St Matthew, Apostle

Follow me.
And he got up and followed him.
He calls us too with this plea.
But we treat the call as a mere whim.
I was reading the depressing newspaper.
I started writing this poem and by chance.
Allegri’s Miserere came on the radio out of the vapour.
With this music my soul was cut with a loving lance.
And at a funeral this morning.
The requiem affected me deeply.
Thus chance sways our moving.
Perhaps casually , maybe profoundly.
We never know how or where we will hear the call.
Or how, in answering, we will emerge from our mind’s squall.
……..
When does the call come
It can happen anytime
But surely it comes
……..
See Matthew 9: 9-13

Wednesday of Week 24 in Ordinary Time

We played the pipes.
And you wouldn’t dance.
We come in many stripes.
But all are called by death’s chance.
I did not know the person at the Cathedral  funeral.
But the closing words were strangely moving.
In life’s army he might have been private or general.
But we all end up the same, no longer disappointing.
The priests sprinkles the coffin with water .
And incenses it.
To remind us of baptismal water.
And to purify it.
Thus we all pass out of the service.
For now with hope, we have completed our service.
…….
Our service ended
We’re taken out of the church
To a greater good
…….
See Luke 7: 31-35

Tuesday of Week 24 in Ordinary Time

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When the Lord saw her , he felt sorry for her.
Do not cry , he said.
He just felt sorry , he didn’t want to make a stir.
But he raised the boy from the dead.

The mother didn’t need to ask for his help.
He was just passing by.
We don’t need either to ask for help.
For he always is passing by.

We just don’t see him.
Our cares blind us.
He is below our horizon’s rim.
But he is still there , making no fuss .

For only a soul sees below life’s horizon.
And our live bodies don’t have that vision.

………

When the Lord saw her
He just felt sorry for her
She didn’t ask him

……..

See Luke 7: 11-17

Monday of Week 24 in Ordinary Time

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There should be prayers offered for everyone.
Petitions , intercessions and thanksgiving.
It should be like a thing done.
Before the final reckoning.

I was looking at a picture by Bartolomeo Schedoni.
Of the Holy Family teaching the child to read.
Here was golden light one could almost feel and see.
Here was love and care freed.

The picture so intimate.
The virgin’s face so beautiful .
One felt resigned to any fate.
It made one’s heart full.

A picture so small.
And from it one walks tall.

…….

What’s in a picture
Inspiration, Beauty
Walk away happy

…. …

See 1 Timothy 2: 1-8

24 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Resentment and anger, these are foul things.
And both are found with the sinner.
We can stay in the deep or take to our wings.
But in this, of course , we are only a beginner.
After leaving a place Walsingham we may feel anger.
Someone is wronging us, we want to get even.
But I remembered todays gospel reader.
And what he had read that we can all believe in.The servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he cancelled his debt.
And let him go.
But how slow are we to cancel another’s debt.
Do we say to our anger, let go.

For ourselves we ask for time.
How often do we give ours time.

…..

We ask for some time
We rarely give others time
It’s double standards

.. ….

See Matthew 18: 21-25

Saturday of Week 23 in Ordinary Time

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Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Christ meant to make me evidence of his inexhaustible patience.
Yes, more often than not , we are not winners.
But we know we are in his presence.

We often despair.
But if you trust the Memorare.
It is such a soothing prayer.
Answering every cry and say.

Never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection.
Or implored thy help, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,  I fly to thy protection.

By this prayer am I persuaded.

So we stand before the virgin sorrowful.
But , at Walsingham, even more hopeful.

………

Never was it known
That under your protection
Was left unaided

…….

See 1 Timothy 1 : 15-17

Our Lady of Sorrows

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Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother.
To the disciple , he said, this is your mother.
We all have an earthly mother.
But in heaven, too, we have our mother.

After happiness comes sorrow.
But joy is for ever .
Joy is for this day , every day and tomorrow.
Now or whenever.

Before all other shrines.
She came to Walsingham.
The first but not the last of many signs.
Here is the Holy lamb.

Her sorrow turned in an instant to joy.
Our sorrows after this life will turn we pray to joy.

……..

Near Jesus’ cross
Stood his mother now weeping
For him and for us

……..

See John 19: 25-27

The Exultation of the Holy Criss

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God sent his son into the world , not to condemn.
But that through him the world might be saved.
For us and and for all of them.
And to ensure none of us are enslaved.

On the cross , what when through Jesus’ mind.
Certainly pain, perhaps despair.
But faith at a deeper more profound level of mind.
Hope , giving and not certainly fear .

We are the opposite, we pray on the mind’s surface.
But deep down emotions and worries rage .
But we of course do not look at God’s face.
We are caught in life’s consuming cage.

By his death Jesus was set free.
And by our death we will also be set free.

……..

God has sent his son
Into the world to free us
Or that is our hope

…….

