Monday of the 5 th week of Easter

1AB79185-C539-46E8-9424-1ECC3D8557DA

 

 

 

 

Anyone who receives my commandments and keeps them.

Will be the one who loves me .

This is the holy income.
Which makes us truly free.
At the coronation the King receives the golden spurs.
Symbol of knightly virtues and chivalry.
With them he proves he is truly yours.
Subject to service and the Trinity.
Melted down by Cromwell .
Remade for the second Charles.
Thus can be reforged all that is not well.
And now given to the third Charles.
Thus nothing is destroyed for ever.
We can always rejoin what we sever.
……..
Receive his commandments
And then always keep them close
Is one that loves him
………
See John 14 : 21 -26

5 th Sunday of Easter

B7AA2878-5B0C-48E5-9E31-D0F01C2DDF6D

 

 

 

The Lord is the living stone.
Chosen by God , yet rejected by men.
But with him we are never alone.
More inspiring even than meditative zen.

At mass today they sang Zadok the Priest.
And a Te Deum in honour of the king.
Of music and liturgy a veritable feast.
And so we honour as we sing.

To think that Zadok anointed King Solomon.
And that is still used in our coronation ritual.
And then the Supertunica is put on.
To emphasise that the King’s coronation is spiritual.

Thus we are all a royal priesthood.
And still at the anointing, time stood.

…….

The Lord living stone
Rejected by men , chosen
By God and by us

…….

See 1 Peter 2 : 4-9

Saturday of the 4 th week of Easter

2566F6B7-2511-484A-B3E4-5DF5781D7B49

 

 

 

If you ask for anything in my name.
I will do it.
We must keep alive the devout flame.
And follow his holy writ.

I am watching the King’s coronation.
How wonderful to see the Christian symbolism.
A ceremony, almost as old as the nation’s creation.
An exposition predating any ism.

How moving the anointing.
The king in a simple shirt.
Vows, honestly given, the wellspring.
And then with orb and sceptre girt.

And finally holy communion.
With the nation in communion.

……

Ask for anything
In my name, I will do it
So then let us ask

……..

See John 14 : 7-14

Friday of the 4 th week of Easter

8EB3B2E2-DE7A-4739-87BB-787CB07269E5

Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still and trust in me.
So our spiritual efforts are redoubled.
We make this plea on our knee.
I was really irritated by something.
And then I read these words.
A calming bell will ring.
We forget past and future like high flying birds.
And in the church today.
All was quiet .
No more to say.
A holy diet.
Calm the mind.
Forget the grind.
………
Do not let your hearts
Be troubled, trust in God still
And then trust in me
………
See John 14 : 1-6

Thursday of the 4 th week of Easter

Stephen filled with the Holy Spirit
Saw Jesus standing at God’s right hand.
We are listened to whatever our merit.
And whatever our land.I am looking at Zurbaran’s portrait of St Francis.
How can we match his ecstasy.

Leading us from the abyss.
To him , this was no fantasy .
As I watched him surrender everything.
I too wondered if this was not the route to happiness.
Prayer could take wing.
Leading to greater tenderness.
I left the exhibition on St Francis’s art.
Strangely moved and struck to the heart.
………
Stephen filled with the
Holy Spirit saw Jesus
Standing at God’s hand
………
See Acts 7 : 55-60

Wednesday of the 4 th week of Easter

Philip said, Lord , let us see the father.
And then we shall be satisfied.
Why do we persist with all this bother.
Don’t we know we truly have our guide.
But I persist in asking for proof.
Jesus’ ministry is not enough.
There he teaches, here I stand aloof.
And this question is not small stuff.
Have I not been with you all this time, Philip.
And still you do not know me.
But I would like a bit more of a fillip.
Before I can clearly see.
To have seen me , is to have seen the Father.
So how can you say, let us see the father.
……..
Let us see Father
But see him, see the Father
Yet still we question
………
See John 14 : 6-14

Tuesday of the 4 th week of Easter

How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense.
If you are the Christ tell us plainly.
You are going where , you come from whence.
We continue to ask this sincerely.I have told you before but you do not believe.
The works I do in my father’s name are my witness.
And for us , if we ask, we will receive.
It has nothing to do with our own fitness.

