WHEN THE WORD ASKS US

 

"One day, there will be a reckoning. Jesus will ask us, what did we do with His Word in our lives?"

                                                                  Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson

Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland

When the Word asks us

When all is stilled at journey’s end,
And earth no longer claims as friend;
When time gives way to endless day,
As all our deeds stand clear as clay.

Before the Throne where silence burns,
As every heart at truth-table turns;
We hear a Voice both just and kind,
That searches every soul and mind.

“What did you do with Word I gave,
The light I sent, the power to save?
Did you receive, did you abide,
Or let it lie there cast aside?”

For not in dust upon a shelf,
Nor words admired but kept for self;
Does living truth traverse earth's breadth,
But in true witness of devotion-depth.

So let us read and let us pray,
While we walk the narrow Way;
Not hearers only, but made whole,
God's Word engraved upon our soul.

Let us the Word of Life embrace,
To mirror Christ in every place;
That others, thirsting, might be fed
With Living Waters Christ has shed.

Until the ends of all the earth
Have known the Saviour’s costly worth,
And everyone in every land
Has honoured God's most loving Hand.

Lest we arrive at that great Throne,
To shamed stand silent, much to atone;
May joy be found in what we’ve done:
“My child, you lived the Word - well done.”

Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle "Judgement"

THE KINGDOM GROWS IN SILENCE - SONG

 

The Kingdom Grows in Silence

From but a mustard seed so small,
God’s Kingdom once was sown;
A tender shoot through earth arose,
By grace and mercy grown.

Though hidden first from human eyes,
Its roots spread deep and wide;
And weary souls from every land,
Found shelter there to bide.

The birds of air came seeking rest
Within the branches broad;
The weary burdened found their peace,
Beneath the tree of God.

As leaven hidden in the bread,
Moves softly through the whole;
So does Christ’s Mercy gently work,
Within the seeking soul.

No trumpet sound, no worldly throne,
No pride nor earthly fame;
Yet hearts are changed and lives renewed
Through calling on His Name.

So let us walk with humble love,
And ease each other’s strain;
While God doth raise the smallest seed,
To bless our earth again.

Lord, make Thy Church a living tree,
Whose branches open wide;
That all who seek may find true rest
And safely there abide.

Till all creation comes to know,
The peace Thy mercies bring;
And every heart in every land,
Rejoice that Christ is King.

This song may be sung to the public domain tune of "Amazing Grace," whose reflective and prayerful melody beautifully suits the spirit of the Parables of the Leaven and Mustard seed. To be in the public domain, means that it can be used freely without permission.

This hymn was inspired by the writing of GMA Jansen (Fr Norbert OP), page 15 of Pro Veritate Volume V No. 12. Baptism and Co-Existence. 15 April 1967

If you wish to know more about the article "Baptism and Co-Existence," please click in the following link:

https://sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/archive-files/PvApr67.pdf

With thanks to sahistory.org.za

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Divine Blessing" 

SAINT ATHENAGORAS OF ATHENS - SONG

 

Saint Athenagoras of Athens

In ages dim of ancient days,
When fear opposed the Christian ways,
There rose a voice so calm and wise,
With mercy shining through his eyes.
Saint Athenagoras stood near,
To speak sweet truth when hearts knew fear;
With patient word and gentle art,
He brought God’s Light to mind and heart.

He answered not with wrathful flame,
Nor sought for gold or earthly fame;
But through the wisdom God had given,
He turned men's thoughts from earth to Heaven.
He taught that life is sacred still,
Not ours to wound by cruel will;
For every soul bears God above,
And each was fashioned by His Love.

He mourned the Cross on Calvary’s hill,
Where Christ fulfilled the Father’s Will;
The Holy Son of God was slain,
Yet rose to break the bonds of pain.
O saint of Athens, pure and mild,
You showed the Face of God’s dear Child;
The loving Lord whose mercies' breadth,
Outshine the sword and conquer death.

