Month: November 2023

The Enemy is the Enemy

November 29, 2023

basic evangelization, death, evil

(See paragraphs 391- 395 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church)

The only true enemy is that of our souls
From our minds, blind and weak, he now sleeplessly steals
Gospel truths that bring healing and life never-ending (Jn. 14:6)
Deadly lies he is endlessly sending

This liar misleads about who’s the real foe (Jn. 8:44)
He hints, “It’s THAT person! They’re evil, you know!”
Paul parries, it’s not “flesh and blood, but… dark forces” (Eph. 5)
Not people or “chariots” or “horses” (Ex. 15:19)

Not Hezbollah, Isis or Boko Haram

Nor Israel, Russia or those who lob bombs

Nor any world leader, no matter how vicious

Nor killers, abusers or mobsters pernicious

Besides making victims, such figures distressing

Are victims much greater of evil oppressing

“The enemy is the enemy”, not Elephant or Donkey
Nor presidents or mayors no matter how wonky
Not pastors or bishops despite hellish crimes
Nor Fox, NBC, or the Times

Not “Roe” and not “Wade”; NRA or controllers
Not this group or that group, nor secret bankrollers
“The enemy is the enemy”, as Scripture reminds us
The devil and sin ever blind us

His damnable goal is to “steal, kill, destroy” (Jn. 10:10)
Attacking with volleys of “darts” to employ (1 Pet. 5:8)

There’s heart-tearing Hatred, unholy Resenting
Vile Gossip, cruel Greed and Revenge unrelenting

Discouragement, Lust, and Division so deadly
Dark Doubt and Despair all prepare a fierce medley

This “Bad News” proves God as much more than mere “Good News”
But the BEST News! In Christ, we will fight and will NOT lose

For He has no rivals, the Savior from Zion

The Lamb’s Holy Cross crushed the prowling “lion” (1 Pet. 5)

And in the end…

The “prince of this world” will be strong-armed to cease (Jn. 12:31)

By the One Who is stronger, the Great Prince of Peace (Mk. 14:62)

**********

St. Michael the archangel, defend us in battle...

**********

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER (from the Story Guide of THE RESCUE PROJECT)

• Where is the enemy accusing me right
now?
• What lie is crippling me right now?
• Where is the enemy causing division in my
life right now?
• Where is the enemy flattering my ego right
now?
• What temptation is strongest in my life
right now?
• Where am I most discouraged right now?

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Pie in The Sky?

November 27, 2023

heaven, repentance, works of mercy

Heav’n is not “pie in the sky”
Nor harps ‘n puffed clouds “by and by”
Hope’s not some delusion
But free-will-collusion
With grace that Christ died to supply

Heav’n’s feast offers more than sky-pies
“Rich food and choice wines” will surprise (Is. 25)
To taste the “Lamb’s Supper”
Confess your mess-uppers (Mt. 3:2)
To you, His own Blood He applies

The enemy’s clutches you’ll fly
As daily you choose “Humble Pie”
God’s banquet reserved
For “children” who served
The King hid within all who cry (Mt. 25)

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How Meek of God

November 27, 2023

basic evangelization, God’s Character, Inspired By, theology

“How odd of God

to choose the Jews

who chose to choose

disciples who

eschew the Jews”

-Yip Harburg

*

(The following is inspired by Yip’s poem above, and in his honor. Yip is my great grandfather one of my main inspirations, after Christ, to write poems. His poem above is a sad reminder of anti-semitism by Christians, a tragically ironic violation of the Gospel of Christ, our semitic Savior)

*

How good of God

To help the Jews

To find His clues

In offered ewes (Is. 53:7; Jn. 1:29)

Salvation’s ruse

*

How brave of God

To teach His Jews

Through prophets’ woos

That soon His shoes

On earth would cruise (Ez. 34)

*

How wise of God

To help men fuse

His Laws with News:

A man for all

His life would lose

*

How “weak” of God

Our flesh, enthuse (from Greek “theos” meaning God)

Our guilt, excuse

Our fate, refuse

His Love, infuse (Jn. 1)

*

How meek of God

His Blood to ooze

To pay sin’s dues

Hell’s plans confuse

Our souls transfuse

*

Will we refuse

And flesh amuse

And heaven lose?

Or mercy choose?

And His peaceful, mirthful, cheerful News

Diffuse?

