I have recorded 7 songs based on 3 poems I learned at school, a harmony to a John Denver song, 2 prayers and a carol and had a video made to accompany them.
They can be found as
jan poems prayers and harmonies
If there is anyone among the people who read my bits and pieces who would like to look at it, I should be very delighted.
I am truly grateful to you all and wish you a very happy Christmas.
The video is the fulfilment of a lifetime's dream.
Monday, 24 December 2018
Thursday, 13 December 2018
About what to do when a minor crisis occurs
Said, off the cuff, to H who was struggling with something or other on his laptop or iPad
(not an unusual occurrence, I might add!):
Don't despair,
say a prayer.
I don't know if he did
but it did make him laugh.
(not an unusual occurrence, I might add!):
Don't despair,
say a prayer.
I don't know if he did
but it did make him laugh.
Wednesday, 7 November 2018
About God and science
I absolutely love science because, to me,
its wonders and glories show forth the handiwork of God
and fill me with awe at the marvel of creation.
its wonders and glories show forth the handiwork of God
and fill me with awe at the marvel of creation.
About God and Bach's Matthew Passion
How could anyone who watches, as I did last night,
a performance of Bach's Matthew Passion on YouTube*,
not be made utterly aware of the reality and presence of God.
*Dutch Bach Society, Veldhoven.
a performance of Bach's Matthew Passion on YouTube*,
not be made utterly aware of the reality and presence of God.
*Dutch Bach Society, Veldhoven.
Sunday, 4 November 2018
A prayer about accepting others
Help us, God, to learn to accept people and things as they are
and not to grieve overmuch
when they are not as we would wish them to be.
and not to grieve overmuch
when they are not as we would wish them to be.
Wednesday, 31 October 2018
About the "sins of our youth" (Take 2)
A prayer for everyone
Forgive us, O Lord, the sins of our youth (Psalm 25:7)
and help us to remember them,
especially when tempted to point the finger at others'.
Forgive us, O Lord, the sins of our youth (Psalm 25:7)
and help us to remember them,
especially when tempted to point the finger at others'.
Saturday, 13 October 2018
About Jesus and to Jesus
Jesus, you came among us, as one of us.
You were a baby, a toddler, a young lad, a young adult.
You learned a trade, you cared for your widowed mother.
You were a man among men.
And then, you heard the word and turned your life around.
You came among us all,
to teach us, to heal us, to set us free,
to show us the way to live, the truth of God and the life of love.
When those who hated your innocence, your authority,
your power, your gentleness, your sheer goodness,
conspired against you, to have you killed,
you suffered the pain, the insult, the inhuman cruelty,
and walked through it all with unshakeable dignity.
They could not break your spirit, your love, your forgiveness.
You came through darkness and death
to everlasting life and light.
Glory and thanks and praise be to you forever.
You were a baby, a toddler, a young lad, a young adult.
You learned a trade, you cared for your widowed mother.
You were a man among men.
And then, you heard the word and turned your life around.
You came among us all,
to teach us, to heal us, to set us free,
to show us the way to live, the truth of God and the life of love.
When those who hated your innocence, your authority,
your power, your gentleness, your sheer goodness,
conspired against you, to have you killed,
you suffered the pain, the insult, the inhuman cruelty,
and walked through it all with unshakeable dignity.
They could not break your spirit, your love, your forgiveness.
You came through darkness and death
to everlasting life and light.
Glory and thanks and praise be to you forever.
A prayer for help from Jesus
Jesus,
I need your wisdom, your courage,
your guidance, your strength,
your humility, your love.
Please help me.
Amen
I need your wisdom, your courage,
your guidance, your strength,
your humility, your love.
Please help me.
Amen
A prayer about what we do and what we say
Very often in life,
it's not what we do,
it's the way that we do it,
and it's not what we say,
it's the way that we say it,
that really makes a difference to others.
Help us to do and to say what we should
in the right way.
it's not what we do,
it's the way that we do it,
and it's not what we say,
it's the way that we say it,
that really makes a difference to others.