Through writings filled with grace and peace,
You taught that hatred too may cease;
That gentle truth and reason fair,
Can lift the soul from deep despair.
And now, dear saint, for us entreat,
That Christ may guide our wandering feet;
That we may take life’s pen each day,
And write God’s Truth along our way.

Within the parchment of the soul,
May Christ the King become the whole;
That all we think and say and do,
May bear His gentle Light anew.
Then when our earthly race is trod,
And we ascend to Heaven and God,
May you behold with joyful gaze
The fruits of faithful Christian ways.

May you then know us there above
By mercy, gentleness, and love;
For in our hearts Christ’s Voice shall ring  -
The Truth you served while witnessing.

This song may be sung to the public domain tune of “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” (also known as the Passion Chorale), which carries a solemn and devotional beauty fitting for Saint Athenagoras of Athens.

This song was inspired by the life and works of Saint Athenagoras.

CHURCH FATHERS: A Plea for the Christians

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0205.htm

With thanks to newadvent.org

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Divine Light shines upon Saint Athenagoras"

UPON THE PARCHMENT OF THE SOUL - SAINT ATHENAGORAS

 

SAINT ATHENAGORAS (133 - 190ce)

“We Christians cannot endure to see a man being put to death, even justly." 

Early Church Father

Holy Athenagoras was an Anti-Nicene early Church Father. He was a Greek philosopher and apologist who lived during the second century CE. Saint Athenagoras was Athenian (though possibly not from Athens), and converted to Christianity. This early Church Father wrote influential works about Christianity. 

  

Upon the parchment of the soul

In ages dim of ancient days,
Where conflict rose round Christian ways,
There rose a voice both calm and wise,
With mercy shining from his eyes.

Saint Athenagoras stood strong,
He spoke when others queried long;
With gentle word and patient tone,
He made sweet Truth and Love be known.

The Saint did not answer hate with flame,
Nor seek for glory, gold, or fame;
But carefully, with thoughtful art,
He spoke to mind and human heart.

He taught that life is sacred still,
Not ours to wound by wrathful will;
For every soul by God was made,
And bears His Image full displayed.

He mourned the Cross on Calvary’s height,
Where Christ was slain though pure and bright;
The Son of God this dread trial o'erwon,
To save each daughter and each son.

O blessed saint of Athens fair,
You answered harshness not with snare;
But with the light of reason true,
With words that breathe like early dew.

Through all your writings clear and mild,
We see the Face of God’s dear Child;
The merciful and loving Lord,
Whose Heart shines brighter than the sword.

Prithee, dear saint, that we may learn,
For Christ alone our hearts to burn;
That we take life's pen each day,
To write God’s Truth along our way.

Within the parchment of our soul,
May Christ the King become the whole;
That all we think and say and do,
May bear His gentle Light anew.

When at last our race is trod,
And we ascend to Heaven and our God,
May you behold with joyful eye,
The faith for which you made reply.

May you know us there above,
By mercy, gentleness, and love;
For in our hearts Christ’s Voice shall ring -
The Truth you served while witnessing.

Early Church Father - St Athenagoras; What Christians cannot endure . . .

https://churchinterfaith.blogspot.com/2026/05/early-church-father-saint-athenagoras.html

CHURCH FATHERS: A Plea for the Christians

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0205.htm

Poem inspired by the historical life and works of St Athenagoras

With thanks to newadvent.org

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Saint Athenagoras in heavenly light"

LOVE UNTOLD

"True love involves vulnerability."

                   Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson

Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland

Love untold

When two souls meet and truly see,
A quiet truth in dignity;
No trumpet sounds, no grand display -
Yet God is near in that still way.

A glance that lingers, soft and deep,
A vow unspoken both hearts keep;
In eyes that shine with gentle light,
Love’s sacred flame is born in sight.

And God, who formed each tender heart,
Beholds their union from the start;
He blesses love both pure and true,
When one lives more for thou than “you.”

Yet love is not a path of ease,
Nor always filled with joys that please;
For woven through its golden thread
Are trials where tears are quietly shed.

