Matthew plays the role of the whole human race;
Coelius Sedulius |
Matthew plays the role of the whole human race;
Coelius Sedulius |
2 Timothy 2:23-24
"But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments, you know that they end up in quarrels. As the Lord's servant, you must not quarrel."
"We do not like to hear the phrase "be patient!" in a world in which being active or achieving is seen as an absolute value. We tend to think that being patient means being passive, doing nothing. But patience can be a very active way of being, which allows us to live in and see the beauty of this moment.
"The modern-day spiritual teacher, Eckhart Tolle, captures this well when he writes: "In today's rush we all think too much, seek too much, want too much and forget about the joy of just being."
The Prophet Habakkuk "slowly learns to allow things to unfold in their own time. He is taught to be patient.
"Patience means to wait, hold back and allow things to unfold. We often want to complete what we are doing. We want to move on and tackle the next task. We hold onto the false notion that getting things done proves we are somehow valuable and worthwhile.
"When we live like this, we can so easily miss the beauty of the moment . . .
"We lose a moment in time, a part of our lives that can never be repeated because once it is past, it is gone.
"When we are impatient, we stand the chance of losing our very selves.
"Today, can you practice living in the beauty of the moment? Like the Prophet Habakkuk, what do you need to let go of for things to unfold in their own time?"
Excerpts from "It will not fail but will be fulfilled in due time. If it delays, wait for it", Jesuit Institute Reflection 29 September 2020, by Fr Russell Pollitt, SJ.
With thanks to Reflections Archives, www.jesuitinstitute.org.za
Lilies - with thanks to free clipart
Creation - and the Spirit of God danced over the face of the waters . . . (Genesis 1:2)
The Angels dance
at my feet
Saith the Lord;
These great Mighty Spirits
Like wafts of wind
from the mountain-tops,
sparkle across the universe near my feet
In rainbowchequered colours of love,
hymn, worship, honour, praise
In an ecstasy of love and bliss
and pouring out of spirit before me,
enfolding me, enwrapping me,
turning me, enchanting me
Casting handfuls of stars throughout eternity and
The misty darkness and the radiating lightfulness
of the universe in a cascade of goldenshower
and praise, mighty beings in ecstasy of
lovingprayer and praise and mindfulworship
of love and the song and hymn
of its beauty and enchantingmysteriousness
is joyous in my sight,
Saith the Lord.
My mystics bow and dance, and sing, and hum,
and turn in chiffonsilks of golden prayer and praise
before me, and anchoresses and anchorites
and writers and gospel-authors and musicians
and pray-ers and theologians and Mass-
celebrators and carpenters and cobblers and
jugglers and nurses and doctors and
poets and orchestra-players and barrow-owners
and orangesellers and veterinarians
dance before my feet,
Saith the Lord.
And as my Mighty Lord says this to me
In splendour and wonder and delight and love and
happiness I see the whole universe begin to
gyrate and turn, and twist, and revolve in
dark and showerstarred light.
And I whirl before the place of my Lord,
Softly; softly; all falls quiet
And the universe settles
And the beings silence
And I dance; dance; oh, I dance and
I sing before my Lord.
And He smiles,
face of joy,
as I dance in spirit and
the love of God twists and turns in mighty
songs of light and vapours of love and
beauty of soul.
God the Almighty is One.
And at the end
He - my mighty Lord -
turns His Hands,
and begins to dance,
The dance of His creation.
And, as He dances
We - his created -
rejoice at the beauty, and the joy
and the innocence of it all -
The innocence of my Lord.
The Angels dance
before my feet -
Saith the Lord.
Catherine Nicolette Whittle
With sinking hearts and minds disturbed and sad,
They follow the rough crowd along the road,
They see the mocking soldiers, priests and guards,
They see the Master with His heavy load,
A yearning tugs their hearts, "What can we do?"
For priestly power yields naught but pain and loss
Yet clinging to vain hope, they follow still -
Those brave and faithful women of the Cross.
And even when their feeblest hope is dead,
The temple veil is rent, His Spirit gone.
And all seems dark, the Master's tomb is sealed
And doubly watched - their glorious faith lives on.
They take their herbs, His Body to embalm,
Roll back the stone! The stone that speaks of doom,
But Mary hears a voice - the living Christ
Has justified the women at the tomb.
And so throughout the passing of the years
Has God been speaking oft to womankind,
And by a mother's word - a mother's love
Has saved some wand'ring soul to sin resigned;
And many Marys and their sisters true
Have, through a ministry of love outpoured,
Been faithful to those brave and saintly few
And proved themselves true women of the Lord.
Douglas Blain
Faith for Daily Living, Number 491 - March/April 2019, Page 3
From"The Cross in Poetry and Prayer" ed. A.C. Blain
"It has been a long day. Jerusalem is packed with Passover guests.