Help us to do and to say what we should
in the right way.
A morning prayer, having woken up late
Praise you, God,
Thank you, God,
Help me, God,
Sorry, God,
Love you, God.
Thank you, God,
Help me, God,
Sorry, God,
Love you, God.
Some little prayers to The Holy Trinity and to Jesus
May all glory be given to you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
by everyone, everywhere
in every way.
Jesus, in Holy Communion
we consume you
and are consumed by you
and into you
and are held in your heart forever.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
let us open the doors
of our hearts and minds to you.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
by everyone, everywhere
in every way.
Jesus, in Holy Communion
we consume you
and are consumed by you
and into you
and are held in your heart forever.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
let us open the doors
of our hearts and minds to you.
Thursday, 4 October 2018
About 'set' prayers
'Set' prayers are like lamp posts,
to which we can cling
when the rains of life fall
and threaten to overwhelm us
and when our own words fail.
to which we can cling
when the rains of life fall
and threaten to overwhelm us
and when our own words fail.
Saturday, 29 September 2018
About finding consolation for life's griefs
There is only one place
where we will ever find consolation
for the grief and anguish of this world,
and that is in the loving and forgiving arms of Jesus,
our brother, our friend, our Lord and our God.
where we will ever find consolation
for the grief and anguish of this world,
and that is in the loving and forgiving arms of Jesus,
our brother, our friend, our Lord and our God.
Saturday, 15 September 2018
A hymn
With you beside me, always to guide me,
I will be safe, held in your hand.
In joy and sorrow, through each tomorrow,
You will be there where'er I stand.
I know it's not the greatest lyric ever, but it came into my head and I liked it.
Sorry!!
I will be safe, held in your hand.
In joy and sorrow, through each tomorrow,
You will be there where'er I stand.
I know it's not the greatest lyric ever, but it came into my head and I liked it.
Sorry!!
Sunday, 22 July 2018
Sunday, 15 July 2018
A short prayer about what we have and what we don't have
Dear God,
help us not to spend our lives
grieving for what we do not have
but rejoicing for what we do have.
help us not to spend our lives
grieving for what we do not have
but rejoicing for what we do have.
About discerning the important things in life
1. MAKING TIME FOR GOD
God has made time for us. We need God in our lives. We must make time for God.
2. MAKING TIME FOR OTHERS
We learn and receive more by caring about and for others. This we must seek to do.
3. MAKING TIME FOR OURSELVES
We must discern our potentials and seek to fulfil all which we feel called to be and do.
4. DISCERNING OUR PRIORITIES
We need to be aware of and prioritise all which we NEED to do.
5. DISCERNING WHAT WE NEED TO GIVE UP
We need to discern and remove what is 'over-filling' our lives and becoming a slavery.
I do know that this is all more easily said than done, especially by me!
Sunday, 8 July 2018
A prayer about doing and saying things in the right way
Very often, in life,
it's not what we do,
it's the way that we do it,
and it's not what we say,
it's the way that we say it,
that causes offence to others.
Help us, dear Lord,
to do what we do
and say what we say
in such a way
as not to cause offence.
And should we fail,
help to be truly sorry,
and to say so,
as graciously as possible.
it's not what we do,
it's the way that we do it,
and it's not what we say,
it's the way that we say it,
that causes offence to others.
Help us, dear Lord,
to do what we do
and say what we say
in such a way
as not to cause offence.
And should we fail,
help to be truly sorry,
and to say so,
as graciously as possible.
Thursday, 21 June 2018
About paradise
There is only one paradise,
and, no matter how many rainbows we chase,
we are not going to find it
this side of heaven.
This thought came into my head yesterday morning as I thought about one of our grandsons on his way back from Mexico, having had a wonderful holiday, though marred by 5 days of torrential rain.
It shouldn't happen, but it does. (Mind you, I heard from his mother tonight that it is the rainy season in Mexico!!)
