Hosea 6: 1-6; Psalm 5: 3-21; Luke 18: 9-14

standing
in the margins
knowing our frailty
and sin
we ask
for mercy
and a
God of love
hears us-
our soul
once hardened
and dry
is refreshed
with rain
its darkness
flooded
with light
we live
in the grace
of God’s compassion

How do you experience God’s mercy?

Hosea 13: 2-10; Psalm 81: 6-17; Mark 12: 28-34

spirit upon us
like the dewfall
we hear
love God
first
with all
your heart
and mind
and soul
let no strange God
come among you
and take
the love
of neighbor
from you
forgive
and let love
blossom
as freely
as the lilies
casting
as wide
a fragrance
as the cedars
and splendor
of the olive branch

Has a strange God come among you to take the love of your neighbor?

Solemnity of Saint Joseph
2Samuel 7: 4-16; Psalm 89: 2-5; 27 and 29; Matthew 1: 16-24

through her
the Holy Spirit
brought life
she followed

to Him
the Holy Spirit
brought life
he followed

through Him
the Holy Spirit
brings us life
we follow

How do you follow?

Dt. 4:1,5-9; Psalm 147:12-13,15-16,19-20; Matthew 17-10

coming
to fulfill
the law
of love
he sets
a course
with His life
and words
calling us
to follow
the God
who lives
close to us
as close
as our heartbeat
and our breath
warning us
not to forget
what we have seen
nor letting it slip
from our memory

How do you experience God near to you?
How do you share what you have seen and heard?

Dn 3:25,34-43; Psalm 25:4-0; Matthew 18:21-35

our hearts
troubled
by the ways
of the world
we look to God
and are answered
by the Holy Spirit
who lifts us up
we remember
the ways
of kindness
goodness
compassion
and truth
always merciful
to the contrite heart
we forgive
as we are forgiven
and embrace
the Light

Where do you look when your heart is troubled?

2Kings 5: 1-5; Psalm 42: 2,3; 43: 3-4; Luke 4: 24-30

blinded
by familiarity
wealth
and power
yet longing
for healing
and thirsting
for the living God
we dare
to enter
our poverty
relinquishing
all
we enter
the light
and love
of God
seeing
God’s face
we are healed
and sing
in our gladness
and joy

Do you dare relinquish all for the mystery of God’s love?

Exodus 1: 3-7; Ps 95: 1-9; 2Romans 5: 1-8; John 4: 5-42

with no need
of worthiness
the water
and grace
of life
flows upon
the wanderers
with open
hearts-
ready to receive
the woman
hears
her Truth
and a heart of stone
melts
into a heart
of love
singing
joyfully
knowing
that salvation
has come
to the weary ones
to the outcasts
all are loved
in this Spirit
and Truth

Do you tell God all of your needs?
Do you hear and respond to truth spoken into your heart?

Mi 7:14-20; Psalm 103:1-12; Luke 15:1-32

coming home
to the embrace
of the Beloved
all is forgiven
and forgotten
as we celebrate
and renew
our life
in the Spirit
of kindness
and mercy
even as another
may envy
the compassion given
a greater love
has taken us
beyond
what could be
imagined

Can you imagine a welcoming love that forgives all?

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13,17-29; Psalm 105:16-21; Matthew 21:33-43,45-46

we treat
what is
only given
to care for
as our own
denying
a share
denying
a harvest
living in
jealousy
of a brother
he is sold
yet God
in mercy
uses
even our sin
to save

How has God used His mercy to save you?

Jeremiah 17:5-19; Psalm 1:1-6; Luke 16:19-31

blessed
is the one
who can see
across
the great chasm
that divides
to see
another
in need
and respond
with the love
of God
our Beloved
given
to share
with all
in a justice
that has
no impartiality
or boundaries

Have your eyes been opened?
Has your heart been touched?