Category Archives: General
11 th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Immaculate Heart of Mary
There is a new creation.
The old creation has gone.
Freeing us from all damnation.
Ensuring we are never alone.
Now the new creation is here.
It is all God’s work.
We need not fear.
For all around is his handiwork.
God was reconciling the world to himself.
Not holding men’s faults against them.
Or against ourself.
And even now we do not know the outcome.
So we are ambassadors for Christ.
And we make our appeal in the name of Christ.
……
A new creation
The old creation is gone
Now and for ever
……
See 2 Corinthians 5
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
No one knows the son except the father.
Just as no one knows the father except the son.
Reading these words I seemed to see further and further.
I was not blinded by earth, it’s cares and the sun.
Come to me all ye who Labour and are overburdened.
And I will give you rest.
In these moments my faith was strengthened.
It seemed to find at least for now, new zest.
Shoulder my yoke and learn from me.
For I am gentle and humble in heart.
Now just for an instant in church I could see.
I could understand if only in that moment, it was a start.
This the sacred heart is here.
Helping to remove all care.
……….
Jesus’ sacred heart
We know it’s always with us
If we choose to see.
……. ..
See Matthew 11 : 25-30
I
Thursday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time
There is freedom.
We are his
Te Deum.We with our unveiled faces
Reflect like mirrors the brightness of the Lord.
Thus we receive untold graces.
And take up our spiritual sword.
We all grow brighter and brighter.
As we are turned into the image we reflect.
Our souls’ burdens become lighter and lighter.
This is truth and comes from no mere sect.
But if our gospel does not penetrate the veil.
Then all this is to no avail.
………
Yes there is freedom
Where’s the spirit of the Lord
But we have to seek
…..
See 2 Corinthians 3
Wednesday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time
The Israelites could not bear looking at the face of Moses
Although it was a brightness that faded.
We who live now cannot ask for less.
Even if our faith is so jaded.
How much greater will be the brightness.
That surrounds the administering of the spirit.
This is the test of our fitness.
Even if we have no merit.
Our faith is spirit embedded.
Not some dry thing just from a book.
A radiance is encountered.
We don’t even need to look.
Compared with this greater splendour.
What used to have much now seems to have no splendour.
……….
The spirit’s brightness
Is then so overwhelming
And encompassing
……..
See 2 Corinthians 3, 4-11
St Antony of Padua
Your will is wonderful indeed.
The unfolding of your word gives light.
You are the all encompassing seed
As long as we keep you always in sight.
I open my mouth and I sigh.
As I yearn for your commands
I cannot and will not lie
I must hold out to you my hands,
Let my steps be guided by your promise.
Let no evil rule me.
I wish I could follow you like St Thomas.
I can only make my plea.
Let your face shine upon your servant.
Let me be more fervent.
………..
Your wonder will
Your unfolding word gives light
Guided by promise
….
See Psalm 118
Monday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time
Happy the gentle.
They shall have the earth for their heritage.
We must take on a new mantle.
For a new age.
Happy those who mourn.
They shall be comforted.
Beckoning for us , a new morn
All is spiritually related.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right.
They shall be satisfied.
Against all might.
To earth we are not tied.
The beatitudes are right.
We must keep them in sight.
………
Happy those who mourn
They shall then be comforted
We also will be
…….
See Matthew 5 : 1-12
Corpus Christi
Man does not live on bread alone.
Man lives on everything that comes from the Lord.
We only have to atone.
And live again bound by new life’s cord.
Half asleep , waking today.
I dreamt I loved the whole world.
And all its people all religious and lay.
All dislikes , resentments away hurled.
What a delightful feeling.
Of course it didn’t last.
These feelings come with dreaming not living.
I’m not yet at all ready for the holy cast.
But as long as there are dreams .
Everything is not as it drearily seems.
………
Live on bread alone
Man does not need to do that
For he has God’s word
…. ..
See Deuteronomy 8 : 2-3 , 14-16
Saturday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time
And at the same God sent me to heal you.
In troubles our own faith is a mere wraith.
And we always are given our due.I was walking in the summer night garden.
The tees lit gently from the cottage windows.
There was no wind, stillness , very little, seen.
Here was a return to nature with no highs or lows.
Earlier I just looked I looked at the light through the trees
The sun setting , a summer twilight.