There's always a rainy season somewhere on earth at any time, isn't there, both literal and metaphorical.
and, no matter how many rainbows we chase,
we are not going to find it
this side of heaven.
This thought came into my head yesterday morning as I thought about one of our grandsons on his way back from Mexico, having had a wonderful holiday, though marred by 5 days of torrential rain.
It shouldn't happen, but it does. (Mind you, I heard from his mother tonight that it is the rainy season in Mexico!!)
There's always a rainy season somewhere on earth at any time, isn't there, both literal and metaphorical.
Tuesday, 12 June 2018
Sunday, 3 June 2018
About there only being 'one bread'
At Communion, we all receive the same simple host,
the true essence and presence of Jesus.
From the highest to the lowest in society,
(in the eyes of the world, that is),
from the richest to the poorest,
from the greatest to the least -
there is only 'one bread, one body',
given for us all.
How humbling, how beautiful is this.
the true essence and presence of Jesus.
From the highest to the lowest in society,
(in the eyes of the world, that is),
from the richest to the poorest,
from the greatest to the least -
there is only 'one bread, one body',
given for us all.
How humbling, how beautiful is this.
About serving with joy
To work in the service of God
is one of the greatest privileges of this life.
The following examples of, say, a huge fan being offered the chance to be the manager of his or her football team, or to be the PA of an idolised pop (or, in my case, opera) singer, would be a dream come true, and might explain how and why this could be true.
I have written before about having helped with the hymns at our local primary school for the past 20 years. Because I absolutely love it and believe it to be the best work I have ever done in my life, I have never begrudged a single moment spent on it.
So it is with serving God, for those who have had the gift of knowing the infinite love which God feels for each of us. It is no chore at all, rather as is the case for anyone who cares for a beloved poorly child or aged and ailing parent. Nothing is too much trouble.
As a line in a much-loved hymn says, "...then life shall be thy service, Lord, and death, the gate of heaven." This is on my funeral list!! I have no doubt of the promise even given my very flawed efforts. I am truly grateful for the desire to keep trying.
is one of the greatest privileges of this life.
The following examples of, say, a huge fan being offered the chance to be the manager of his or her football team, or to be the PA of an idolised pop (or, in my case, opera) singer, would be a dream come true, and might explain how and why this could be true.
I have written before about having helped with the hymns at our local primary school for the past 20 years. Because I absolutely love it and believe it to be the best work I have ever done in my life, I have never begrudged a single moment spent on it.
So it is with serving God, for those who have had the gift of knowing the infinite love which God feels for each of us. It is no chore at all, rather as is the case for anyone who cares for a beloved poorly child or aged and ailing parent. Nothing is too much trouble.
As a line in a much-loved hymn says, "...then life shall be thy service, Lord, and death, the gate of heaven." This is on my funeral list!! I have no doubt of the promise even given my very flawed efforts. I am truly grateful for the desire to keep trying.
About God as the source of all love
God is the source of infinite, and yet, at the same time, utterly intimate, love.
God is the source and fountain of all love,
and it is this love
which is the energy
which fires the universe.
God is the source and fountain of all love,
and it is this love
which is the energy
which fires the universe.
Sunday, 20 May 2018
About 'hurting' others
Perhaps, every time we hurt or offend another,
it is like a theft.
We rob others,
in some way or another,
of their store of peace, joy, happiness.
it is like a theft.
We rob others,
in some way or another,
of their store of peace, joy, happiness.
About entering the shrine of St James at Santiago de Compostela
While watching the end of the film, "The Way" recently,
as the four 'pilgrims' stood at the door of the Cathedral,
I felt their sense of wonder and awe
and this phrase came into my mind:
When entering a holy place,
it is as though you are about
to touch the face of God.
as the four 'pilgrims' stood at the door of the Cathedral,
I felt their sense of wonder and awe
and this phrase came into my mind:
When entering a holy place,
it is as though you are about
to touch the face of God.