The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice.
I know them and they follow me.
We only ourselves have to make the choice.
And we do not have to pay any fee.

I give them eternal life.
They will never be lost in this or the next life.

…….

Tell us are you Christ
Do not keep us in suspense
Told, we must believe

…….

See John 10 : 22-30

Monday of the 4 th week of Easter

I am the good shepherd.
The one who lays down his life for his sheep .
To understand , we do not need to be lettered.
His gift is ours to keep.The hired man, since the sheep do not belong to him.
Abandons the sheep and runs away .
He acts on on a personal whim.
He does not know or understand the way.

As soon as he sees a wolf coming.
The wolf attacks and scatters the sheep.
For them there will be no homecoming.
And we all , will weep.

I know my own and my own know me.
Just as the father knows me.

…….

He’s the good shepherd
He knows his own and knows me
But do I know him

…….

See John 10 : 11-18

4 th Sunday of Easter

Anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate.
But gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand.
Let there be an end to all hate.
Let faith be quickened .
9B306DC4-5C0B-4E1B-B18E-2D3A31BE6536

 

 

 

 

The one who enters through the gate.
Is the shepherd of the flock.
Our turn will come, we just have to wait.
And to knock.

The gatekeeper lets him in.
One by one he calls his own sheep.
And one day too we will be let in.
This is a promise he most certainly will keep.

The sheep know his voice.
But we have to make our choice.

……..

You must use the gate
To enter in  the sheepfold
Is that not the way

…….

See John 12 : 1-10

Saturday of the 3rd week of Easter

 

 

God is light.
There is no darkness in him at all .43845252-37D0-4E8F-B091-3A53CD96C1B4
We only have to keep this in sight .
And we can walk tall .

If we live our lives in the light.
We are in union with one another .
Our prayers will rise like a kite .
And it will be as light as a feather .

The blood of Jesus , his son
Purifies us from all sin.
His vision as bright as the sun .
As supple and strong as tin.

As long as we keep him in sight.
We are surrounded by light.

……..

We know God is light
There is no darkness in him
So keep him in sight

……..

1 John 1 : 5-2 : 2

Friday of the 3rd week of Easter

Immediately it was as if scales fell away from Saul’s eyes.
And he could see again.
Thus we can overcome all our minds’ lies.
And all is mounting gain.As I heard these words at mass , carefully listening.
It was if I too truly believed for the first time.
The story of the road to Damascus is so convincing.
And the outcome so convincingly sublime.

Suddenly you are listening to a biblical story.
And something clicks .
An opening in the clouds to glory.
A house built with solid bricks.

And then the moment passes.
And to see, we need better spiritual glasses.

…….

Scales fall from  our eyes
Suddenly we see again
And we know the truth

…….

See Acts 9 : 1-20

Thursday of the 3rd week of Easter

F9569E07-C779-4B9A-8C4B-883EECA76B7F
No one comes to me .
Unless he is drawn by the father.
We do not have to pay any fee.
We only have to try to see furtherI was at the early mass in the Cathedral.
And these words penetrated.
Here is a message for all people.
And where all our lives are weighted.

And I will raise him up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets.
There is nothing to pay
But we receive all the profits.

As I left I thought, if only you can believe.
You will receive.

…..

No one comes to me
Unless drawn by the father
Thus we can follow

…….

See John 6 : 44-51

Wednesday of the 3rd week of Easter

FAADA3F0-A25C-4D5C-AD2B-2000718FC267

 

 

 

 

I am the bread of life.
Whoever believes in me will never be hungry.
Here is an end to strife.
As we enter another country.

He who believes in me.
Will never thirst.
This is the key.
Whatever befalls the worst.

Whoever comes to me.
I shall not turn away.
We do not need to repeat our plea.
We know the way .

We only have to seek.
And be accepting and meek.

……..

I’m the bread of life
Believe and be not hungry
Now and for ever

……..

