Thursday of Week 7 in Ordinary Time

If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink.

I tell you he most certainly will not lose his reward.

Christ is the last link.

He will never cut our life’s cord.

He tells us if your eye should cause you to sin.

Tear it out .

But that’s not literal just spin

To free us from doubt.

But we only have to offer a cup of water.

To start our redemption.

And give us as great a love as we feel for a granddaughter.

And a way to relieve all tension.

But it was the thought of the water given.

That made the most impression that we are forgiven.

……..

If we give water

That is surely a good start

Or if given us

……..

See Mark 9 : 41-50

Wednesday of Week 7 of Ordinary Time . St Polycarp-155

You are no more than a mist .

That is here for a little while then disappears.

We don’t know even if we truly exist .

And only with his will it clears.

We think today or tomorrow we are off to this town.

Making money and trading .

But it is according to his will that we are up or down.

Dying, just existing or living.

We never know .

What will happen tomorrow.

Will we diminish or grow.

Be high or low.

How proud we are .

But from our haven we are far.

……..

We are just a mist

Coming and going today

And there’s tomorrow

…….

Polycarp knew not

The Christ just those who knew him

But it was enough

…..

See James 4: 13-17

Tuesday of Week 7 in Ordinary Time. The Chair of St Peter

Who do you say.

The son of man is.

A question for every day.

Who do we say he is.

Is he just a good man .

Merely a prophet .

One of our clan.

Part of our set .

Or is he God’s son

On whom the sun never sets.

Indeed the creator of the sun.

The holder of all assets.

Can we answer like Peter.

How do we answer

……..

Who is he we ask

Is this the true question

For what else matters

…….

See Mathew: 16 : 13-19

Monday of 7th week in Ordinary Time

For anyone who has faith , anything is possible.

Help the little faith I have , I do have faith

One thing is certain , we are responsible.

Although we don’t know the strength of our faith.

We are of the faithless generation. Will he put up with us for much longer.

But we know he will not sentence us to damnation.

His patience will always be stronger.

We rarely ask for his intercession.

Unless in crisis we cry out yelp.

Or when mired in depression.

But he is always there to offer help .

We too have this spirit of dumbness.

We look to him to end this numbness.

…….

All is possible

If we really do have faith

But do we have it

……..

See Mark 9 :14-29

7 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Love your enemies .

Do good to those who hate you.

A sentence echoing down the centuries.

Obeyed for as long as the Summers dew .

We pay lip service to this injunction.

But it’s nigh impossible to keep in the frame .

We do almost anything to avoid arriving at this junction.

We give Christians a bad name .

But listen to thee words, however woke .

Jesus said this to his disciples.

So it’s meant for so called Christian folk .

We’re not just here for tuneful recitals .

All this is very hard .

That doesn’t mean it’s barred.

……

Turn the other cheek

How often do we do it

Not very often

…….

See Luke 6: 27-38

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Saturday of Week 6 in in Ordinary Time

There in their presence he was transfigured.

His clothes became dazzlingly bright.

Something I have never figured.

All is hidden in spirituality out of clear sight.

God is , he has not been , nor will be.

The iseness of creation is God eternal.

He is not on our plane , can’t you see.

This is what has has no start or final.

This eternal does not humanly react to us .

It always is reacting to us , it is just thus.

We will never miss this bus .

Because it is always driving by us .

Or God was , will be and is.

But either way we are his.

……

How can we divine

What is not on our own plane

I fear we cannot

……

See Mark 9: 2-13

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Friday of Week 6 of Ordinary Time, Blessed John of Fiesole , Fra Angelico

Be my protector , a mighty stronghold.
Lead me , guide me for the sake of your name .
In my dreams you me enfold.
Putting depression to shame .

When I dream of my being I feel worried.
When I dream of loving I feel contentment.
So can I be less hurried .
And live more in the moment .

For God everything is simultaneous.
There is no future or past .
At our death we leave time and all that is extraneous.
We enter into the is , oneness at last .

Standing that day in Fra Angelico’s cell
For that moment I was free from all the pell- mell.

….

