THE FOUR EVANGELISTS

 

Matthew plays the role of the whole human race; Mark roars like the loud voice of a lion through the wilderness; Luke holds the office of the priesthood with the face of an ox; Flying like an eagle, John reaches for the stars with his word Hoc Matthaeus agens hominem generaliter implet; Marcus ut alta fremit uox per deserta leonis; Iura sacerdotii Lucas tenet ore iuuenci; More uolans aquilae uerbo petit astra Iohannes. Coelius Sedulius

DO NOT ARGUE

 

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."

BE PATIENT

 

"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. 

“It will not fail but will be fulfilled in due time. If it delays, wait for it.” - Jesuit Institute South Africa

With thanks to Reflections Archives, www.jesuitinstitute.org.za

Lilies - with thanks to free clipart

THE ANGELS DANCE

 

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

                             

THE WOMEN AT CALVARY

 

Women prepare spices for Christ's burial

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

WITH TOWEL AND BASIN

 

"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)

JUST BREATHE

 

"Breathe in the life of God by praying."

Lesli Anderson (Minnesota)

From "Upper Room Daily devotional guide May - June 2006" page 31

 

                 The altar’s light

(Bl. John Henry Newman)“The foundations of the round world shake; but the altar’s light burns ever brighter.”

We may fear as the coronavirus takes its toll, wars and strife cause damage and death and every day is a challenge. But through it all, the light at the altar burns steadily on, reminding us that Jesus Christ within the Blessed Sacrament is there. God is still in control. Our destiny lies in heaven with Him. 

One day we will look back on all the turbulence and anxieties of this life as if at a dream. Did it really happen? It went by so swiftly.

So take heart! Look at the lamp at the altar and remember what it symbolizes! He is here among us, the Son of David, the King of the Universe.

Let nothing disturb us. Nada te turbe (St Teresa of Avila).

All shall be well. (Mystic Julian of Norwich)

We can depend on this.

Our salvation was won by the drops of blood from our Divine Saviour Who gave everything, even His own Life, for us.

With such a Saviour, who can fear?

If you have sin on your soul, just turn to Him and say sorry. Ask His forgiveness. Then go, and sin no more.

If you have anxiety, hand it to Jesus, ask Him to help you, and then go and rest.

If you have family who misbehave, place them under the protection of the Precious Saviour, His Mother Mary and His Foster-Father Joseph.

If you have no home, ask the Good Lord to help you find one.

If you have lost someone, pray for the repose of their soul and know that the Lord of infinite kindness and mercy WILL hear your prayer.

Be of good cheer. We will still win through . . . 

JESUS IS OUR FAITHFUL FRIEND

"Jesus does not distance Himself from His people. He is not unapproachable. He created us because He delights in our fellowship and He wants to be our Friend! He wants to be near us, and He wants us to love Him too.

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

FAITHFUL FRIEND

 

"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 -

MORNING STAR

 

"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

 "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 -

POPE JOHN XXIII: TO BE CONSTANT, PURE AND SINCERE

 

"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

POPE JOHN XXIII: A WONDERFUL DAY

 

"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

VALUE OF COURAGE

 

"If you were not afraid, what value would there be in your courage?"

                                                        The Little World of Don Camillo

DO NOT WORRY

 

"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)

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS - HEIDI KYLE

 

"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)

SAINT JOHN XXIII: SPEAKING ONE"S MIND

 

"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

SAINT JOHN XXIII: SEEK NOT TO KNOW WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG

 

"Seek not to know

who is right

and who is wrong. 

Instead, seek reconciliation."

                            Saint John XXIII

SAINT JOHN XXIII: MEEKNESS IS OUR STRENGTH

 "Meekness

is our strength.

It resolves every difficulty

and overcomes

every obstacle."

Saint John XXIII

SAINT JOHN XXIII: IN DEALING WITH OTHERS

 "In dealing with others:

always maintain

dignity, simplicity,

graciousness - a calm,

cheerful graciousness."

                Saint John XXIII

SAINT JOHN XXIII: DEPLORE EVIL AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

 "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

SAINT JOHN XXIII: BEFORE PASSING FINAL JUDGEMENT

 "Listen to the full story

before passing

final judgement."

    Saint John XXIII

SAINT JOHN XXIII: OUR SAVIOR DIED FOR ALL NATIONS

 

"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

SAINT JOHN XXIII : GOD OUR FATHER

 

"If God is our Father, 

then it follows that we all are

brothers and sisters

to one another."

Saint John XXIII

SAINT JOHN XXIII SPEAKS ABOUT A DAY WITHOUT PRAYER

 

"A day without prayer

is like a sky without the sun,

a garden without flowers."

                        Saint John XXIII

SAINT JOHN XXIII ON PRAYER

 

"Prayer

is like breathing. 

Our brief intercessions

should be beyond counting!"

                           Saint John XXIII

SAYING BY POPE JOHN XXIII

"See everything,

overlook much

correct a little."

        Saint John XXIII 

NEVER MIND WHEN YOUR LIFE APPEARS TO BE UNSUCCESSFUL

 

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.

BEHIND BARBED WIRE: DREAMING OF THE DAYS OF FREEDOM

 

Here I brood: dreaming of the days of freedom

I took for granted in my medieval times -

created and fantastic, draining water from cathedral roof

I rejoiced in looking up at heaven and

pondering down to earth.

But now I am chained

behind the twined-wires keeping my freedom out

and others in. Yet perhaps these

wired chains are for the safety of those

who visit: who knows?

All I know is that I dream of the days of freedom

the times of yore

when I was free to play and think and dream

and be myself: gargoyle-fantastic,

strong and happy. Those times are no more

But wait! Perhaps that was my destiny

to be first free: then bound

Is that not the fate of humans? To taste of the fruits of youth

and then hold their wrists out for the bonds of age?

To learn how to be humble: acceptant: at peace.

And so I ponder - many centuries have I been granted

I have seen the rain, the sun, the Fall

chased leaves, raindrops, even (at times) snow

Perhaps these years, my freedom and now my pain

have made me a reflection of human experience: a gain.

Think of me behind barbed wire

dreaming of the days of freedom.

I reflect you in these days of Covid

first free: now bound: pondering

knowing the Almighty holds the keys to our jail.

This is not forever: nothing ever is

our faith and life tell us, that God rules over this

one word and the plague is once more o'er, yet

that word has not yet been said:

be of good cheer, God is not asleep.

Whether He chooses that I go or I stay,

I know that He knows my plight every day.

So here I ponder, with light and with strength

trusting in the God Who shows mercy at great length

to every human: and (perhaps) smiles at this little gargoyle.

Be of good peace: be of good cheer

I have been here many a year.

I have seen much happen: seen years come and years go,

life is always vibrant, yet sometimes a little slow.

Yet the planet still turns, its route never shakes.

Times set to test us, illness our faith explores

yet God is there when our steps falter and fall:

so here I crouch, barbed-wire bound.

sitting and listening to the city-sound

just a gargoyle, pondering, still

still believing in the Almighty's

great Sovereign Will.

So, dear humans, learn from my fate

to be trustful and ponder all that is great:

God hears your prayer, and never will fail

Trust in His Power: and His Holy Grail.

The cup of His suffering, now from you sip,

and every drop is as a cut on the lip.

Yet this chalice is not the final you'll drink,

the Eucharist of the Saviour will save you as you sink.

So be of good cheer, all you humans today,

God will surely save us again - as was always His Way.

Catherine Nicolette Whittle

Photograph with kind permission of Lumiere volunteer A.W.