With this sense of the present , no need to get on knees.
No attempt at knowledge or insight.
No past or future troubles thought
No need to have sought.
…….
A summer twilight
Just lit by some cottage lights
A peaceful present
…….
See Tobit 12 : 1, 5-15, 20
Friday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time
And had opened his eyes.
Then Tobit met Sarah, the bride of his son Tobias.
And blessed her in these words, with sighs.Welcome daughter to your own house in joyfulness.
And blessedness. Come in my daughter .
Tobit welcomed his daughter in law with happiness.
New blood is thicker than water.
Thus our prayers are answered.
Despite our afflictions.
And we are remembered.
Answering our convictions.
Nineveh saw him walking as briskly as old.
Or so we are told.
……..
Come in my daughter.
In joyfulness, blessedness
A daughter in law
………
See Tobit 11 : 5-17
Thursday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time
With all your soul, with all your mind and your strength.
All this is of course just a startIn a a country church, my walk paused.
My mind paused.
Just now this device wrote itself” my mobile paused.”
Mere chance had this caused?
You must love your neighbour as yourself.
There is no greater commandment than these.
It’s so difficult not to ponder on the self.
But these are the keys .
Two simple commandments.
No truer or harder sentiments.
……..
Love your God with heart
Love your neighbour as yourself
But so difficult
……..
See Mark 12 : 38-24
Wednesday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time
Whose wife will she be.
At death into what lane do we pass.
Will we hear , know or see.The Sadducees thought that at death we cease to exist.
How final a statement that is.
And it’s quite an easy idea to resist.
It’s certainly something we want to miss.
I know that I do not know.
All I have is hope .
I refuse to be low.
To say nope.
I have his promise.
And his eternal loving kiss.
……..
At death we go where
Or what will we see or know
We have his promise
……..
See Mark 12 : 18-27
Tuesday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time
What about your own alms.
Your own good work.
Is it good enough to sing our psalms.
And meanwhile our doubts lurk.
Blind Tobit was told by his wife.
Everyone knows what return you have had for your good works.
Our own doubt is rife .
Our own regret for our life lurks.
Tobit did not know there were sparrows above his head.
Their hot droppings fell into his eyes.
Sometimes we just feel bled.
Surrounded by lies.
But Tobit’s agony was coming to an end.
God and fate do not give, they only lend.
………
What about your alms
Your own good work that you do
Are you recognised
………
See Tobit 2 : 9-14
Monday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time
Your feasts will be turned to mourning.
And all your songs to lamentation.
We have received our warning.
And this applies to us whatever our station.
To it’s neighbours laughed and said.
See he is not afraid anymore.
But that is only true after we are dead.
We must then settle our score.
The time before this he had to flee.
But here he is beginning to bury his dead again.
We ourselves make our plea.
But we are always going against the grain.
Do we, like Tobit, walk in the paths of truth.
Or did we leave behind all that in our youth.
………
Feasts turned to mourning
Songs to lamentation
Is that then our lot
………
See Tobit 1 : 3 , 2 : 1-8
The Most Holy Trinity
Moses went up the mountain.
As the Lord had commanded.
With countless stars can faith be certain.
How can we assume all will indeed be mended.
I dreamt that faith was indeed a mountain.
And all our efforts a mere ant hill
But I still remained uncertain.
Was the universe in comparison not a continent not some high hill.
All this is true even infernal.
And then I saw one small man, Jesus walking.
He alone proclaimed that we are eternal.
He alone provides for our reawakening.
It does not matter that we are a mere piece of cosmic dust.
With faith our soul will not die or rust.
…….
We on our ant hill
Stand before the universe
But one man gives hope
………
See Exodus 34 : 4-6 , 8-9
Saturday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time
In my prayers I asked outright for wisdom.
Now I am in danger of unraveling.
It still seems so far away, the kingdom.I was in the Cathedral at Budapest.
Listening to the mass in Hungarian.
I could not understand a word, I failed the test.
All I could do was to rely on a phone scan.
But did it matter.
I think not.
Doubt could still scatter.
I could stem the rot.
Like the prophet, outside the sanctuary I could pray for her.
And to the last I will continue to seek her.
……..
Before I travelled
I asked outright for wisdom
And still I’m seeking
…….