Sunday, 29 April 2018
About the 'Josephs' in Jesus' life and death
For as long as I can remember, I have had a deep love for St. Joseph..
As a character in the story of Jesus, he must surely rank as second only in importance to Our Blessed Lady, and yet so quiet, so totally unassuming.
What a task he was entrusted with and how brilliantly he carried it out! God knew who to choose. We can imagine his strong, proud and loving arms holding the newborn baby, Jesus, handed to him by the joyful mother.
We can assume that Jesus was taught the intricacies of carpentry at the knee of his foster father. We can also assume that he had died before Jesus began his public ministry because there is no mention of him in that phase of Jesus' life.
For this reason, he has been known, traditionally, as the patron saint of a happy death, flanked, as he must have been, by Jesus and Mary, on his way to his eternal reward and ever-lasting happiness.
And then, there is that other Joseph, of Arimathea, who chose to take responsibility for Jesus after his crucifixion, placing that precious body in a new grave, one which he had prepared for himself.
What a wonderful gesture that was. He knew the treasure which he and Nicodemus held in their arms, taken from those other, desolate, arms of the heartbroken mother. How aptly named; one Joseph to hold and care for him in his life, the other, in his death.
Joseph of Arimathea must surely have been a man of privilege to have had this grave and yet he was prepared to surrender it to a man who had just suffered an ignominious death, alongside common criminals.
But, as we know, the stone which had sealed it so completely, was moved away, the grave was empty. It was still available to the man who had given it away.
One day, Joseph would have been buried there as he had originally intended, in the tomb which had held the initially lifeless, then resurrected body of the Son of God.. How well-deserved was that!
Perhaps we can learn from this that, if we open up the empty and unused spaces within our hearts and minds to allow Jesus to occupy them, we will find that we have lost nothing and gained everything.
As a character in the story of Jesus, he must surely rank as second only in importance to Our Blessed Lady, and yet so quiet, so totally unassuming.
What a task he was entrusted with and how brilliantly he carried it out! God knew who to choose. We can imagine his strong, proud and loving arms holding the newborn baby, Jesus, handed to him by the joyful mother.
We can assume that Jesus was taught the intricacies of carpentry at the knee of his foster father. We can also assume that he had died before Jesus began his public ministry because there is no mention of him in that phase of Jesus' life.
For this reason, he has been known, traditionally, as the patron saint of a happy death, flanked, as he must have been, by Jesus and Mary, on his way to his eternal reward and ever-lasting happiness.
And then, there is that other Joseph, of Arimathea, who chose to take responsibility for Jesus after his crucifixion, placing that precious body in a new grave, one which he had prepared for himself.
What a wonderful gesture that was. He knew the treasure which he and Nicodemus held in their arms, taken from those other, desolate, arms of the heartbroken mother. How aptly named; one Joseph to hold and care for him in his life, the other, in his death.
Joseph of Arimathea must surely have been a man of privilege to have had this grave and yet he was prepared to surrender it to a man who had just suffered an ignominious death, alongside common criminals.
But, as we know, the stone which had sealed it so completely, was moved away, the grave was empty. It was still available to the man who had given it away.
One day, Joseph would have been buried there as he had originally intended, in the tomb which had held the initially lifeless, then resurrected body of the Son of God.. How well-deserved was that!
Perhaps we can learn from this that, if we open up the empty and unused spaces within our hearts and minds to allow Jesus to occupy them, we will find that we have lost nothing and gained everything.
About praying on the days when you can't pray 'well'
These are my prayers on days like these.
"Oh God, you are my God.
Oh God, you are my God." (Psalm 62)
Help me, God. Help me, God.
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
Sorry, God. Sorry, God.
Praise you, God. Praise you, God.
God, help us. God help us.
I find it helps.
"Oh God, you are my God.
Oh God, you are my God." (Psalm 62)
Help me, God. Help me, God.
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
Sorry, God. Sorry, God.
Praise you, God. Praise you, God.
God, help us. God help us.
I find it helps.