See John 3: 13-17

St John Chrysostom

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Happy are you when people hate you.
Drive you out , denounce your name.
Yet we feel we ate entitled to our due.
Especially if we feel we are not to blame.

St John , the golden tongue.
Hounded to his death.
He dared to criticise , unsung.
Daring to criticise the Emperor , he lost his breath.

But his sermons live on.
Truly moving , inspiring.
When so much from his time is gone.
He survives , the rest is fleeting.

Unregarded in dying.
Yet still inspiring.

……..

Happy are you then
When people hate you so much
For you will survive

………

See Luke 6: 20-26

Tuesday of Week 23 in Ordinary Time

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Make sure that no one deprives you of your freedom.
By some empty, second hand rational philosophy.
We ask, where is true balm.
Is it through some form of personal theosophy.

Jesus went out into the hills to pray.
And he spent the whole night in prayer.
Is that not the only way.
And the only route towards being totally aware.

We may ourselves not go to the hills to pray.
We certainly will not spend he whole night in prayer.
We of course only seek hesitantly a way.
We are not even of ourselves truly aware.

But during long nights of sleeplessness.
In prayer we fight a feeling of hopelessness.

……..

You’re freedom deprived
Only by your own choices
But then you can pray

……..

See  Colossians 2: 6-15 and Luke 6: 12-19

Monday of Week 23 in Ordinary Time

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It is for this I struggle wearily on.
Helped only by his power driving me irresistibly.
Content sometimes , often drawn.
Not always happily but never miserably.

I was comparing myself to someone else in my sleep.
I woke with a start, knowing I had done this all my life.
All this self regard, it’s enough to make you weep.
It just leads to unhappiness being all too rife.

And then I dreamt that instead of enjoying a good meal.
It just got reduced to a tweet.
What is vain and false , what is real.
What ultimately is sour, what is sweet.

I woke , all that matters is to be subsumed in love.
For others , not for yourself, subsumed in love.

………

Struggle wearily
Helped only by his power
That is all we can do

……

See Colossians 1 : 24 – 2:3

23 rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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If your brother does something wrong.
Go and have it out with him alone.
We don’t always have to be strong.
We can sometimes atone.

I wonder if anyone bothers to read these.
No worries , they give me pleasure.
Poems of any sort always put us at ease.
Creating something is as good as any other leisure.

I dreamt today I should write them down somewhere.
Social media is as transient as life.
But writing long hand is as good as a prayer.
It’s a fine way to relieve care and strife.

The important thing is never attack anyone.
We are all after all eventually none.

…….

If your brother wrongs
Have it out with him alone
And then leave it there

…….

See Matthew 18: 15-20

Saturday of Week 22 in Ordinary Time

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Jesus happened to take a walk through the cornfields.
And his disciples were picking ears of corn.
We have to march through our own battlefields.
Tired and often worn.

The Pharisees said , why are you doing.
Something which is forbidden on the sabbath day.
We have to have the courage to keep fighting.
For one day , God willing , we will have our day.

David took the loaves of offering.
And gave them to his followers.
We like him are masters of the Sabbath ‘s rulings.
Even if we are only followers.

Sometimes we are chastised.
But by someone we always are prized.

……..

We are criticised.
But we have to carry on
There’s no other way

……..

See Luke 6: 1-5

The Birthday of the Virgin Mary

They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power.
To the ends of the land , he himself will be peace.
We glimpse far away a church tower.
We try to believe and accept without cease.
Her husband Joseph, wanting to spare her publicity.
Wanted to divorce her informally.
But he did not , he acted with eternity.
He listened to the angel faithfully.
Somewhere in our head.
Is the voice of the angel speaking.
We can look behind or look ahead.
Doubting yes sometimes, but always seeking.
Maybe a choice is difficult to undertake.
But we do it for his sake.
…….
We will live secure
He will extend his power
To the end of land
……
See Micah 5: 1-4 and Matthew 1: 1-16, 18-23

Thursday of Week 22 in Ordinary Time

He has taken us out of the power of darkness.
And created for us a place in the Kingdom of the son.
Into a place of kindness.
And bright warming sun.In him we gain our freedom.
The forgiveness of our sins.
An ever lasting Te Deum.
And where everything ends and begins.

I read that Bill has died at seventy five in his sleep.
The end may come now at anytime.
Was he worrying about something shallow or deep.
But he did not know that day was his last in time.

So why worry about the future.
There may not be any future.

… ….

Worry about now
There may not be a future
There’s only now

…..

See  Colossians 4: 9-14

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

Tuesday of Week 22 in Ordinary Time

So give encouragement to each other.
And keep strengthening one another , as you already do.
As was done to you by your own mother.
As you grew.God never meant us to experience the retribution.
But to win salvation.
However inadequate our contribution.
For we are in all nations, one nation.

All so easy to say.
So difficult to do.
We can only look for some small ray.
And say this is for me too.

