Let the little child come to me.
For to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.
At mass the children were noisy but now I could see.
Their playfulness comes from heaven.

La basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli is grand.
La Porciuncola is modest .
But all grandeur sinks into the sand.
In St Francis’ humility we can truly rest.

I see the basilica’s towering white wall .
Rising  ever upwards.
The modest stone house wall.
Looks heavenwards.

Which is the true way.
I think we know the right way.

……

The house is tiny
The Basilica is grand
Which is the true way

…….

See Matthew 19: 13-15

He has brought down the mighty from their throne.
And exalted those of humble estate.
Now we never need be alone.
We have entered in our mind a new state.

We all knelt at the consecration.
Adoring the raised host.
The Carabiniere stood to attention.
In Spoletto cathedral none of us felt lost.

But it was Mary’s song.
That struck me profoundly.
Here was the truth for which we long.
We left that place gratefully.

Mary we felt is the mother of God.
And he is here among us, God.

….

Mary, God’s mother
Is thus truly always here
This we surely know

……

See Luke 1: 39-56

The mountains leapt like a ram.
And the hills like yearling sheep.
Behold the holy lamb.
The baby in the womb will leap.

I am standing in front of the Madonna del Parto.
She is heavy with glorious  child, let trumpets sound.
The hope of the world is wonder lo.
No longer in her church , air conditioned museum bound.

The determined angels stand guard.
Her garment under the blue, white for purity.
His fate is truly starred.
All that is gentle but mighty.

All is perfect , symmetrical.
But her face is sad , the future she can tell.

…..

See the Madonna
The genius of Piero
The hope of the world

…..

See Psalm 114

Whatever you bind on earth.
Shall be loosed in heaven.
And whatever you loose on earth.
Shall be loosed in heaven.

I am at mass in Assisi.
I cannot understand the sermon.
But no matter all is sublime in Assisi.
And everything is right with any sermon.

Here the barrier between us and heaven is thinner.
Giotto bears one up to the sky.
Even the crowds seem bearable , thinner.
Here one starts to loosen the earth’s tie.

I knelt before St Francis’ tomb.
Dispelling all woes , worries and gloom.

…….

Quiet in Assisi
A place to ponder and pray
For all is timeless

…..

See Matthew 18 : 15-20

You shall serve him.
By his name you shall swear.
You shall hold fast to him.
There is nothing to fear.

Why do we need fear death’s nothing.
Do we worry about a cut nail.
The body is just nothing.
All that matters is the soul’s eternal tale.

What is the soul.
It is unique and universal.
Devoid of weary bodily toil.
It always was and will be , it cannot fail.

We cannot comprehend it.
It just is the never changing it.

……

What is then our soul
It’s universal unique
Unknown yet it’s true

.. …

See Deuteronomy 10: 12-22

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.
The conviction of things not seen.
This essential truth strikes to the core.
Of all things seen and unseen.

What for me is the proof of God
Nothing intellectual is satisfying.
First mover , creation by design cannot prove God.
Everything ends in questioning.

But when I enter a church.
I feel something, someone is there.
I do not need in that moment to search.
God’s presence is clear.

There is nothing left to prove.
Or restlessly disprove or approve.

…..

Faith can be hoped for
It does not need to be seen
It just comes to us

….

See Hebrews 11

Five of them were foolish.
And five were wise.
What really do we realise
And what do we surmise.

Are our lamps ready.
We do not know when our bridegroom will arrive .
Is our faith steady.
Does it thrive.

Death may take us.
Ready or not.
But it certainly is for us.
However we tie life’s entangled knot.

The knock on the door does sound.
Death now or later is all around.

……

When will the knock come
Yes the door may be well locked
But death will knock soon.

……

See Matthew 25 : 1-13

O that today you would listen
As at Meribah, not your heart.
To the Lord let us hasten.
And let us make a new start.

By chance in the church praying.
A stillness descended.
The moment would be passing.
But a prayer ascended.

I suddenly felt we are all called.
In our own way a prophet to bear witness.
That prayer had not in vain ascended.
We all have our own particular spiritual fitness.

We may think ourselves worthless.
But in all of us somewhere is a little holiness.

……

Are we just worthless
Or are we sometimes prophets
Maybe yes or no

…….

See Psalm 95

As he was praying.
The appearance of his face was altered.
Shining.
Transfigured.

This whole episode.
So amazing, it would not be invented.
Does it leave us warm or cold.
Is truth here scented.

But a God walking.
Could be transformed.
To us announcing.
Belief restored.

I looked through the window at the light.
Here too God was in sight.

……

They saw God transformed
Or is this just an old myth.
We have to believe

…..

See Luke 9 : 22-36

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea.
They were terrified and said, it is a ghost.
Like them we struggle to understand and see.
In our doubts and toils we are lost.

As I sat in church the atmosphere became heavy.
These feelings come and go.
Rising , falling , lost then steady.
High and low.

I left the church reluctantly.
When will I again believe.
I walked home pondering,
slowly.
When next will I receive.

These are just come and go moments.
With them there need be no torments.

