Lukulu children hugging Love for Lukulu missionary Tomas
In those places where Love waits for me… Will I pause to rest? Within my heart of hearts, Love waits And misses me When I forget… Will I sit and visit with this Guest?
In those kids who chase and make me laugh… Would I glance Love’s dirtied face? From family I neglect to see Who memories share Who cherish me… Would I dare receive Love’s firm embrace?
At the altar-banquet spread for me…* Will I there love Love, its Host? In Truth-words that are said to me Or written down That set me free… Will I let Him love me, Who loves most?
I whistled as my coworker and I closed up the shop While mopping, we shared heroes and examples I asked my friend, “Say, if some saints would come for cone or cup “What flavors, do you reckon, would they choose? I’d hand ’em samples!”
My coworker, amused, gave this reply
“Saint Pete would go for Rocky Road; at least two reasons why On road from Rome, ‘Quo vadis?‘ He asked Christ Since Paul once stopped near Naples, Neapolitan he’d try A Trinity analogy he’d buy… Though imprecise!?
“It’s clear which flavor many of the Carmelites would like For Blessed Ukon, Matcha he’d attack Saint Benedict would, as a rule, first pre-bless every bite And Athanasius would not stand for ‘lite’… But full sugar, full fat“
I shared how my dear dad had told some tales of his own heroes Who’d licked this heav’nly gift with grateful hearts…
Before we each clocked out, I shared with shock and some emotion The goal of all devotion, we’d neglected The Royal Couple! To express my love for both, an ocean I told my friend, “I know what they would pick If I’m correct…”
“Undebatably divine, the flavor known to rule A Chocolate cone would Jesus love, three scoops and chocolate dipped Her mantle’s hue to match and to evoke her queenly footstool * A Blue Moon might be Mary’s, crowned with whip… But would it melt As she went round As mothers do Till she had found That no one in the parlor had been skipped?”
***
*And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. -Revelation 12:1
A man once called himself The Truth His claim is gaining ground Though to the seeker, seems aloof He’s drawing near! For where there’s truth, He’s found
Where science unlocks the sky’s great secrets Or glances quantum dancing Or documents new breeds of egrets He’s smiling there! Since where there’s truth, He’s found
He is the root of any truth In religious man-made systems Though mixed with errors or idols mute He’s purging there! For where there’s truth, He’s found
Where truth is violently denied Or outlawed, mocked or jailed Where for the truth, some even die They die for Christ! Since where there’s truth, He’s found…
And to where He calls…
Will all who loved truth see The Truth unveiled ***
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” -Jesus, John 14:6
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” -Matthew 5:10-12
(Title is a quote from An Essay on Criticism by English poet Alexander Pope)
***
As you battle to forgive That miser “sev’nty times seven” You’re promised mercy in return “Forgive our sins as we forgive” One’s pardon pulls down heaven
Forgiveness is not “doormat-hood” It shuns abuse and crime And wisely lays down boundaries firm For “eye for eye” will blind the earth* Says God, “All vengeance, mine…”
As you echo Jesus’ prayer “O Father please forgive them They know not what they do”, then quick God rids your heart of bitterness As perfect joy you give Him
When you bear with patient love Ill will of foes or neighbors You “bear your cross” with help from Christ The Peace he gives you will suffice Plus sundry sunny favors
When you love your enemy Who wounds you or offends You love the Lord! But be aware
The “enemy” yourself may be!
On love for some…
Or rather, most…
Or rather, all…
Eternal joy, beginning now, depends
***
*attributed to M.K. Ghandi, although not exact words
Relaxed in the shade Of the colonnade pass My friend and I traded the talk of the town
All flustered, I asked with a frown…
“Just who was that baptist Whose breakfast was locusts Enticing those folks of weak mind to immerse?”
Defensive, his passion outburst…
“The fact is, he was not The Christ, but his Baptist The ‘Friend of the Bridegroom‘! In the womb, they first met”
“While Miryam (מִרְיָם) spoke greeting Who too was with child Eli-she-va (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), her kin, not by chance felt him dance”
I questioned, “Once grown and a loner become
Why then did some hate him, perchance?”