About clinging on to God
All through my life, I've clung on to God,
sometimes, just by my fingertips.
Week in, week out,
even as a student, away from home for the first time,
young, stupid and fancy-free,
I've gone to Mass.
Somehow, I've always known that God will hold me fast
and keep me safe.
And so it has been.
sometimes, just by my fingertips.
Week in, week out,
even as a student, away from home for the first time,
young, stupid and fancy-free,
I've gone to Mass.
Somehow, I've always known that God will hold me fast
and keep me safe.
And so it has been.
About finding and giving love
God says,
"Come to me to find love
and then you will be able to go to others
to give love."
"Come to me to find love
and then you will be able to go to others
to give love."
Friday, 20 April 2018
About being 'our brother's keeper'
In answer to the question,
"Am I my brother's keeper?"
(Cain to God, after having actually killed his brother) (Gen 4),
well no,
but we are called to care about,
and sometimes for,
our brothers, and our sisters,
because they are the neighbours
that we are called upon to love as ourselves.
NB Sometimes 'caring' is doing something
and sometimes 'caring' is doing nothing!!
Let's hope we learn to recognise which is which.
"Am I my brother's keeper?"
(Cain to God, after having actually killed his brother) (Gen 4),
well no,
but we are called to care about,
and sometimes for,
our brothers, and our sisters,
because they are the neighbours
that we are called upon to love as ourselves.
NB Sometimes 'caring' is doing something
and sometimes 'caring' is doing nothing!!
Let's hope we learn to recognise which is which.
About finding happiness at the altar of Giod
Only at the altar of God will we find true happiness.
God says, "Come to my altar to find love for yourselves,
and from there, you will be able to take love to others.
Honestly, there is no other real way,
no matter what the world may tell or sell us.
God says, "Come to my altar to find love for yourselves,
and from there, you will be able to take love to others.
Honestly, there is no other real way,
no matter what the world may tell or sell us.
Sunday, 25 March 2018
About having a letter published in the Catholic Herald, concerning hymns at Mass
One of the proudest moments of my life occurred on Sunday, 20th December, 2015. As we came out of Mass, our priest made some comment about my having had a letter published in the above magazine!
I hadn't even looked so I rushed home to scour the pages and there it was. I read and re-read it in a state of disbelief, excitement and euphoria. I might just have been awarded the Nobel prize for Literature. There it was, "COMMENT OF THE WEEK" even!!
I had sent the email a few weeks before and had tentatively looked each week, never really expecting to see it on the letters page (but inwardly hoping/dreaming, of course, that I would) and had given up actually expecting it.
I had been raging about the topic to someone who said, "Well why don't you write." So I wrote, revised and sent and here it is. The by-line was, "I can't do without the four-hymn sandwich" which I didn't particularly like but refers to the cause of my rage, which I tried to tone down for the sake of showing myself in a reasonable light, I hoped.
SIR - As a life-long lover of my Catholic faith and practice, and of music and singing in general and hymns in particular, the letter headlined "Save us from the four-hymn sandwich" (November 13), which seeks to "do away with" the said item, upsets me greatly.
In many places in the Scriptures we are exhorted to sing our praises to God. For nearly 18 years I have helped the children, aged from four to to eleven, at our local primary school to learn hymns for Mass, from "Love is something if you give it away" to "The Angel Gabriel from Heaven came" (One child came to tell me that her favourite line was "his wings as drifted snow, his eyes of flame"!)
Many of the children leave the hall singing as they go. I hope and pray that most of them will, as I have, remember those words throughout their lives, even if, sadly, the majority of them stop going to church.
There are beautiful hymns with beautiful words and melodies, both old and new. They allow us, the 'foot soldiers of the faith', to participate in the Mass in a way that nothing else does. Why would anyone wish to to take that away from us? If my family do not have Soul of my Saviour and Lord of all Hopefulness at my funeral, I'll be back to haunt them!