*****

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The Breakability of God

November 13, 2023

God’s Character, sacraments, Sacred Scripture, The Real Presence, works of mercy

Could God be Almighty- yet tiny and poor?
Creator of planets- forgotten, ignored?
Invincible Lord- but breakable, frail?
The words of the Bible these myst’ries unveil

The tininess of God displayed
In Bethlehem’s babe
Cute and small (Lk. 2)

The poverty of God portrayed
In Galilee’s tramp
Shunned by all (Mt. 8:20; Mk. 14:71)

Our God’s “dismissability”
In Nazareth’s son
“without honor” (Mk. 6:4)

The Lord’s preferred fragility
In Calvary’s Lamb
Led to slaughter (Is. 53:7)

God’s weakness, smallness, helplessness, and utter breakability

Are found in ev’ry person full-endowed with all His features (Gen. 1)

And found in ev’ry Eucharistic Host! For shareability

Empow’ring us to heal Him hidden in His broken creatures (Mt. 25)

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What Does God Need?

November 13, 2023

God’s Character, spirituality

The LORD does not need me, But

MY need, sin flaunts

The Lord has not “needs”, yet He

haunts all my “wants”

*

God yearns that I give Him my

Desperate need

He wants me to want for Him

my soul to feed

*

Christ thirsts for my thirst, and He

pines for my pining

He longs for my longing, to-His

Heart mine inclining

*

I’ll give Him my sin, all my

flirtings with Circe*

He’ll drown them within His vast

Ocean of Mercy

***

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circe

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If It Rains, I Choose Rain

November 13, 2023

for fun, nature

If Heaven lets it rain, I choose rain
While the nimbus weep their tears
I smile at God
Who clears that mist of fears
In me, to reign!

If the Son allows the clouds, I choose clouds
While they scowl overcast
I smile at Him
Who calls me Home at last
Beyond the clouds

If God permits the thunder, I choose thunder
As the bolts jolt high above
I smile at God
Who whispers back His love
Midst cracks of wonder

If the Savior lets it snow, I choose snow
As the flakes around me zoom
I smile at Him
In gratitude, from Whom
All blessings snow

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“Rabbi, I want to see”

November 2, 2023

basic evangelization, nature, sacraments, The Real Presence

“Rabbi, I want to see…” (Mark 10:51)

O “Risen One”, I see you rising every spring anew
Each season a rich sermon of the Hope that “springs eternal” (1)
The snowdrops bursting through the snow proclaim the empty tomb (Rom. 1)
To “bear much fruit”, I’ll live and die with You, a falling “kernal” (Jn. 12:24)

“Rabbi, I want to see…”

To see You, “Great Creator”, in the lightning, quake and fire
Yet knowing that Elijah heard You rather in the hush (1 Kgs 19:11)
In every soaring, splashing, creeping creature I admire (Gen. 1)
And mesa, forest, flashing peak, plateau, and jungle lush

“Rabbi, I want to see…”

To see You as “The Light” in every lantern, star, and sunrise (Jn. 8:12)
These guide and warm and banish brackish thoughts; unholy fears (Jn. 1:5)
Your children You call “light” to fight the creeping darkness likewise (Mt. 5:14)
Through mercy’s works that, to the hurting, makes Your Face appear

“Rabbi, I want to see…”

To see You in all faces, fair or plain, and in the “least” (Mt. 25:40)

Especially the suffering, oppressed, unborn, and poor

To find You in each victim crushed by war, abuse, disease

To seek You in my hidden room; adore You more and more

“Rabbi, I want to see…”

To see You, “Bridegroom of the Church”, when spouses love each other
Their faithful, free and fruitful love reflects its holy Source (Eph. 5:32)
Each marriage brings to mind Your vows to me, which none can smother
“…til death”, and yet beyond! To love You not: life’s sole remorse

“Rabbi, I want to see…”

To see You, “Father-Icon”, in all earthly dads and pastors (Jn. 14:9)
Their gentleness, encouragement, correction, and direction
Protection from the “father of lies” and sin’s untold disasters
You father us through Godly men! Their care is Your affection

“Rabbi, I want to see…”

To see You, “Healer”, as I pray for health in Jesus’ Name (Jn. 14:13)
Foreseeing heaven’s healing of all tears and bitter illness (Rev. 21:4)
Through doctors, nurses, therapists, Your healing touch we gain
Through Christians laying healing hands; through sacraments; through stillness

“Rabbi, I want to see…”

To see You “Jesus”, “God’s Salvation”, as my sin I fight (Mt. 1:21)
When on Your Holy Name I call, Your strength could not come quicker (Phil. 4:13)
And if I lose a skirmish, “absolution” sets me right
Allowing me to hear You say “forgiven” through your vicar

“Rabbi, I want to see…”

To see You, “Bread of Life”, upon the altar-table spread (Jn. 6; Ps. 23)
“Unbloody Sacrifice” and foretaste of the feast of heaven (Lk. 22:20)
Your Blood and Body offered under forms of wine and bread
Like potent “Lembas”, filling us with strength to be Your “leaven” (J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings; Mt. 13:33)

*****

(1) Alexander Pope

⁴⁹Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. ⁵¹“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” ⁵²“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

(Mark 10:49-52 NIV)

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