1Tim 6:2-12; Psalm 49:6-20; Luke 8: 8:1-3

pursuing
faith
love
patience
gentleness
devotion
we turn from our desire
for wealth
and all
that does not last
trusting not in money
or riches
but in God
who brings light
and truth
and love

What do you pursue?
In what do you trust?

Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13; Psalm 19:2-5; Matthew 9:9-13

be worthy
of the call
you have received
and the grace given
with humility
gentleness
patience
and peace
follow
as the day
pours out the word to day
and night to night
imparts knowledge
hear the voice that resounds
throughout the earth
“love one another
as I have loved you”

Are you worthy of the call you have received?
How do you live out your calling?

1Tim 3:14-16; Psalm 111: 1-6; Luke 7:31-35

never satisfied
we judge
and complain
instead of giving thanks–
undeniably great
is the mystery
of devotion of
and to the living God
who creates
from nothing
and animates
with love
how great
the Glory
of the Holy Spirits presence
when our eyes
are opened
and our mind
is at peace

Do you give thanks?
To what are you devoted?

1Tim 3:1-13; Psalm 101:1-6; Luke 7:11-17

who would deem
a heart blameless
but God
the one who can look
upon the dead
with pity
and raise them up
questioning
all that we are
as we walk
in His ways
our faithfulness
temperance
gentleness
generosity
dignity
decency
guiding our children
and each other
on the path of Life

Who is this God who demands so much good?

1Timothy 2:1-8; Psalm 28:2,7-9; Luke 7:1-10

hearing
the sound
of our cries
and pleading
God sends
courage
and strength
to our minds
and hearts
healing
and guiding
our journey
as we forget ourselves
and live out God’s will
through love
and faith

Do you put all of your trust and faith in God’s love?

Sirach 27: 30-28:7; Psalm 103: 1-12; Romans 14: 7-9; Mt. 18: 21=35

remembering
who we are
in Spirit
one in Christ
one body
of all
immersed
in a kind
and merciful God
filled with
boundless
compassion
with a God
who suffers
with us
forgives
our sins
as we are to forgive
holding no debt
we are free
to love
as we are loved
not nourishing
anger
or hateful things
but nourished
and fed
with kindness

How tightly do you hold and nourish anger?
Do you release into God’s forgiveness, kindness, compassion and mercy?

1Tim 1:15-17; Psalm 113:1-7; John 14:23

from the rising
of the sun
to its setting
we look
to the God
of love
and mercy
setting a firm foundation
that will not be shaken
planting deep roots
to bear good fruit
storing all God’s goodness
in our heart
to share
with those in need
praying
always
praising
always

What is your foundation?
Has it ever been shaken?

Memorial of Our Lady Of Sorrows
1 Tim3:1-13; Psalm 100:1-5; Luke 2:33-55

mother
of sorrows
we see you
at the cross
and enter
your anguish
as we see
the world’s sins
put upon him
contrite
of any
complicity
we turn
ourselves
over to
the love
we see
and enter
your “yes”
where our intention
meets God’s will
and divine love
is born

Where do you go with your sorrow?
Do you feel her presence in your grief?

Feast of the Exultation of the Cross

WHY THIS CROSS?

why this cross?
this ornament of human suffering
in our musings it can seem quite out of place
in comfort and complacency
yet let one moment of tragedy
need or desperation enter
and this cross is no longer a foreign land
but a shelter and home
a passage of power and transformation
is it magic–some talisman-
so it would seem as it is fashioned in gold
carved in wood and fashioned in beads
strung on necks and molded on rings

yet kneel–
kneel before the cross
and experience the life
the whispers and struggle
and you will hear the world
the daily news
as the world wrestles with its horror and death
evil and cruelty
selfishness
politics and greed
ideological slaughter
it’s mass destruction
our grieving and loss
starvation and calamities
earths quake and worlds fall
within the cross

we are free to place our burden there
and leave as though it were some receptacle
some garbage pit or scapegoat
yet not for long
for His whispers, movement and life
are too compelling
He calls to us over and over
to visit this strange place of death
that calls us to Life

enter the suffering
the solitude and darkness of the tomb
and answer His call to “pray with me
pray with me
trust in me
the truth of me
the truth of here
and I will bring
you life”

how
long is
our suffering-

as
long
as
it takes
for
new life to begin–then there is no time
at all
no
need-
we
are
completed
resurrected
in God’s love

How does the cross become the tree of Life?

Col 3:1-11; Psalm 145: 2-3,1-=11,12-13; Luke 6:20-26

knowing
our need
in hunger
poverty
and grief
we look
to what is above
far from
greed
anger
malice
and evil desires
we seek
compassion
as God
is compassionate
loving us
in our sufferings
we are healed
and give thanks
showing the compassion
to others
that we have been given

Have you experienced God’s compassion?