(Title is a quote from An Essay on Criticism by English poet Alexander Pope)
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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
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*attributed to M.K. Ghandi, although not exact words
My plans are too often disrupted I’ll choose then to be interrupted I’ll hoist up in prayer Each day this bold choice Then joy will cascade uncorrupted
Surprises, each day guarantees (Old Murphy’s most mischievous deeds) When prior they’re welcomed Not curveball, nor fire Will ire or pilfer my peace
Each monkey wrench tossed in my face Invites me the cross to embrace These tiny denials And trials without whining Refine my rough ego with grace
Bear fruit from intrusions: pre-choose ’em!
As a Friend once pre-chose to give all
When plans areall dashed
With mayhem ensuing
That Friend will intrude with His peace unsurpassed
With His laugh that disrupts and His look that will crush all your brooding
***
In his book Interior Freedom, Fr. Jacques Philippe uses the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux to explain the freedom available when we are interrupted. He says of Thérèse: “[St. Thérèse] did not like having her work interrupted. Sometimes she was asked to do work requiring quite a lot of concentration … [but] the schedule of the Carmelite community was so intense that she had very little time at her disposal. When she finally found an hour or two to devote to the job, she applied herself in the following spirit: ‘I choose to be interrupted.’ If a good Sister then came by to ask her for some little service, instead of coldly sending her away Thérèse made the effort to accept the interruption with good grace. And if nobody interrupted her, she considered that a charming present from her loving God and was very grateful to him.” -Interior Freedom, 56
Ocean dip or kiddie pool? Beach or box of dirt? Lazyboy or shaky stool? Christmas presents cool… Or school shirt?
Noonday sun or candle flame? Chess or Tic-Tac-Toe? Honey pure or aspartame? Roses fresh cut for yourdame… Or plainly faux?
Forty winks or feline nap? Crème brûlée or mud pie? National Park or tourist trap? By arms and robes enwrapped... Or trapped in pigsty?*
Tie the knot or dare not try? Crown that lasts or laurels? Seek a friend, or cold A.I.? Trusting Him Who died to rise Or ego-caught… A lot afraid… Until that daythe farm’s bought?
***
*Luke 15
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.” -C.S. Lewis
“A house divided ‘gainst itself Can’t stand” is said by many Who said it first? Abe Lincoln? Or That “President”… Whose “term” is neverending (Mt 12:25)
Big Arnold’s “I’ll be back!” is quoted Lots by funny guys And long ago, One promised that “They’ll kill Him; and In three days He will rise” (Mk 9:31)
“Son, with great pow’r comes great Responsibility” said Uncle Ben A paraphrase to Peter of “To whom is given much Is much required, then” (Lk 12:48)
“There’s no place like home!” was spoken By a girl with longing face Recalling wohopin’ “My Father’s Home Has many dwelling places” (Jn 14:2)
The title “greatest in the world” Is claimed by only some Augustus, Trajan, Genghis Kahn Yet once a Rabbi dared to claim “The world I’ve overcome” (Jn 16:33)
D’you think that quote, “to find yourself Is to lose yourself” sounds squalid? This Gandhi quote falls short of Christ’s: “Who’d lose their life For Me, will find it” solid (Mt 16:25)
That golden “Love your neighbor” phrase Has gotten massive cover Yet Christ commands a greater rule “As I’ve loved you So you must love each other” (Jn 13:34)
By many tongues His words resound Like, “Turn the other cheek” “No greater love”; “Be not afraid” “Ask and you’ll receive”…
Inspired by and quoting the poem Pike’s Peak, later lyrics for the song America the Beautiful, by Katharine Lee Bates (1893)
“O beautiful for spacious skies”, America! we sing Directing thanks and songs towards The One Who grants this land’s rewards All spacious, amber, purple, fruited, shining things! Glad offerings Which beauty’s Source affords
“O beautiful for pilgrim feet”, America! we see Discov’ring that those feet and drums That beat the streets to save us from All tyrants glum, were guided by The One unseen Who sets us free As freedom’s Source and Sum
“O beautiful for heroes proved”, America! we hail Yet hailing most Whose words enthrall: “No greater love” than to give one’s all (Jn. 15:13) Who urges each To let His fire refine their gold When courage fails As valor’s Source and Call
“O beautiful for patriot dream”, America! we praise Yet praising most Who shares our tears As we beat pruning hooks to spears (Is. 2:4)
To grow in one’s heart, these diseases require A grim precondition, a foundation dire Identity error, confusion, or mix-up Believing untruths about self! What’s the fix-up?