I feel I can only take refuge in my Robin.
And its ceaseless carefree bobbin.

……..

Give encouragement
Strengthening one another
There’s no other way

……..

See 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6, 9-11

Monday of Week 22 in Ordinary Time

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We believe that Jesus died and rose again.
And that it will be the same for those that have died in Jesus.
We pray that we are part of the same everlasting chain.
That this story is not just for him but for us.

He has sent me to bring good news to the poor.
To proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight.
We need only look forward to a greater grandeur.
And to everlasting light.

One day we will be fulfilled.
We do not how or when.
But this we know is willed.
For all women and men.

Today , tomorrow .
In joy and sorrow.

…….

Jesus died and rose
The same for those who believe
That is our belief

…….

See 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 and Luke 4: 16-30

22 nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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You have seduced me Lord and I let myself be seduced.
You have overpowered me: you were stronger.
But in this we are never in any way reduced.
We just have to pray for longer.

The Latin mass was beautiful.
But barely audible.
It was all a bit dutiful.
If thoroughly laudable.

And then after communion.
I walked past Cardinal Newman’s picture.
Something clicked , I was in union.
I felt God’s lure.

We may doze fitfully.
But we can never escape his gaze fully.

……….

You seduced me Lord
I let myself be seduced
And I am happy

……

See Jeremiah 20: 7-9

Saturday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time

To one he gave five talents, to another two.
To a third one , each according to his ability.
We receive according to our due.
But we all have some responsibility.
I went today to the pro life mass.
And to the rally afterwards.
Many good arguments to amass.
And a thousand potent words.But later in the garden, I watched a Robin fluttering.
Ignoring the book on War and Peace , quietly going about its work.
It seemed to encompass peaceful existing.
Just being in this moment in nature’s kirk

We all have a right to life
Whatever our talents in life.

……
To one five talents
To another two, third, one
To ability
…….
See Matthew 25: 14-30

Friday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time

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Make more and more progress.
In the kind of life you are meant to live.
But how, who can guess.
But first we have to forgive.

I was thinking again about the Nauria country.
Where everyone is loved as if they are one own’s grandchild.
And no one is just all and sundry.
And certainly not reviled.

But how could such a real country survive .
It would be wide open to the whole world.
Maybe it is only a thing of the mind, not live.
But a thing of heaven certainly and not any underworld.

But it is a nice thing to think of such a place.
A place for every type and race.

…….

And make more progress
In life you are meant to live
That is the best way

……..

See 1 Thessalonians 4: 1-8

Thursday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time

Your faith has been a great comfort .
To us in the middle of our own troubles and sorrows.
Often there is discomfort.
But then there are plenty of tomorrows.
While sleepless in the night.
I remembered Vespers and the translucent window.
And that mythical country,  Nauria in the light.
So there’s no point in feeling low.
Nauria is a place of happiness.
Because it is a place of love and giving.
And no restlessness.
But just accepting.So keep thinking not of ourselves.
But of other selves.

…….

Faith is great comfort
In the middle of sorrows
And even of joys

……

See 1 Thessalonians 3: 7-13

Wednesday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time

Where can I flee from your face.
If I climb the heavens you are there.
We search in vain here for a place of grace.
A place of meaningful  prayer.
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I dreamt today of a country called Nauria or Norah.
Arabic for salvation , Hebrew for divine light.
A place with a certain holy aura.
Another country with spiritual light.

Here everything seemed drawn in children’s colours.
And all was subsumed in love.
Where there was only care for others.
Rising like as a dove.

I woke into the real night.
And the  moon only gave  just enough light.

……..

A place called Norah
It came to me in my dreams
A place of true light

……..

See Psalm 138

Tuesday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time

We had as you know been given rough treatment.
And grossly insulted at Philippi.
Our troubles are frequent.
We say with a sigh.
I was at a good man’s memorial service  today.
I was sitting behind a pillar.
Looking at the ancient stonework and a sun’s ray.
Clearing out my mind’s cluttered cellar.How many lives had that column witnessed.
Whilst we ephemeral things pass on.
But in faith we are butressed.
Here now and soon into another place gone.Like the pillar something is permanent.
As long as we put faith into accepting contentment.

……..

Given rough treatment
Even grossly insulted we carry on.
It’s all we can do

…….

See 1 Thessalonians 2 ; 1-8

Monday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time

Alas for you Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s’ faces.
We worry overmuch about what fits.
And less about true graces.The old Greek meaning of hypokrites.
An actor wearing a mask.
To a lesser or greater extent we are all hypocrites.
We go about life wearing an invisible mask.

Jesus had us all well summed up .
We all act differently to what we preach.
We none of us need to be looked at close up.
We can’t even trust our own speech.

But let’s not despair .
It’s always been thus , let’s declare.

……..

We are hypocrites
Thus shutting up God’s kingdom
But it’s always thus

…….

See Matthew 23 : 13-22