door to open .

Let our hearts be open.

……

The door is just there

We just have to find the key

And it will open

…….

See Esther 4:17 and Matthew 7: 7-12

Wednesday of 1st week in Lent

This is a wicked generation, it is looking for a sign.
The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah.
Four times the Gospel mentions the word sign .
Am I searching for a sign .

Is it because at first we duck our mission.
Then sometimes we relent and do our duty.
Is this the true lesson.
We will be alright, we can find true beauty.

But what is our mission.
What are we required to do.
How will we find fruition.
They who do are so few.

Help me find my resolve.
Before I finally dissolve.

…….

The sign of Jonah
But then what is Jonah’s sign
Ah I wish I knew

…….

See Luke 11: 29-42

Tuesday of 1st Week of Lent

Yes , if you forgive others their failings.

Your Heavenly Father will forgive you yours.

In the gospel today we are told to start praying.

But he urges these last two lines to open holy doors.

It’s easy enough to pray .

More difficult to forgive .

We will not be forgiven, even if we pray.

If we do not forgive.

The other bits , keep your name holy.

Do not put us to the test.

Your will be done wholly .

Are much easier not to resist.

So please forgive us our debts .

As we forgive our owed debts.

…….

Your father knows what

You need to ask him so you

So you pray like this

………

See Matthew 6 : 7-13

Monday of 1st week of Lent

I was a stranger and you made me welcome.

In prison and you came to see me .

Yes I am guilty of doing this seldom.

I have still not unlocked this key.

In so far as you did this to the least of mine .

You did it to me .

Again I fear , I’m out of line.

I have to make a guilty plea .

I think I realise now my fault.

Is not just against them but him.

So I am in fact in default.

It’s all rather shamefully grim.

But it’s the same answer always to all that.

We’re just incompetent triers not a rat .

……..

In so far that you

Do it to the least of me

You do it to me

……

See Matthew 25 : 31-46

1st Sunday in Lent

Invocabit me et ego exaudiam eum eripiam eum.

Et glorificabo eum longitudine dierum adimplebo eum.

When he calls me I will answer him, I will rescue him , Lord come.

And honour him ,with long life will I satisfy him, Lord come.

The sung mass introit was from psalm ninety.

The same we sing at Compline on Sunday .

A hymn to the Almighty.

And to hopefulness every day .

What a pleasure it is read Compline.

A peaceful presence on going to bed.

It’s more about consolation than condemning sin.

More about calm than what’s said.

He who abides in the shelter of the most high.

Shall remain under the protection of the most high.

……

It is he who will

Free you from the snare of the

Fowler who seeks to destroy

…….

See Psalm 90

Saturday after Ash Wednesday

I have not come to call the virtuous .

But sinners to repentance.

My route to virtue is still circuitous.

From day to day I shift my stance.

He ate and drink with tax collectors.

And sinners .

Perhaps even with tax inspectors.

And every kind of runners and riders.

If he were here .

Would he drink with us .

I suspect he would stay near .

And would do so without any fuss.

We are the tax collector Levi.

He says follow me to the sky .

……..

He says follow me

Of course we rarely do so

Perhaps we should do

…..

See Luke 5: 27-32

Another Country

Thoughts from a Christian perspective — by Edward Leigh

Category Archives: General

Tuesday of 4th week in Lent

Monday of 4 th week in Lent

4th Sunday in Lent

Saturday of 3rd week in Lent

Fridy of 3rd week in Lent . The Annunciation of the Lord . 25 March 2022

Thursday of 3rd Week in Lent

Wednesday of 3rd week in Lent

Tuesday of 2nd week in Lent

Monday of 3rd week in Lent

3rd Sunday in Lent

Saturday of 2nd week in Lent , St Joseph

Friday of 2nd week in Lent

Thursday of 2nd week in Lent

Wednesday of 2nd Week in Lent

Tuesday of 2nd week in Lent

Monday of 2nd week of Lent

2 nd Sunday in Lent

Saturday of 1st week of Lent

Friday of 1st week in Lent

Thursday of 1st Week of Lent

Wednesday of 1st week in Lent

Tuesday of 1st Week of Lent

Monday of 1st week of Lent

1st Sunday in Lent

Saturday after Ash Wednesday