“God’s prophet, Yo-ḥan-an(יוחנן) Men’s ire could not stop He’d scolded the Pharisee clan fearlessly”
“But how?” I said, stifling my glee…
“‘Repent!’ he’d commanded ‘God’s Kingdom has landed! Flee sin! Turn with haste!Then go prove it: bear fruit!’“
I pressed him, “And next, what ensued?”
“With stinging reproaches He coached the poor King That his wife was not his! Yet, repent he would not”
“The queen’s anger quickened Truth sickened her spleen To squash it, she wickedly hatched a mad plot”
“Her scheming advanced At the king’s birthday feast When Salome danced, he burst out with a vow…”
I beckoned my friend, “Go on, now”…
“To impress, Herod ranted ‘I’ll grant whatsoever ‘To half of my kingdom! Now bring your request’”
“Her mother with boldness Then told her none other Than John’s speechless head on a platter would do”
“His oath he well kept Lest he look like an oaf And soon, John’s disciples did lay him to rest”
Surprised at myself as I felt disenfranchised “So now, who will baptize?” I asked, heart all cold
My comrade’s warm hand gripped my shoulder…
“John clamored, voice bold ‘Behold, God’s own Lamb!’ ‘His Son, Who out-hurlsthe world’s sin‘
“‘I rejoice at His Voice My joy is now full ForHe must increase, andIdecrease’
“Unspun were the skies As he washed God’s pure Son Who baptizes now with the ‘Spirit and fire’ “
“Let’s search for Him, then!” Breath-bated, I urged “And why wait around?” Off we bounded, eyes peeled
And each none the wiser That this new baptizer Already was searching for us…
By leading us Jordanward where we’d be found
And once we’d abandoned its shores…
Restored and unbound
*****
Source material: the four Holy Gospels
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11, NIV)
Prove to your brother that he is worth loving Worth trekking those extra few miles for Prove to the beggar she’s “worth all the trouble” Of buying a meal with a smile for
Remove any doubt that you cherish your parents Go prove you’re the greatest of fans Show friends they are worth getting plans interrupted for And bland entertainment disrupted for
Prove to that hater he’s worth your concern Worth giving your “shirt off your back” for Disprove the Great Lie that God’s Love must be earned By passing it on to detractors
Don’t try without letting the One Who loves most First boast your own worth in His eyes Bestowing His Mother, His Cross, and His Host (1) Proclaiming you’re “worth all the trouble”… Of dying for… as an outlaw And rising for… with chutzpah Why stall? Show even your in-laws…
They’re lovable!
*****
(1) “…growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed, the Virgin who makes her offering to God.” (CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS – DECREE ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH IN THE GENERAL ROMAN CALENDAR)
Go “break the conventions!” And “keep the commandments!” Rebel! against lawless Rebellions Rise up! by embracing Those laws that were heaven-sent Meant to teach love To us hellions
Conform not! Don’t copy So-called “nonconformists” Refusing to recognize Truth Their “group-think” defy! Become its reformist Decry! those who facts do Eschew
Subvert! Take back morals! Out-quarrel the dictums Of the love-free “free-love” Revolution Its pills have all blue-pilled It reaps unplanned victims For weddingless sex sows Confusion
Campaign! for true “tolerance” That is, not intolerant Of viewpoints or people Displeasing It’s seen in Christ’s welcome Of earth’s full conglomerate His love is inclusive
I brushed an old man in the park’s dusky light His eyes kind and bright; his hand waiting fast We shook as he asked, “If with you it’s all right “I’ll share what I saw when I passed!”
“Last Friday, my heart quit, but soon my dear wife Restarted my ticker! She knows CPR Before coming to, I laid eyes on queer sights You ain’t gonna reach by no car!