See John 6: 35-40

Tuesday of the 3rd week of Easter

D85193A0-0E5E-4B77-8040-48DA0FC624FB

 

 

 

All wrap yourselves in humility.
Because God refuses to be proud..
So we try to achieve tranquility.
And not just trying to follow the crowd.

Bow down before the power of God .
And he will raise you up on the appointed day.
Meanwhile we remain awed.
So that all our debts he can pay.

Unload your worries onto him.
Since he is looking after you.
He looks after our every whim.
All the old ones and the new.

Your brothers all over the world are suffering from the same things.
We all can be spiritual kings.

……

Wrap yourselves humbly
God refuses to be proud
Bow down before God

……..

See 1 Peter 5 : 5- 14

St George , martyr

These sufferings bring patience.
And patience brings perseverance.
But then I suffer from so much impatience.
And sometimes lack perseverance.
Perseverance brings hope.
And this hope is not deceptive.
Really, wherever we are , we need never give up hope.
If we try always to be receptive.
Because the love of God has been poured into our hearts.
By the Holy Spirit.
Striking us with his gentle darts
Whatever our lack of merit.
We just keep trying.
Knowing we are thoroughly trying.
……..
All our patience
And all our perseverance
Does bring us real hope
……

See Romans 5 : 1-5

3rd Sunday of Easter

59470ABC-734F-4409-A835-89D49B50D720

And so my heart rejoices.

My soul is glad.
We hear the psalmist’s voices.
How now can we be sad.
I was at the early mass not attending.
Then I heard the words of the psalm.
I thought, seize the moment in rejoicing.
Always accept it and be calm.
Insight can come very suddenly.
As with the breaking of bread at Emmaus.
Before they doubted , now they knew absolutely.
And the truth was revealed not just to them but us.
They said , did not our hearts burn within us.
And at communion so it is with us.
……..
At table he took bread
And he then said the blessing
And their eyes opened
……
See Psalm 15 and Luke 24 : 13-35

Saturday of the 2 nd week of Easter

They saw Jesus walking on the lake.
And coming towards the boat.
He did all this for our sake.
So that spiritually we might float.
This frightened them.
But he said , do not be afraid.
We are part of this new living stem.
Our ransom is paid.
They were for taking him into the boat.
But in no time it had reached the shore.
Like them , to him we devote.
We cannot ask for more.
We may not see him walking on the lake.
But that does mean we cannot do all for his sake.
……..
Walking on the lake
That’s something we cannot see
But we can ponder
…….
See John 6 : 16-21

Thursday of the 2 nd week of Easter

71EAB96A-B3B6-4DF4-82B1-036DA11BC594
The Lord is close to the broken hearted.
Those whose spirit is crushed he will save.
There is no need to be downhearted.
We do need to remain in a black cave.
The mind traps us in the future and the past.
Regretting and fearing.
But all that matters is where  now the fly is cast.
Throwing it and the result, accepting.
Many are the trials of the just man.
But from them all the Lord will rescue him.
We may not know but he has a plan.
He does not act on a whim.
But we must just have faith and hope.
And not always say nope.
……
In past or future
But it’s better to dwell here
Where we know we are
…….
See Psalm 33

Wednesday of the 2 nd week of Easter

590256CA-1DE2-4186-963D-E951D6AA0BD2

Go out into the Temple.
And tell the people all about this new life.
But is our faith and zeal ample.
Would we contend with any strife.
They arrested the apostles and had them put on gaol.
But at night the angel of the Lord opened the gate.
Of course we don’t have the same role.
Nor will we suffer the same martyr’s fate.
But I wish I had that courage and be that keen.
What amazing perseverance.
But then  I have only read not seen.
And can only hope for his reappearance.
So we struggle on.
Hoping for a new dawn.
…….
Into the Temple
They went to proclaim new life
And what do we do
………
See Acts 5 : 17-26

