THE LORD SPOKE TO THE RAVENS

 

"Then the Word of the LORD came to Elijah. "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there."

So he did with the LORD told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook." [1 Kings 17:2-6]

The ravens brought him bread

Upon the lonely mountain side,
Where shadowed cliffs and dark caves hide;
The prophet rested, worn and weak,
With hollow heart and parchéd cheek.

Beside the brook in Kerith vale,
Where desert winds and shadows pale
Didst sweep across the rugged stone -
Elijah thought himself alone.

Yet God Who formed the earth and sky,
Who hears the smallest sparrow cry -
Spoke softly through the morning air
To creatures of His tender care.

The ravens heard the Lord Most High,
Who guides the eagle when to fly;
They searched the villages around,
Till bread for Elijah they had found.

At break of dawn their wings took flight,
Again they came by fading light;
With morsels borne in beaks so small,
Obeying faithfully God’s own call.

The brook flowed cool beside the cave,
A quiet stream God kindly gave;
Each drop a whisper from above:
“I keep thee in My watchful love.”

O why then do our hearts despair,
And tremble underneath life’s care?
Why fear tomorrow’s unknown way,
When God sustains both night and day?

The Lord Who taught the birds to feed,
Knows every sorrow, want, and need;
The One Who clothed the lilies fair,
Still watches all with patient care.

He speaks to all who live on earth,
All creatures whom His Word gave birth;
Forests, oceans, stars above,
All move according to His Love.

Yet we, who share this world so bright,
Too often wound instead of light;
We scorn the creatures by our side,
Though all in God’s own Hand abide.

The lamb, the raven, deer, and dove,
Were fashioned by the God of Love;
Our neighbours all beneath the sun
Belong unto the Holy One.

Then let us trust as Elijah did,
When all the world from sight was hid;
For even in the darkest cave,
The Lord remembers still to save.

When our hearts grow faint with fear,
May Heaven’s gentle Voice draw near:
“The God Who fed the ravens then,
Will surely care for thee again.”

The poem was inspired by 1 Kings 17:2-26

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Prophet and the Ravens" 

WHEN THE BOOK OF MY LIFE IS OPENED

 

When the book of my life is opened

One day there will be a reckoning, when all our days are told,
When every hidden thought is known, when time itself unfold;
Each of us shall stand there, before the judgment Throne,
Before the gaze of Christ our Lord, no merit of our own.

He will ask with piercing light, yet mercy in His Tone,
“What did you do with My Word, the seed that I have sown?
Were you faithful to My teaching, your footsteps true and right?
Or did you turn away from Me, and wander from My Light?”

I may answer, truthfully, “Lord, my life book has seen blot;
I sinned in word and silence, oft the better path forgot;
I hurt others, I did falter; I failed in love and deed,
And often acted blindly, unperceiving others’ need.

Yet through it all, I sought You; though stumbling on my way.
I tried to rise when fallen, to begin anew each day.
When I looked upon You, Lord, upon the Cross You bore,
I found the strength to stand again, when I could stand no more.

For even as You fell for me, beneath that heavy wood,
My heart was strangely lifted up to choose what once I should;
And so I learned in weakness, in sorrow and in pain,
That falling is not final when Your Mercy lifts again.

Yes, my book was marked and written. with faults beyond deny -
There were times I turned away, compassion passed me by;
There were moments I grew silent. when I should have stood for right,
When others’ pain lay open, and I failed them in their plight.

Yet still Your Mercy softened me, like rain upon dry ground,
In cracks of brokenness, Your healing Grace I found;
Slowly, imperfectly, I learned to love and give,
In Your Word and Sacrament, I learned again to live.

Oh, dear Lord, I cast myself, upon Your Mercy's Flame,
No great holiness of mind and soul, are ever mine to claim.
I only ask that when You look into this heart of mine,
You see the work of Your own Hand; and faintest trace of Thine.

Though my book is written in with pages stained and worn,
Still let Your Mercy gather what in love was truly born.
Let Your gentle hands, O Saviour, sift the gold from all my clay;
Please keep what was of You in me -  let the rest all pass away.

Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle "Devotion before Royal Throne"

                                                               ********************

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

"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

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