…..,

He was just walking
But doing so on the sea
Is he real or ghost

…..

See Matthew 14 : 22-36

We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt that cost nothing.
The cucumbers, the melons and the garlic.
Moses’ people wanted everything.
They were homesick.

We are never satisfied.
We wander in our own desert.
We want a free ride.
Always seeming to divert.

They said our strength is dried up.
There is nothing but manna to look at.
Even heavenly manna was not good enough to sup.
Everything seemed and sometimes feels flat.

In hope we wander.
Yet still we wonder.

…….

We wander deserts
Questioning complaining
Our promise will come

……

See Numbers 11: 4-15

His work is a vexation.
Even in the night his heart does not rest.
We ask this question.
Where is our hope and our zest.

Who really are we really.
What happens to this consciousness.
What at the end is life’s tally.
Why in our hearts this restlessness.

We worship this body’s presence.
That soon will be dead.
But what truly is our essence.
Are we really existing , are we divinely read.

Vanity of vanity.
All is vanity.

……

This vexation
This our body is alive
But soon to be dead

……

See Ecclesiastices 1

Herod promised with an oath.
To give her whatever she might want.
How can we nurture our spiritual growth.
By never in prayer being in want.

If you start by doing whats right.
Things usually work out for the best.
Just keep an eye on eternal light.
And then you can look forward to your rest .

As I listened to the tale of Herod’s promise.
My faith as usual wavered and recovered.
These insights are not something to miss.
Faith questioned then received.

Here is truth revealed ,
For all our doubts it cannot be denied.

……

We do what is right
Yes it may be difficult
But things just work out

…….

See Matthew 14 : 1-12

A prophet is not without honour.
Except in his home town.
We always look far away for a saviour.
At anyone nearby we tend to frown.

I cannot deny that I question.
I wonder whether God is really here for us.
Who really was Jesus.
Caught by doubting temptation.

Better just to assume.
To take things on trust.
Rather than dissolve into gloom.
Hope is a must.

We are never a prophet in our own country.
Only one in another country.

……

Never prophet here
But in another country
That is just our hope

…..

See Matthew 13 : 54-58

The kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea.
That gathers fish of every kind.
They are caught , like us, they cannot see.
Some indeed may be unkind, others kind.

Men sorted the good into vessels.
And threw away the bad.
Will we end up in the vessels
Or be thrown away with the bad.

I love St Ignatius.
He asks us to retreat.
He understands us.
We can exercise our minds at his spiritual seat.

At the end of the age.
We will know his mercy not his rage.

……

We’re caught in the net
That’s been thrown into the sea
What then is our fate

….

See Matthew 13 : 47-53

The kingdom of heaven.
Is like treasure hidden in a field.
Have we really striven.
Are we satisfied with our spiritual yield.

The man covers up the treasure.
And in his joy buys that field.
Have we the measure.
Is our fate sealed.

The kingdom of heaven.
Is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
Is life’s hope riven.
As our life unfurls.

The merchant sold his land in a swirl.
For the sake of one pearl.

…..

The heavens kingdom
Treasure hidden in a field
Have we yet found it

….

See Matthew 23 : 44-46

I am the Resurrection.
And the life.
What an inspiration.
Hope is rife.

Whoever believes in me , though he die.
Yet shall he live.
This is truth and no lie.
That we may eternally thrive.

When I read these word slowly.
Then for that moment I believe.
The start, even if I’m hardly holy.
I just have to accept and receive.

Jesus asked Martha, do you believe this.
She answered yes you are the Resurrection  and the life,I believe this.

……

If you believe me
You will have eternal life
The greatest promise

……

See John 11: 19-27

Suppose ten are found there.
For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.
With the Lord’s mercy we need not fear.
Remembering that the light is always lit.

With all our sinning.
Are we in that city about to be destroyed.
No, because the Lord is forgiving.
Our sins are laid.

Shall not the judge.
Of all the earth do what is just.
He will not fudge .
For him compassion is the must.

So we remain alive in our earthly city.
Always at the mercy of his pity.

….

Suppose ten are found.
Our city will be rebuilt
If just five our just

……

See Genesis 18: 20- 32

I chose you out of the world says the Lord.
That you should bear fruit and your fruit should abide.
Though flawed we will find our reward.
If we choose him as our guide.

Extraordinary.
That we are chosen.
Almost scary, even unlikely.
From the dawn of time, handwoven.

God of course just is.
While we were not , nor will we be.
So how are we chosen in time from the is.
This we cannot comprehend or truly see.

Faith comes and goes .
But joy follows woes.

….

Chosen from this world.
That we should ourselves bear fruit and we shall do it

……

See Today’s Gospel Acclamation

The Lord will come down on Mount Sinai
In the people’s sight.
Dispelling any lie.
The source of all light.

We also are near our Sinai’s Mount.
Will he come down for us.
Wisdom’s fount.
Available always for us.

We wander in our own desert.
Bereft and scared.
But still alert.
There is nothing to be feared.

Sinai is always there.
Washing away all fear.

…….

Where’s our Mount Sinai
It is here with us always
We just have to look

……

See Exodus 19