Tuesday of the 2nd week of Easter

5D965716-C47E-42C5-89F1-42D3EB83EEEC
We speak only about what we know.
And witness only to what we have seen.
We go with the flow.
But we worry about where we have been.
Jesus said, You people reject our evidence.
Are you going to believe when I speak of heavenly things.
Does that make our doubts, an irrelevance.
Unable to take up our spiritual wings.
But if we concentrate on the present.
The mind slowly clears .
We can see further, be more ready for ascent.
And free from all our fears.
So like Nicodemus we keep questioning.
And we barely listen as Jesus keeps answering.
….
We speak if we know
And witness what we have seen
But is it enough
…..
See John 3: 7-15

Monday of the 2 nd week of Easter

B7FACC2E-AAB9-4919-957E-97EC69BEA81D
The wind blows wherever it pleases.
You cannot tell where it comes from or is going.
And our doubt never ceases.
Always resisting and questioning.
But we should remember we are part of a universality.
The chant nam myoho renge kio , invokes mystic law.
And we need to feel close to this true everlasting reality.
As we stand witnessing in awe
So when problems press and difficulties abound.
We need to remain determined to end suffering.
We’re not alone but part of a greater without bound.
True, doubts remain but our minds need training.
The spiritual awakening comes and goes.
And our faith inevitably ebbs and flows.
…….
Wind blows wherever
You hear its sound but where from
Coming or going
………
See John 3 : 1-8

2 nd Sunday of Easter

6E9120CE-3962-452F-909F-D0EB62962A82

Give me your hand, put it into my side.
Doubt no longer but believe.
We have a new  eternal guide.
Even if unlike St Thomas we cannot touch only perceive.

I woke with a feeling of happiness.
After I had rested in the present now of being .
We can get rid of this eternal doubting restlessness.
From past and future a temporary freeing.

We need to rest from the mind’s questioning.
To watch it, not be controlled by its working.
Let the thoughts like passing ships keep rolling.
But on them you don’t need to be boarding.

And then of course something makes you start doubting.
And you start again with the questioning.

……

So unlike St Thomas
We now cannot touch his side
But we can believe

…….

See John 20 : 19-31

Easter Saturday

5CCAA0FA-3911-4208-87CD-6D7ADC597B24

 

 

 

Go out to the whole world .
Proclaim the good news to all creation.
He had opened up forever the underworld.
And the call went out to every nation.

The scribes were astonished by their assurance.
Considering they were uneducated laymen.
And we marvel at the disciples’ endurance.
True , it is clear , they were robust fishermen.

And our own faith is so weak.
We would never put our lives at risk.
Yet we can still seek.
And attempt to throw s spiritual disk.

For we have not, with our own eyes, seen.
Only heard , so sadly we are not so keen.

…….

Go into the world
And all proclaim the good news
To all creation

…….

See Mark 16 : 9-15 and Acts of the Apostles 4 : 13-21

Easter Friday , Orthodox Good Friday

FA403952-34A4-499D-8011-C27638376D80

 

 

 

It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore.
Though the disciples did not recognise it was Jesus.
During this week we should be shaken to the core.
Only one person has ever risen from the dead, Jesus.

The detail is convincing.
Down to the number of fishes caught.
But we always need more convincing.
Further proof is always sought.

But would the disciples have gone out .
If the whole thing was imagined.
We just have to accept  and suspend doubt.
Than joy and truth can be divined.

We too are in that boat, going about our daily chore.
Looking and hoping for that figure on the far shore.

….. ..

Jesus on the shore
We are far out on our boat
We ask is it he

……

See John 21 : 1-14

Easter Thursday

99AB1404-A816-4C09-A5B9-41D782673566

 

 

 

In a state of alarm and fright.
They thought they were seeing a ghost.
Sometimes too we cannot see the light.
Nor even the divine host.

Today at mass I was in such back pain.
The sermon passed me by completely.
I’m not sure where I was and in which lane.
I fidgeted , what I thought was discretely.

Then later at the Orthodox twelve gospels .
I let the old Slavonic pass through me.
I could not understand, but I was one with the disciples.
I could not hear enough to comprehend, but I could see.

Thus we do not need to understand.
But we need to feel and to take his wounded hand.

…….

In alarm and fright
They thought they saw but a ghost
But he’s real enough

……

See John 21 : 1-14