The cell was empty
Just a fresco on the wall
Telling a story

…….

Thursday of Week 6 of Ordinary Time

It was those who were poor according to the world.

That God chose.

I wonder how we can break the mould .

And know they are the golden rose .

They were rich in faith .

And heirs to God’s kingdom.

Will that help us to encourage interfaith.

For all this is leading to wisdom.

He promised this to those who love him.

But for the poor there is still no respect.

They are the true limb.

All else is vaguely suspect.

We who are not poor.

Suspect we are the true sore.

………

What leads to wisdom.

Those who are poor in spirit

Can we accept it

….. ……

See James : 1-9

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Tuesday of Week 6 of Ordinary Time

Be quick to listen, but slow to speak.
And slow to rouse your temper .
Easier to think about than do as we seek.
We ask ourselves where is our true centre .

I was looking at the peaceful Serpentine.
A moment later I tripped and crashed on my head.
Thus in a flash we are lost while before we were fine .
We cannot see a minute ahead.

We are told God’s righteousness is never served by anger .
So we must do away with all bad habits .
But it come so quick this canker .
In the mind a thousand cross little rabbits .

St James may have lots of good advice .
But it’s not enough to free us of all vice .

…….

We are just walking
In a flash we are falling
In life there is death

…….

See James 1 : 19-27

Tuesday of Week 6 of Ordinary Time

All that is good comes down from the father of all light.

With him there is no shadow of a change.

Everything now may be hidden from sight.

Far away , out of our pitiful range.

He said , have you no perception.

Are your minds closed.

He suffers from no alteration .

And we must wait for all to be disclosed.

He said why are you talking about having no bread .

Do you not understand.

We are in the present , we cannot see the road ahead.

Yet our lives are swept away like sand.

One day we may understand.

But not in this our waking land .

…….

Do you understand

No I’m afraid I do not

But one day I will

……..

See Mark 8 : 14-21

Monday of Week 6 of Ordinary Time

The harvest is rich , but the labourers are few.
So ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers.
We ask ourselves , what is our place in this queue.
Are we mere takers or active givers.

I know my place.
I may read but I don’t do enough work.
I will be nowhere near the front in this race.
I need to do some more homework.

We are told to carry no purse, no haversack.
And salute no one on the road.
But I turn and tack.
Fearful of this spiritual load.

I will always be in the middle of this pack.
I hope St Peter doesn’t give me the sack..

……..

The harvest is rich
But we are not labourers
We are onlookers

………

See Luke 10 : 1-9

Sunday of Week 6 in Ordinary Time

Alas for you who laugh now.

You shall mourn and weep.

Help me to remember this vow.

And see this as a promise to keep .

Luke’s Gospel talks of happy and alas .

Happy the poor .

But I only remember this at Mass.

It does not reach the heart’s core.

We are told happy are those now hungry .

They will be satisfied.

And that we should go humbly.

And all this should be our guide.

So we just keep going forward.

Hoping to avoid the untoward.

……..

We know this is truth

That the poor will be happy

But not for us now

…….

See Luke 6, 17, 20-26

Saturday of Week 5 of Ordinary Time

They ate as much as they wanted.

And they collected basketfuls of the scraps left over

Their faith remained undaunted .

There was no need to wait for Passover .

Do we have faith in oracles .

We wait expectantly .

Not believing in miracles.

Our worries are there incessantly.

One day there will be no bread .

Only a miracle will raise the curtain.

But it will come not in this life where all is read.

But where all is now uncertain .

We should not worry about the fall of our tide.

God , we pray will provide.

…….

We are so many

There is so little of bread

But God will be there

…….

See Mark 8 : 1-10

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Friday of Week 5 of Ordinary Time

He has done all things well.

He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak .

This is where our heart may dwell.

And where we should seek .

He said to him Ephphatha.

That is be opened.

One day I may hear my Ephphatha.

But will my ears ever be opened.

The beach was utterly lonely.

Although the busy town was close .

Gentle waves barely lapping only.

No other sound , a solace to all woes.

It is only when all is quiet for the Christian.

That we truly start to listen .

……

Not a soul was there

Only the wide open beach

At last I could think

…….

See Mark 7: 31-37

Friday of Week 5 in Ordinary Time

She replied, the house dogs under the table can eat the scraps.
Jesus said For saying this you may go home happy .
We run hopefully on endless laps .
Determined despite all not to be unhappy .

I was striding over the Wold.
The air fresh , the wind strong .
I rested a moment in the church from the cold.
Here I was far away from the throng .

In this peaceful lonely place
The heart could rest and soar.
All slowed to the quietest pace .

I could not and did not ask for more .
It is the smallest scrap of a moment.
That we can find the greatest fulfilment.

………

The place is empty
But the heart can still be full
If it is all quiet

……..

See Mark 7: 24-30

Wednesday of Week5 in Ordinary Time

It is from within that evil intentions emerge.

Avarice , malice , deceit , pride , folly.

A dreary continuing dirge .

Why are we all so silly .

I think it’s better to concentrate on the spiritual.

Today I just looked at the blessed sacrament .

Here there was nothing material .

Just plain contentment .

Like a fire on a winter’s day.

A warmth seemed to emanate from the tabernacle .

Is it imaginary or real , who can say .

But it’s a kind of spiritual tackle.

What is this strange unseen power.

Impossible to describe like a flower.

……,

Blessed sacrament

You just sit there in our view

And every joy comes

…….

See Mark 7, 14-33

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Tuesday of Week 5 in Ordinary Time

Listen to the cry.
And the prayer your servant makes.
Hark to the lonely sigh.
For all our hopeful sakes .

I was standing by the statue of Mary in her place .
It came to me , it didn’t matter if all this was true.
I like it here, the readings , the liturgy, the space.
Why worry if this means life eternal life for me and you.

A profound and happy acceptance came .
This was it , the present moment of peace.
Then the fretting brain started off again.
Why do we have to rationalise, worry without cease.

Stare into Mary’s eyes.
Forget the brain’s lies.

……..

It’s just a moment
Peace and belief come to us
Then it is all gone

………

See 1 Kings 8

Monday of 5th Week of Ordinary Time

Wherever he went to village or town or farm.
They laid down their sick in the open spaces.
If we ask he keeps us from harm.
Bringing all the available graces.

But now we cannot see him coming.
We lay down our sick metaphorically.
We are not sure he is there, we just keep hoping.
We cannot say anything categorically.

They begged him to touch even the fringe of his cloak.
And all those who touched him were cured.
We touch only the fringe of an unseen cloak.
And we will never know if that’s why we are cured.

No sooner had he stepped out of the boat than people recognised him.
The question is, do we recognise him.

……

We cannot see him
Can we imagine the boat
Out of which he steps

…….

See Mark 6 : 53-56

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Whom shall I Send , who will be my messenger.
I answered , Here I am, send me.
Who will be my strengthener.
When will I be allowed to truly see.

Isaiah , Paul and Peter all called today.
All reacted with humility.
They served every day .
Then paid any price for loyalty.

God calls us all., if we listen.
In prayer, doubt and just the workplace.
It could be by faith or reason.
But it is there for all of every race.

It could be a piece of music, dream or picture.
It comes and goes in light’s flicker.

…….

Peter was fishing
Then he was called for all time
When will we be called

……..

See Isaiah 6:1-2,3-8

Saturday of Week 4 of Ordinary Time

Give your servant a heart to understand.
How to discern between good and evil.
He asked only for your command.
To free him from the enticements of the devil.

What was Solomon’s desire.
Was it to live a long life or to have riches.
No, for the love of his people he was on fire.
Not to destroy but build bridges .

And since he had asked nothing for himself.
This was the answer God gave him in this story.
I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before yourself.
What you have not asked I give you too, riches and glory.

Better not to ask anything tailor made for ourself.
We may be given a lot more off the shelf.

…….

Too often we ask
Far too much just for ourself
Ask less and get more

……..

See 1 Kings 3 4-13

Friday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time

He played with lions as though with kids.

And with bears as though with lambs of the flock.