The “father of lies” spews a million deceptions Apparently harmless, but Trojan inceptions “You are what you do”, “what you think”, “say”, or “feel” “Define your reality”; “Who knows what’s real?”
What antidote is there, or immunization? The answer is found in divine revelation Identity truth heals identity error Truth captured in titles from heaven’s Truth Bearer
The Christ! He not only reveals God to us But also reveals who WE are; that’s His aim(1) A human like us in all things but sin’s fuss He teaches us WHO we are through truthful names
These titles, if taken like pills from a doc Declared every morning, indeed, round the clock Are known to bring healing and peaceful relief As antidotes strong to the lies of the “thief” (John 10:10)
If taught in your childhood, these titles might stay In only your mind, if with them you don’t pray Ask God, “Plant Your names for me deep in my heart As seeds to sprout peace and make lies to depart”
The Lord calls you “Chosen One”, “Crown”, “My Redeemed” “Delight”, “Oak of Righteousness”, “Apple of [My] Eye” So let “God-esteem” be your true self-esteem To prove your own worth, you need not! Please don’t try
God’s own Son names you “Light of the World”, “Friend”, and “Bride” Your identity bought on the Cross when He died In the Baptism Font, God forever defines you His “Child”! From the enemy’s lies, He unblinds you
Your identity comes as a gift from above So relax! You’re a “son” or a “daughter” belov’d All one’s skills or tattoos(2) can’t define WHO one is Rather, WHOSE does! Declare: “He is mine; I am His” (Song of Songs 2:16)
…Better yet, hear Him say in your heart, “You are mine”(3) (Isaiah 43:1)
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(1) Pope John Paul II, Angelus, December 15, 1996
(2) I’m not suggesting that this is the motive everyone has for getting a tattoo
(3) Full verse: “Thus says the Lord, he who created you…: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.‘”
Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see AND Be Careful Little Mind What You Think There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love So “put on the mind Christ”, with Him sync (Phil. 2:5)
Oh Lord, You said, “One day, all that is hidden will be known” (Luke 8:17) So keep me mindful of my thoughts, which all will see that day “The Lord sees not as people see”, who glimpse just what is shown (1 Sam 16:7) For “God sees in the heart”! Lord, guard my every thought I pray
(Note- contains what you might call theological speculation)
*****
Each time I think an unkind thought ’bout someone in the street I look to his own future self outside of space and time And ask him to forgive me, hoping one day him to meet To share with him the Bridegroom’s wine
Bright as the sun, we’ll shine
When tempting thoughts invade my mind about some lovely dame I turn to her designer, God, who made and knows her well And pray, “Your masterpiece!” to nip the bud of sinful shame Then with a laugh the snake I tell,
“Nice try, now go to hell!”
But if I fall into his trap; abuse my mind through lust I turn toward her future self beyond all space and time And beg, “Forgive me!” Then I say the same to God with trust He shows me mercy seven times seven
He fast forgets my crime
Each Mass we pray the “I confess” to God and friends on earth And asking friends in heav’n to intercede for us with God Including all who’ll later die, washed clean in Christ’s own Blood To tread the narrow path to heaven
The Barque of Mother Church has weathered storms throughout the ages
Her wisdom grows each passing year through Christ-like saints and sages
Who contemplate her Founder’s Words upon red-lettered pages
Including words some list’ners- then and now- have found outrageous
*
“Eat my Flesh and drink my Blood and you’ll have life unending”
“This is my Body” and “my Blood”- Christ changed the bread and wine
Into His very Presence at that Supper- His Heart rending
And poured out His own Blood that we might with His presence shine
* Christ offers lovers of His Heart His Presence at each Mass And afterwards He stays with us, the tabernacle’s Guest If scandals make you question, “Should I leave?” Recall our anchor: The Eucharist! He’s there for us whenever we’re distressed
Christ Je-sus heals-
The young man’s blind eyes
To let- him gaze-
Into HIS own eyes
The Sa-vior heals-
OUR spiritual sight
To let- us see-
His bright guiding light
Messi-ah heals-
Our blind eyes to roam
This earth-
In light of our heavenly home
And time-
In light of eternity-
Our lives-
In light of our destiny-
When I- was young-
Christ mudded my eyes
He smeared- it well-
And told me to rise
I washed- and SAW-
“But when?” you might say
He healed- my sight-
At baptism day
(Inspired by comment on John 9:3 in Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, RSV, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatian Press, 2010
Rhymes for the Rejoiceful 