Genesis 3:9-15,20; Psalm 98: 1-4; Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12; Luke 1:26-38

what angel would come
with a voice of knowing
to tell you
who you are to be
mother of a savior
to a world in need
chosen for
some immaculate conception
engineered
in a distant heaven
you are outside
the realm of our humanity
unreachable
from our perceptions
distant mother
how are we to live
without a guidance
we can understand
born not immaculate
and can you know us
who put you there
by what decree
are you the other
that we cannot know
or is perhaps
some “yes”
passed through the ages
from the foundation
of time
the purifying agent
releasing you
and Him
and all of us
into our eternal home

Mary, full of grace, who are you now?

Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said…
come to me
all you who labor
and are burdened
and i will
give you rest
take my yoke upon you
and learn from me
for i am meek
and humble of heart
and you will find rest
for you soul
for my yoke is easy
and my burden light

Where does you soul find rest?

Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 96:1-13; Matthew 18:12-44

found
we rejoice
and sing
with the breath
of God
on our voices
grateful for life
and love
though
we are as the grass
that withers
and the flower
that wilts
our soul
finds its home
in God’s Spirit
and living
word

Where do you find your home?

Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 85:9-14; Luke 5:17-26

with the aid
of friends
we are brought
to God’s Presence
we rise
and walk
healed of all
that cripples us
and keeps us
paralyzed
walking now
in God’s Presence
we see a Glory
formerly hidden
streams
burst forth
in the desert
joy and gladness
awaken
sorrow and mourning
flee
as kindness
and Truth meet
justice and peace
embrace
we live in the awe
of Grace

Do you allow friends to help you into God’s Presence?
Do you allow yourself to be healed?

Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Romans 15: 4-9; Mt 3:1-12

God
source
of all patience
and encouragement
you set
your root
into our lives
branching out
a spirit of wisdom
and understanding
counsel and strength
peace flourishes
in your tree
of life
set upon
a holy mountain

the child
shall lead us
through a baptism
of fire
to your heights
one heart
one voice
where there
shall be
no harm
or ruin
all that
is not true
falling away

Will you follow the child to God’s holy mountain?
Will you bear his fruit?

Isaiah 30: 19-26; Psalm 147: 1-6; Matthew 9:35-10:1-8

no longer
will our teacher
hide himself
hearing us
when we cry out
we will see him
and a voice
from behind
will sound
in our ear
“This is the way
walk in it”
healing our broken heart
binding our wounds
we are sustained
and follow
to labor
in God’s field
cleansing
curing
raising form the dead
bringing new life

Do you hear his voice?
Where do you see him?

Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 17: 1,4,13-14; Mt 9:27-31

he asks
if we believe
in his power
to heal
our blindness-
with the “yes”
of our faith
our eyes
are opened
and we dwell
with him
who rejoices
in the Holy Spirit
we enter
a different realm
far from
the chaos
of worldly powers
and enter
the soul’s
eternal peace

Do you believe in his power to heal?

Is 26:1-6; Psalm 118: 1,8-0,19-21,25-27; Matthew 7:21,24-27

our refuge
and trust
is in God
who shines
a will
to love
on all people
we listen
and act
setting
our life
solidly
on his rock
rains come
winds blow
but we stand firm
in his Spirit
who lifts us up
again
and again

Where do you stand?
Where do you take refuge?

Romans 10: 9-18

“For everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how can they call on him
in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him
of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear
without someone to preach?
And how can people preach
unless they are sent?
As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those
who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes
from what is heard,
and what is heard
comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for

Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.”

What have you heard?
What is the good news?

Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-17; Luke 10:21-24

seek
a Spirit of Wisdom
and of Understanding
a Spirit of Counsel
and of Strength
a Spirit of Knowledge
and fear of the Lord
judging not
by appearance
or hearsay
but by divine
Justice
God’s love
of All
seek
one true thing
in Him
blessed are the eyes
that see
what He sees
and hear
what He hears

What do you seek?
What do you see?
What do you hear?