“Saw hell where the dress code ain’t meant for no prude But nudeness, they hollered, is never permitted All garb must be racy, risqué, or plain lewd Since modesty’s purely forbidden…”
“And next I saw heaven! Less strict than you’d guess All dress there must highlight one’s beauty with flair Its duty: to accent God’s Image the best Armani could never compare!”
“Hell’s speech code is clear, ain’t no way to refuse No courteous or cordial exchange is endured Just cursing and gossip and God’s name abused Complaining and slander and slurs…”
“But speech was plum peachy on those Golden Shores For never ‘is heard a discouraging word‘ All words are affirming and kindness outpours ‘Til laughter ‘n praise are upstirred!”
My feelings evolved as I pictured such visions First shock… as I saw myself happyin hell Then peace… as I vowed to make flightpath decisions Not caring ’bout oglers, I yelled…
“I had best now get ready before the long rest And I’ll start right away! I must ‘dress for success’ I will tame this ol’ tongue for that place to obtain Where each sight and each sound will impress!”
The old man replied, “Friend, such glory’s in store! May God keep our robes for the feast freshly laundered I’ll see you again once we’ve stepped through death’s door!” He waved and then onward he wandered
Plump drops, rudely soaking, awoke me from wonder My feet had me bolting as thunder out burst Mid-sprint, I debated whose rules to live under
O Visa, I’m trusting in you You give me cold pop and hot pizza But Jesus, I promise, I’ll turn to you, too If ever I lose… My Visa
Lotsa Dollars; mucho Dough; plenty Bread Life is good! I’ve got bundles of Bacon But you Lord I will not ignore or forget Once all other options… Are taken
Dear Moolah, you’re truly the best I’m merry when making those Monies But also, O Jesus, I have to confess You’re great when you send me… Warm fuzzies
Dear Cash, they call you the “king” Cah-ching! Prestige and pure power Should life ever crash or go sour or sting On Christ, I would call…
I dreamt I awoke in a luminous place The King incandescent on Seraphim chair He said, “I am grateful you’vechanneled my grace My Kingdom for you is prepared…
“For when I was famished, you prepped me a plate When parched, you then poured me a glass Unknown, you gave welcome e’en when it was late All tattered, you bought me new slacks When lacking in health, you gave all for my healing And reeling in jail, you reached out”
I asked Him, while basking in love without measure “Sir, wherein and wherefore for you did I care? Just when did I see you, in work or in leisure? And whithersoever’d I serve you?”
“Yes, first I’d be grateful to know…
“When did I see You unfed; undernourished?”
With flourishing smile, He said…
“You fed me with gift cards to famishing fam’lies With snackbars for panhandlers straight from your car And cases of canned goods you’d cart to those pantries With funding you’d send near and far”
“And when did I see You unquenched or unwatered?”
With unfalt’ring joy, the Kingmentioned…
“My thirst you subverted with milk for your young Lemonade for your spouse while he cleaned out the stables With tea for those veterans, those heroes unsung And warm-ups while waiting on tables”
“And when did I see You unhailed or unknown?”
With cheer from His throne, He regaled…
“When aiding the migrants, the pre-born, the trafficked And desperate refugees spared from near death Supporting hurt vets, you disabled my sadness Your foster care spared me from meth”
“And when did I serve You unclothed or unwarm?”
With zeal like a storm, He disclosed…
“By purchasing work boots your friend couldn’t afford Crocheting bright hats for those neighbors in need By skipping the bar to give more to the poor And serving at S.V.D.P.” *
“And when did I see You uncared for; unwell?”
Then swelling with joy, He declared…
“Distressed with dementia, you’d answer my queries Over and over and over again When sick, you would visit; we’d watch that fun series Post-relapse, you sponsored Me, friend”
I begged, “Oh my King, I have just one more plea…
“When did I see You unfree, stuck in jail?”
His tale, with eyes beaming, I heeded…
“When thrown in the clink, you assailed me with visits Enduring with love countless forms; safety quizzes The darkness gave way to the faith you awakened Your calls proved I wasn’t forsaken”
Before I woke up, I spoke upone last time
“You’ve told me the ‘when’, Sir, but how ’bout the ‘how’?”