The disciples enter, one by one, and take their places around the table. On the wall hangs a towel. And on the floor sits a pitcher and a basin. Any one of the disciples could volunteer for the job, but not one does.
After a few moments, Jesus stands and removes His outer cloak. He wraps a servant's girdle around His Waist, takes up the basin and kneels before one of the disciples. He unlaces a sandal and gently lifts the foot and places it in the basin, covers it with water, and begins to bathe it. One by one, one grimy foot after another, Jesus works His way down the row.
I looked for a Bible translation that reads, "Jesus washed all the disciples' feet except the feet of Judas", but I couldn't find one. What a passionate moment when Jesus lifts the feet of His betrayer and washes them in the basin! Within hours the feet of Judas, cleansed by the kindness of the One he will betray, will stand in Caiaphas' court.
Behold the gift Jesus gives His followers! By morning they will bury their heads in shame and look down at their feet in disgust. And when they do, He wants them to remember how His Knees knelt before them and He washed their feet. He wants them to realize those feet are still clean. 'You don't understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later" (Jn 13:7).
Remarkable. He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it."
Max Lucado.
From "Faith for Daily Living", Number 491 - March/April 2019 Page 2. (Reproduced from The Messenger, St John's United Church, Pietermaritzburg)
"Breathe in the life of God by praying."
Lesli Anderson (Minnesota)
From "Upper Room Daily devotional guide May - June 2006" page 31
Jesus is our faithful Friend. We will never find anyone more committed to us, more willing for us to succeed, and more able to help us become all that we are capable of being.
As we fellowship with Him, our lives embrace a richness and depth that encourages us to live lives worthy of the servants and friends of the King."
Lynette Douglas. My Little Book about JESUS, 2005. Christian Art Gifts RSA. Page 83
"I no longer call you servants,
because a servant does not know
his master's business.
Instead, I have called you friends,
for everything that I learned
from My Father I
have made known to you."
- John 15:15 -
"When Jesus came to live on earth He brought a new dawn - the dawn of a day that will never end and will always be flooded with the Light of the radiant Presence of God. He brought the Light of God's eternal day into the world that was covered by the darkness of sin.
When Jesus rose as the Sun of Righteousness in our midst, He brought with Him health and healing and all that is needed for us to live in the Light of God. He revives us, as a man is revived when he sees the sun rising after a long, dark night.
When His light dawns in our lives, we are refreshed and renewed, and we find strength to face each day."
Lynette Douglas. My Little Book about JESUS, 2005. Christian Art Gifts RSA. Page 103
"I, Jesus, have sent
my angel to give you
this testimony for the churches.
I am the Root and
the Offspring of David,
and the bright Morning Star."
- Revelation 22:16 -
"Let any praise of my humble person be expressed in the words of the Pontificale only, 'constant in faith, pure in affection and sincere in my love of peace.' May my feet be 'swift to spread peace and the good things of God.'
May my ministry be one of reconciliation 'in word and deeds', and my preaching 'not in the persuasive words of human wisdom but in the manifestation of the Spirit and power' and the authority conferred on me by the Church never used for my own glory - used not to break down but to build up."
Pope John XXIII. Journal of a Soul. Page 267
"A day of wonderful sunshine! The sparrows are chirping in the warm air. It is a delight to hear them, and the song of the bells of St. Peter's."
Pope John XXIII, Journal of a Soul
"If you were not afraid, what value would there be in your courage?"
The Little World of Don Camillo
"When they bring you to trial, do not worry about what you are going to say or how you will say it; when the time comes, you will be given what you will say." Jesus Christ
(Matthew 10:19)
"The world needs strong, courageous people with a spirit of generosity and inner security able to model to others these attributes." - Heidi Kyle
(Readers Comments, Heidi Kyle, Wednesday March 31, 2021, page 42, International Express)
"Certainly
there is nothing wrong
with speaking one's mind
at the appropriate moment,
but always with respect -
and a bit of humor,
so that no one feels hurt."
Saint John XXIII
"In dealing with others:
always maintain
dignity, simplicity,
graciousness - a calm,
cheerful graciousness."
Saint John XXIII
"Deploring evil is a disheartening task,
and mere opposition to it will not make
it go away. We must set our will against
it and apply some energy to doing
something about it.
We must proclaim goodness to the world,
so that it can spread everywhere and in
every possible way permeate individual
lives and the entire community."
Saint John XXIII
"The world is poisoned by the
unhealthy nationalism of blood
and race, which stands in opposition
to the gospel ... our Savior died
for all nations, without distinction
of race and blood; He has become
the elder brother in the new human
family founded on Him and His gospel."
Saint John XXIII
"Overlook Much, Correct a Little. 99 Sayings by John XXIII", Page 30
"If God is our Father,
then it follows that we all are
brothers and sisters
to one another."
Saint John XXIII
Never mind when your life appears to be unsuccessful. Under God's blessing, your efforts will one day rise again like a phoenix from the ashes, like a portal of God from the depths.