To love is risk, to trust, to give,
To place one’s heart in how two live;
Each soul laid bare, each weakness known,
No longer walking life alone.

At times the road grows steep and long,
And burdens test the faithful strong;
Yet hand in hand, through dark or day,
God grants the grace to find the way.

In every trial, a chance to grow,
In every pain, His mercies flow;
To learn of Him, of self, of grace,
Reflected in the other’s face.

For love that seeks the other’s good,
And serves as Christ has always stood;
Will rise above the selfish thought,
And bloom more bright by true support.

So step by step, though skies may dim,
Their journey draws them nearer Him;
While hearts once joined in earthly love,
Are led at last to Heaven above.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Divine Blessing on love" 

Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon

CHRIST-BRIDGE BETWEEN GOD AND WORLD

 

"Advent speaks of God's Plan of restoration, to bring His people back to Him."

                                                                  Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson

Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland

Christ-Bridge between God and world

Advent is the dawn of God’s restoring plan,
The healing of creation, the heart of God and man;
For heaven once was shuttered, its bright gates sealed in night,
But Love Himself has opened them in Mercy, Truth, and Light.

The bond once torn asunder, when humankind fell away,
Is gently being mended in the promise of this day;
For God does not abandon the work His Hands have made -
He enters into darkness, that none of us be strayed.

A Child is born in stillness, in poverty and mild,
The Infinite made humble, the everlasting Child;
In Mary’s arms He rests there, in Joseph’s faithful care,
The Maker of all heavens now breathing earthly air.

In that quiet dwelling, a mystery takes its form -
The bridge between all brokenness, our shelter in the storm;
For Christ is God among us, the path we must obey,
The living way to Heaven which clearly shows the way.

Yet still the ancient battle resounds through time and space,
As pride and shadow struggle against this gift of grace;
For satan and his legions would keep us far apart,
Yet Christ has come to conquer them with meek and pierced Heart.

The war is not yet ended, but victory is assured,
For every word God speaks is forevermore secured;
History bends forward to the day all things are healed,
When God will reign in fullness and everyone has kneeled. 

So Advent is our waiting, but also our surcease -
The promise of restoration, the dawning of His peace;
For we are God’s own people, though still we have travail,
He has come to find us, His grace will give avail.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle "Advent journey under starlight" 

Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon

CHRIST-MEANING OF OUR LIVES

 

"Jesus comes to bring meaning to our lives."

                                       Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson

Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland

Christ-Meaning of our lives

Jesus comes to walk our earth, to fill our days with light,
To give a weary world again its purpose, pure and right;
He enters in our silence, our sorrow and our strain,
And turns the weight of aching hearts to hope and love again.

Christ gives a name to teardrops that fall unseen and slow,
He speaks into our darkness a peace the world can know;
Where fear once held its shadow and doubt would claim its place,
He brings gentle assurance of His redeeming grace.

Christ breathes upon the broken, and life begins anew,
He calls the dead to rising with power Divine and true;
The blind behold His Glory, the sick are made to stand,
For healing flows like Mercy straight from His wounded Hand.

No day is lived in meaninglessness, no step without His plan,
For every soul is cherished within the heart of Man;
We rise not toward a voidness, but toward a promised home,
With Christ Himself beside us, we never walk alone.

The sacraments sustain us, like rivers full and deep,
Where grace becomes the water that wakes the soul from sleep;
In each sacred moment, we learn anew and see,
That Christ has loved us wholly, and loves us endlessly.

So we are not forgotten, nor drifting without end -
But pilgrims on a journey where heaven’s roads descend;
Each morning holds a calling, each evening finds its rest,
For every life is woven into God’s eternal quest.

All praise to Christ our Saviour, the living Lord above,
All praise to Him Who meets us with everlasting Love;
All praise to Christ our King of Light, whose Mercy makes us free,
For He has filled our lives with hope and joy, that we may holy be.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Advent journey under starlight" 

Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon