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

THE CROSS UNFOLDS A PATH WITHIN

 

The Cross unfolds a path within

Verse 1
Upon the hill where Christ was slain,
He bore the weight of sin;
A spark was lit within my soul,
New life began within.

Verse 2
No longer bound by sin’s harsh chain,
Its grip is torn away;
A deeper strength now stirs in me,
A light for night and day.

Verse 3
The Cross unfolds a path within,
Where hidden grace is found;
Amid the rush of daily life,
God’s silence speaks profound.

Verse 4
An anchorite within my heart,
A sacred, quiet place;
Where Christ abides in stillness deep,
And fills my soul with grace.

Verse 5
O mystery of Love Divine,
That draws my soul to Thee;
Through Cross and death I rise anew,
In truth and liberty.

Verse 6
So let the world in turmoil turn,
Its fleeting shadows fall;
For Christ now lives and reigns within,
My Life, my Lord, my All.

The above hymn is structured in Common Meter (8.6.8.6) so it can be sung to well-known tunes such as Amazing Grace.

The hymn was inspired by Matthew Chapter 27

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "The Cross of Christ" 

LEAVEN AND MUSTARDSEED ANCHORITES

 

As baptised members of the wider Church, we form part the mustard seed community which grows in this world. As we are changed by Christ and the ongoing action pursuant to the baptism we underwent, so we affect and change others and the society around us. 

We are as anchorites in a quiet cell within our soul, going out into the marketplace and sharing the beauties of the fruits of baptism with others. We do this so that all may shelter within the branches of the Church.  The leaven of the Spirit working within our hearts, quietly changes us for the better. 

We are called by God to allow the leaven of grace to permeate the dough of our lives, to grow quietly within our hearts, and to share with the world the nourishing Bread of Christ. Our mission is to tend and water the mustard seed tree through obedience to God’s Call, love for His people, prayer, deeds performed according to His holy Will, and willing self-sacrifice. In faithfully kneading the leaven entrusted to us and caring for the tree planted within our souls, we help the great Tree of the Church to flourish - becoming a holy, sincere, and steadfast shelter for all who seek rest beneath its branches.

All changes around us as our behaviour betters, our attitudes become more godly and our temper comes more under control. Baptism changes us profoundly: and with this, changes our present and future.

Leaven and mustardseed anchorites

We are the seed that Christ has sown,
In hidden soil, yet not alone;
Though small we seem in earth’s wide field,
In grace our silent life is sealed.

From the waters of new birth,
We rise to walk upon this earth;
A mustard seed, so small, so slight,
Yet called to grow in God’s own Light.

Like anchorites in quiet cell,
Within the soul where Christ does dwell,
We learn His Voice and walk His Way,
Our faith and love grow day by day.

Yet from that stillness we are sent,
To marketplace where lives are spent;
To share fruits of baptismal grace,
To speak of Christ with witness face.

The Spirit, like the leaven, moves
Through hidden parts of hearts He proves;
He changes anger, pride, and fear,
Till gentleness and peace appear.

As we grow in Christ each day,
We help the world to find its way;
Till all may rest where branches spread,
And nest in Church’s living stead.

Poem inspired by Fr G.M.A. Jansen. (Norbert Jansen OP). p 13, Pro Veritate Vol V No. 12. Baptism and Co-existence. 15 April 1967

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 in a monastic garden"

LEAVEN AND MUSTARDSEED

 

Leaven and mustardseed

From but a mustard seed so small,
A tender shoot through earth did crawl;
By Hand of God, through sun and rain,
It rose through joy; it rose through pain.

At first so slight, scarce seen by eye,
Yet reaching upward to the sky;
Its branches widened far and free,
Till shrub became a mighty tree.

There birds of every feathered wing
Found place to rest and sweetly sing;
Their little nests were safely laid,
Within the shelter of its shade.

The fragile eggs, the downy young,
Were guarded where the branches hung;
And when the storm winds fiercely cried,
Within that tree they safe abide.

Beneath its boughs the weary came,
The poor, the pilgrim, worn and lame;
The labourer laid his burden down,
And rested there from field and town.

The children gathered joyful near,
With smiling hearts untouched by fear;
For God had made that shelter broad,
A living sign of grace from God.

So too the Church of Christ shall be,
A living, sheltering, holy tree;
For we, His Body, called by grace,
Must bear His Love in every place.

As leaven hidden in the bread
Moves softly through the dough widespread;
So must Christ’s Mercy gently move
Through all the world with truth and love.

What once began so passing small
Shall, by God’s blessing, nourish all;
As Scripture tells in words sublime,
Still echoing through age and time.

The mustard seed by Heaven sown
Became more vast than men had known;
And birds of air came from afar
To nest beneath its branches fair.

Thus are we sent through Baptism’s grace
To bring God’s Light to every place;
To dwell with sister, brother, friend,
And serve in love until life’s end.

Not set apart in prideful way,
But walking humbly day by day;
Co-existing in peace and care,
Simon-bearing each other’s cross with prayer.

Lord, let our hearts be rich in Thee,
Like branches of that blessed tree;
Till all our thoughts and works proclaim:
“Deus Meu” - God’s holy Name.

Then may the weary find their rest,
And frightened souls within us nest;
Till all creation comes to see
The Kingdom growing silently.

Poem inspired by Fr G.M.A. Jansen. (Norbert Jansen OP). p 13, Pro Veritate Vol V No. 12. Baptism and Co-existence. 15 April 1967

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 over the leafy tree"

O MARY, QUEEN OF MAY

O MARY, QUEEN OF MAY

Queen of May, O gentle Mother fair,
You watch our weary world with tender care;
From heaven’s light your loving gaze descends,
Upon your children, whom your heart befriends.

With blossoms bright we crown your holy brow,
In love and prayer we make our humble vow.
Each petal laid, a quiet act of grace,
A sign of faith no darkness can erase.

You held dear Jesus, so fragile, pure, and mild,
And taught the world through care of holy Divine Child.
In simple deeds, in kindness softly shown,
We echo love that in your life was sown.

In troubled times, as ever they have been,
When hearts grow faint and hope becomes unseen;
We turn to you, O Mother, calm and bright,
To guide our steps again toward heaven’s true light.

Lead us, dear Mother Mary, upon the narrow way,
Through shadowed paths wending onward into eternal day.
We ask you keep us close, whatever may befall;
Sweet Queen of May, our Mother, our dear beloved all.

With thanks to Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_lflvUReCo

GOD KNOWS

 

GOD KNOWS

God knows when you are tired and

discouraged from doomed

circumstances and situations . . .

God knows how hard you have tried

When you've cried for so long and your

heart is in such anguish . . .

God has counted your tears.

If you feel that your life is on hold and

time has just passed you by . . .

God is waiting with you when you're

lonely and your friends are too busy to

call or can't understand . . .

God is by your side when you think

you've tried everything and don't know

where else to turn . . .

God has a solution,

When nothing makes sense and you are

hurt, confused or frustrated . . .

God has the answer.

If suddenly your outlook is brighter and

you find traces of hope in life . . .

God has whispered to you.

When things are going well and you have

much to be thankful for . . .

God has blessed you.

When something amazing happens and

you find that special someone . . .

God has smiled upon you.

When you have a dream to follow and

also a reality to live . . .

God has opened your eyes and called

your name.

Remember that wherever you are or

whatever you are facing now . . .

GOD KNOWS!!

(Author unknown)

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Divine Blessing in a Medieval Market"

QUIET STRENGTH OF THE WORKER SAINT JOSEPH

 

Quiet Strength of the Worker Saint

On Labour’s day, the first of May,
We lift our hearts with joy and say:
All praise to Saint Joseph, man so fine,
Worker strong through labour sublime.

With steady hands and spirit mild,
Saint Joseph laboured for the Holy Child.
While Jesus Christ learned at his side,
Joseph hard work and love applied.

No task too small, no load too great,
Saint Joseph bore them all with patient gait;
Through silent strength, in faithful care,
He showed that God is always there.

A husband just, so gentle, wise,
With watchful heart and lifted eyes;
Protector, guide, both firm and kind,
With trust in God, in heart and mind.

O model for all who strive,
To earn, to build, to serve, to thrive;
In every trade, in every place,
Joseph's life reflects God’s hidden grace.

We turn to God, whose work began
The shaping of both earth and man;
Who blessed all labour from the start,
And writes His law on every heart.

Dear Joseph, teach us day by day,
To walk with faith along life’s way;
That all we do, both great and small,
May serve in love the Lord of all.

Image source unknown. With thanks to the artist