Hagar sat down about a bow shot away.
Saying to herself I cannot see the child die.
We cannot know our fate , it is often so far away.
Yet we feel abandoned , we sigh.

But God heard the boy wailing.
Pick up the boy, I will make him into a great nation.
So do not be afraid, we may not be ailing.
We are part of a sure foundation

Hagar’s son grew up and made his home in the wilderness.
And he became a bowman.
Sometimes we feel a kind of restlessness.
We wonder what is our omen.

But as with Hagar’s son
We will continue to feel the warmth of the sun.

……

God heard the boy’s wails
He tells us be not afraid
We have to listen

…….

See Genesis 21 : 5, 8-20

‍

Without warning a storm broke over the lake.
So violent that the waves were breaking over the boat.
The disciples felt foresake.
They feared they would not float.

But Jesus was asleep .
So they woke him saying, save us Lord.
Sometimes we feel so forsaken, we weep.
We seem to have list life and hope’s cord.

He said, why are you so frightened.
You men of little faith.
But we too are frightened.
We too have little faith.

But he is not asleep.
He is ours to keep.

…….

Men of little faith
But we too are so frightened
We need to have faith

…….

See Matthew 8: 23-27

Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands.
I refuse to believe.
But Thomas did take his faith to distant lands.
He doubted, but confronted by truth, he was ready to believe.

The Christians of Kerala have said for for centuries.
I am a St Thomas Christian.
No doubt through many joys and miseries.
Are they right to proclaim their vision.

They certainly have paid for their
their fortitude.
Their faith has often been persecuted.
We should salute their belief in the holy rood.
Their perseverance is vindicated.

Did St Thomas  actually travel this far.
Does it matter , we will always doubt history from so afar.

……..

Unless I see the holes
That nails have made in his hands
I will not believe

…….

See John 20 : 24-29

Abram looked up .
And there he saw three men standing before him.
Was he ready to drink of this cup.
To sing his ordained hymn.
ϒ

Was this a metaphor for the Trinity.
Perhaps it’s the first manifestation.
An early look into infinity.
Just as Abram was the first of his nation.

I am at Douai Abbey In Berkshire.
At a mass for St Oliver Plunket.
Here all is peaceful shire.
But we recall how the saint sounded truth’s trumpet.

We will never have his courage.
We are so easily discouraged.

…….

Abram saw three men
Was this Trinity’s first sight
He accepted all

………

See Genesis 18 : 1-15

So always treat others.
As you would like them to treat you.
Viewing all as brothers.
This is the true breakthrough.

Enter by the narrow gate.
Since the road that leads to perdition is wide.
About this there can be no debate.
We know who is our guide.

It is a narrow gate.
And a hard road that leads to life.
There can be no more hate.
And an end to all strife.

Only a few find it.
But it is certainly it.

……….

It’s a narrow gate
Only a few will find it
But we must enter

……..

See Matthew 7: 6, 12-14

I was thinking, I have toiled in vain.
I have exhausted myself for nothing.
Faith seems to diminish rather than gain.
Am I good for nothing.

And then as in my dream I thought of religion rather than being low.
I began to look up.
I seemed to see a small triangle of light as in an attic window.
This was like a nourishing spiritual  cup.

Again in my dream I was running away at work.
I came across an old room and mass being said.
Again peace seemed to seep from the very brickwork.
Hope was alive and no longer dead.

Elizabeth despaired of having a child .
But a future blessing can never just be for ever filed.

……..

Do we toil in vain
Exhaust ourselves for nothing
There is always hope

……..

See Isaiah 49 : 1-6

Such pretence does not square with our time of life.
Many would suppose that Eleazar had conformed.
We will not have to go under the knife.
But our faith has constantly to be reaffirmed.

I was looking at some clouds passing by.
Suddenly I seemed to know that all this was myth.
We are alone , there is no God , it’s all a lie.
There is no working heavenly smith.

But then I thought again.
The clouds had a sunset glow.
All this beauty , passing summer rain.
Did it come of itself, just a chance stain.

There has to purpose in this rain.
Eleazar did not die in vain.

………

What is the purpose
Who maintains the universe
Is it more than love

……..

See 2 Maccabees 6

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

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

¢

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

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

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