“Just how was I able to see You unfed? Unquenched and unwatered? Unknown and unhailed? And how could I notice you naked; unwarm? Unwell and unfree, stuck in jail?”
Undignified-like, the King sprang to His feet
And sang with elation, arms widening
“The ‘breaking of bread’ drew your eyes to My Host Exposing my face all around you Of the care you bestowed on so many, I’ll boast Through prayer, streams of love would surround you
“So enter My Kingdom made ready Already within you it’s bursting Long hence, you made room Your own gloom reversing Rehearsing for living and loving post-hearse
In My last-are-first
Lost-and-found
Least-of-these
Upside-down
Kingdom” ** *****
Matthew 25:31 (NIV) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’”
*St. Vincent de Paul Society
**Matthew 21:31: “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”
NB. Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen said that at the judgment before our Lord we will be disappointed with ourselves but also surprised at how much we have loved Him!
The strokes of these rough stanzas A mysterious face will paint Some star of bygone fandom? Some lunatic, yet saint?
Some hero of the Nobel Prize? A man you’d hope to meet? A myth whose magic never dies? A legend ever sweet?
Or One whose mocked, so-seemed defeat Unlocked the skies?
The “Man”…
A “judge not” kind of man who preached That heaven’s way is mercy? Or… The Way to heaven’s mercy, and Of every man, the Judge?
A holy “prophet” with the goal Of bringing princedoms peace? Or… The “Prince of Peace” and holiness The goal of all prophets?
A “nice guy” scorning Roman rule Who failed to get his point across? Yet…. Cruel Cross and pointed nails Weren’t Roman scorn for “nice guys”
The “Myth”…
A “myth” fulfilling Marxist fears As “opium of the masses”? Or… The Master of all hopes; all fears Fulfilling ancient myths? (3)
Is “Christ” a cry for pains and wounds? For messes, a mere curse word? Or… The Word-made-curse Who solved our mess By wounds and cries to heaven? (1)
The “Legend”…
A “teacher” about life and death Who saved surprising truths? Or… The Truth, Whose death-to-life surprise Still saves, gives life, and teaches?
A lie the early Jews would preach To gain a name and glory? Or… The glorious Name for gain of Whom They’d choose to preach and die? (2)
A would-be “king” reflecting love And light, like many others? Or… An otherworldly “Kindly Light” (4) And King of love, Whose subjectsnow Unveil… And reflect… God’s here-yet-also-up-and-coming Kingdom? ***** (1) St. Paul: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13)
(2) St. Leo the Great: “‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ Is it possible to offer, or even to imagine, a purer kind of prayer than that which shows mercy to one’s torturers by making intercession for them? It was thanks to this kind of prayer that the frenzied persecutors who shed the blood of our Redeemer drank it afterward in faith and proclaimed him to be the Son of God.” (From the Moral Reflections on Job)
CS Lewis: “Now the story of Christ is simply a true myth: a myth working on us in the same way as the others, but with this tremendous difference that it really happened: and one must be content to accept it in the same way, remembering that it is God’s myth where the others are men’s myths: i.e. the Pagan stories are God expressing Himself through the minds of poets, using such images as He found there, while Christianity is God expressing Himself through what we call ‘real things’. Therefore it is true, not in the sense of being a ‘description’ of God (that no finite mind could take in) but in the sense of being the way in which God chooses to (or can) appear to our faculties. The ‘doctrines’ we get out of the true myth are of course less true: they are the translations into our concepts and ideas of that which God has already expressed in a language more adequate, namely the actual incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. Does this amount to a belief in Christianity? At any rate I am now certain (a) That this Christian story is to be approached, in a sense, as I approach other myths. (b) That it is the most important and full of meaning. I am also nearly certain that it really happened….” (letter to Arthur Greeves: from The Kilns [on his conversion to Christianity], 18 October 1931)
Rhymes for the Rejoiceful 