David’s greatness for all time bids.

His psalms our fears unlock.

Did he not slay the giant.

And relieve the people of their shame.

Even when young, always self reliant.

He is an everlasting flame.

He put all his heart into his songs.

Out of love for his maker.

Despite his many wrongs.

A giver in life not a taker.

But he wept for his dead rebellious son.

And eventually down went his sun.

……..

Whatever life brings

With age we will know weeping

That is our sure fate

…….

See Ecclesiasticus 47:2-13

Thursday of Week 4 of Ordinary Time

Take nothing for the journey except a staff.

No bread, no haversack, no copper for the purses.

It’s difficult not to do things in half.

That’s the point of these verses.

They were to wear sandals.

But , he added, do not take a spare tunic.

We’re happy just to hold candles.

But when when it comes to extremes we meet our Munich.

Do everything in moderation

Don’t give up everything .

We can still avoid damnation.

And let our faith take wing.

So we carry on with the card in our purse.

And indeed we could do a lot worse.

……

Just be moderate

In the exercise of faith

It is good enough

……..

See Mark 6 : 7-13

Wednesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time . The Presentation of the Lord

Now , Master you can let your servant go in peace.

For mine eyes have seen the salvation you have prepared.

We too ask this question without cease .

For this new life, will we be spared.

It seems to be the most beautiful story.

An answer to an old man waiting patiently.

His final wish granted before his final glory.

And a saviour revealed resoundingly.

I wish I could see this new light.

And pass peacefully on my way .

But all may stay out of sight.

Until I finally pass away.

All may not be revealed.

Until all is sealed.

……..

We may have to wait

Before all things are revealed

Have we the patience

…….

See Luke 2 : 22-40

Tuesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time

Would that I had died in your place

Absalom, my son , my son.

We soon will have run our race.

Our children our rising sun.

My little daughter is desperately sick.

Do come to lay your hands on her and save her life.

We are the dead and not so quick.

Frailty and death are rife.

Jaurus was influential , powerful.

The sick woman was weak .

Whoever we are we answered if prayerful.

We will find an answer if we seek .

We may only touch his unseen cloak.

But our faith needs be solid as oak .

…….

We reach for his cloak

He feels his power leaving

He knows we are here

……..,

See 2 Samuel 18,19 and Mark 5: 21-43

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Monday of Week 4 of Ordinary Time

‎
Come out of the man you unclean spirit.

What is your name , my name is legion.

None of us are without merit.

Although we come from many a region.

As the night passes we dwell on the negative.

But last night I thought on what I had.

On what in my life was positive.

Rather than on what was sad .

They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac.

Clothed and in his full senses.

If we call there is nothing we will lack.

We can build our own defences.

There is a power of posited thinking.

Let’s be prepared to use it without shrinking .

…….

Thinking positive

Is what we can always do

If we want to do

……

See Mark 5: 1-20

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Another Country

Thoughts from a Christian perspective — by Edward Leigh

Thursday of Week 7 in Ordinary Time

Wednesday of Week 7 of Ordinary Time . St Polycarp-155

Tuesday of Week 7 in Ordinary Time. The Chair of St Peter

Monday of 7th week in Ordinary Time

7 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Saturday of Week 6 in in Ordinary Time

Friday of Week 6 of Ordinary Time, Blessed John of Fiesole , Fra Angelico

Thursday of Week 6 of Ordinary Time

Tuesday of Week 6 of Ordinary Time

Tuesday of Week 6 of Ordinary Time

Monday of Week 6 of Ordinary Time

Sunday of Week 6 in Ordinary Time

Saturday of Week 5 of Ordinary Time

Friday of Week 5 of Ordinary Time

Friday of Week 5 in Ordinary Time

Wednesday of Week5 in Ordinary Time

Tuesday of Week 5 in Ordinary Time

Monday of 5th Week of Ordinary Time

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Saturday of Week 4 of Ordinary Time

Friday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time

Thursday of Week 4 of Ordinary Time

Wednesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time . The Presentation of the Lord

Tuesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time

Monday of Week 4 of Ordinary Time