See Ecclesiasticus 51 : 17-27
Friday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time
Some have left no memory.
And disappeared as if they had not existed.
We may leave no trace , never leave our territory.
We appear among the unlisted.
They are now as if they had never been.
And so to their children after them.
They do not now see nor are they seen.
We ask ourselves , are we like them.
But here is a list of generous men.
Whose good works have not been forgotten.
They will be seen again.
And we too pray we will remain begotten.
But for all there is some kind of inheritance.
And even some feeling of sense.
……….
They the disappeared
They can leave no memory .
And then what of us
……. ..
See Ecclesiasticus 44: 1, 9-13
Thursday of week 8 in Ordinary Time
My soul is sorrowful to the point of death.
Sometimes too our life seems a complete mess.
Almost what’s preferable really is death.
Nevertheless let it be as you, not me , would have it.
Can’t I avoid my own troubles we sigh.
I pass distracted , I can neither stand nor sit.
Your will be done .
Only slowly patience comes , we have got over our fit.
And realise that out there , there is fun.
Thus time passes .
And fear lapses.
……. ..
Sadness came over
Him and great distress, his soul
Sorrowful , distressed
…..
See Matthew 26 : 36-42
Wednesday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time
As Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting.
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Seeing was believing.
Faith has no limit.
The visitation shows we can always hope.
Elizabeth had been barren.
Now soon despair was followed by hope.
The desert is never entirely barren.
Whatever disasters happen.
We can always have hope.
We need not sadden.
Or have a good mope.
We just need to be positive
And not too negative
……..
To be positive
And not always negative
Is surely a start
……….
See Luke 1 : 39-56
Tuesday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time
There is no one who has left brothers or sisters for my sake.
Who will not be repaid a hundred times over.
We must give and not take.
I felt I was on a life change over.
When I read these words silently.
Everything seemed clear and certain.
My mind into certainty moved quietly.
As if I was lifting a curtain.
But I have not left house or land.
I have not sacrificed anything.
I am just a shifting grain of sand.
Writing on a prayer and on a wing.
Holding somehow on.
Carrying on.
……….
There is no one who
Has left it all for my sake
Who will not be paid
……..
See Mark 10 : 28-31
Mary Mother of God, Monday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time
So one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance.
Soon we too will lose the golden thread.
And our own death is all down to chance.I dreamt last night that I was about to die.
It was a terrifying thought.
This will soon be our last sigh.
We all of us , eventually are caught.
But after all it’s only heaven or annihilation.
Is that so terrifying a prospect.
It’s jubilation.
Or just nothing at all kept.
He said it is accomplished.
The fear of death can be vanquished.
…….
It is accomplished
Fear of death can be vanquished
If we accept it
……..
See John 19 : 25- 34
Pentecost

For whose sins you forgive.
They are forgiven.
Let us choose to live.
Whether or not striven.
For those whose sins you retain.
They are retained.
We will not leave forever, we will remain.
We will not be chained.
They heard what sounded like a powerful wind.
Which filled the entire house in which they were sitting.
Their sins like ours to rescind.
Something appeared to them like tongues of fire.
For them and us nothing any longer is dire.
…….
Whose sins you forgive
They are always forgiven
And they’re not retained
……..
See John 20 : 19-23 and Acts 2 : 1-11
Saturday of the 7 th week of Easter
The harvest is rich.
But the labourers are few.
We search endlessly for our niche.
Always looking for something new.
I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no purse, no haversack , no sandals.
Look after not yourself but themselves.
You should only need to carry metaphorical candles.
Whatever house you go into.
May your first words be peace to this house.
They will say of us , our faith grew and grew.
Our belief they could not douse.
Stay in the same house.
Do not move from house to house.
…. ..
The harvest is rich
But the labourers are few
Are we among them
…….
See Luke 10 : 1-9
Friday of the 7 th week of Easter
Look after my sheep.
We will escape our tombs.
If faith we keep.St Philip dreamt he had an enlarged heart.
But actually his was a heart of giving.
Better to care than to be smart.
Better offering than receiving.Better a fun nature .
Than cast in gloom.
Rather than criticise , better to nurture.
Enjoy the present rather than think of the tomb.
Have fun.
Rather than run.
See John 21 : 15-19























