1Bar 4:5-12, 27-29; Psalm 69:33-35, 36-37; Luke 10:17-24

wandering far
from God’s graces
we see
the disorder
of our ways
and turn to Him
that our hearts
may be revived

welcomed
into God’s abundant love
we are brought back
to enduring joy
grateful
for mercy

What calls you back from disordered ways?

Bar 1:15-22; Psalm 9:1-9; Luke 10:13-16

our lives
disordered
as we turn
from God’s way
of Truth
seeking love
and power
in all the wrong places
leaving a trail
of destruction
until we hear
a voice calling us
to see His way
His truth
His light
His cross
a path
leading us home

What do you see in His cross?

Neh 8:1-12; Psalm 19:8-11; Luke 10:1-12

let rejoicing
in the Lord
be your strength
God’s word
is clear
enlightening
and enduring
precious
and sweet
abundant
and available
to All
who live
in God’s justice
God’s love of All

Is your mind and heart open to God’s word and love?

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

Neh 2:1-8; Psalm 137:1-6; Luke 9:57-62

letting
the dead
bury the dead
not turning back
we follow
to new life
with nowhere
to rest our heads
but in the Spirit
that carries us
wherever we go
we are home
in God’s love
who gives us
all we need

Are you at home in God’s love?
Do you have all you need?

Zec 8:20-23; Psalm 87:1-7; Luke 9:51-56

the living God
with us
within us
we follow
turning from death
to life
embracing all
the Holy Spirit offers
with compassion
love
joy
peace
kindness
generosity
patience
self-control
gentleness
even as we face
terror, sickness and darkness
we are strengthened
with the light
of God’s courage

How do you embrace the living God?

Zec 8:1-8; Psalm 102:16-23, 29; Matthew 18:1-5,10

like children
we come
with wonder
and humility
seeking
to know
and experience
what we are about
exploring
God’s world
drawn to goodness
recoiling
from evil
protected
by the angels
with a God-given faith

Do you dare enter child-like wonder?

Ezekiel 18: 25-28; Psalm 125: 4-9; Phil 2: 1-11; Mt 21: 28-32

this moment
we have
to see
to embrace
the truth
letting go
of our sins
we are
emptied
we see
and hear
the love
of Christ
united
to all
our joy
is complete
our interest
and concern
for others
ignited
we love
others
as our self
leaving
the hardness
of our heart
we go to the vineyard
to serve
with love

Do you embrace this moment?

Zec 2:5-9, 14-15; Jer 31:1-13; Luke 9:43-45

i will be for her
an encircling
wall of fire
the glory
in her midst
turning her mourning
to joy
her sorrow
to song
and even as He
was handed over to men
His spirit lives
guarded
and protected
by the living God

Do you feel protected by the living God?

Daniel 7:9-10,13-14; Psalm 138:1-5; John 1:47-51

longing
for a new vision
we see heaven opened
in awe
of what we see
a place of no duplicity
or cynicism
a place of harmony
a place of love
working
one for the other
with no discord
a glory of voices
each knowing
their part
the most beautiful music
ever heard

Can you see this place called heaven?