I only wish that I had added a postscript to the effect that I have left them a short-list for the other two hymns. Maybe, one day, I'll post that. Oh I do love a good hymn!
I hadn't even looked so I rushed home to scour the pages and there it was. I read and re-read it in a state of disbelief, excitement and euphoria. I might just have been awarded the Nobel prize for Literature. There it was, "COMMENT OF THE WEEK" even!!
I had sent the email a few weeks before and had tentatively looked each week, never really expecting to see it on the letters page (but inwardly hoping/dreaming, of course, that I would) and had given up actually expecting it.
I had been raging about the topic to someone who said, "Well why don't you write." So I wrote, revised and sent and here it is. The by-line was, "I can't do without the four-hymn sandwich" which I didn't particularly like but refers to the cause of my rage, which I tried to tone down for the sake of showing myself in a reasonable light, I hoped.
SIR - As a life-long lover of my Catholic faith and practice, and of music and singing in general and hymns in particular, the letter headlined "Save us from the four-hymn sandwich" (November 13), which seeks to "do away with" the said item, upsets me greatly.
In many places in the Scriptures we are exhorted to sing our praises to God. For nearly 18 years I have helped the children, aged from four to to eleven, at our local primary school to learn hymns for Mass, from "Love is something if you give it away" to "The Angel Gabriel from Heaven came" (One child came to tell me that her favourite line was "his wings as drifted snow, his eyes of flame"!)
Many of the children leave the hall singing as they go. I hope and pray that most of them will, as I have, remember those words throughout their lives, even if, sadly, the majority of them stop going to church.
There are beautiful hymns with beautiful words and melodies, both old and new. They allow us, the 'foot soldiers of the faith', to participate in the Mass in a way that nothing else does. Why would anyone wish to to take that away from us? If my family do not have Soul of my Saviour and Lord of all Hopefulness at my funeral, I'll be back to haunt them!
I only wish that I had added a postscript to the effect that I have left them a short-list for the other two hymns. Maybe, one day, I'll post that. Oh I do love a good hymn!
About clutching hold of God
Let us clutch hold of God and not let go.
May we feel the clasp of God, the Father of love, surrounding us.
May we clasp Jesus, the Son of love, to ourselves.
May we feel the clasp of God, the Spirit of love, dwelling within us.
May we feel the clasp of God, the Father of love, surrounding us.
May we clasp Jesus, the Son of love, to ourselves.
May we feel the clasp of God, the Spirit of love, dwelling within us.
Sunday, 11 March 2018
Friday, 2 March 2018
Tuesday, 6 February 2018
About the energy of love
The energy of existence
emanates from the heart of God.
If we would 'touch' God,
help us to become aware
that every beat of our heart,
every breath that we breathe,
everything that we see and hear,
that we taste and touch,
connects us to God.
God is tangible.
emanates from the heart of God.
If we would 'touch' God,
help us to become aware
that every beat of our heart,
every breath that we breathe,
everything that we see and hear,
that we taste and touch,
connects us to God.
God is tangible.
Another short prayer for the day
Help us to appreciate the blessings
and cope with the difficulties
and the everyday tasks of this day
as they arise.
and cope with the difficulties
and the everyday tasks of this day
as they arise.
Monday, 5 February 2018
From Julian of Norwich, Chapter 26 - "I it am"
I know I said that I wouldn't post any more of Julian's revelations of Divine Love because there is so much available on google, so why this?
I decided a few months ago to try and read a page or two of the book at bedtime and a couple of weeks ago, came to one of the parts I really love and just felt I had to share it so here goes.
THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER
.....I was learned that our soul shall never have rest till it cometh to him, knowing that he is fulness of joy, homely and courteous, blissful and very life.
Our Lord Jesus oftentimes said: "I it am, I it am: I it am that is highest, I it am that thou lovest, I it am that thou likest, I it am that thou servest, I it am that thou longest for, I it am that thou desireth, I it am that thou meanest, I it am that is all. ..........". And ....... the joy that I saw (in these words) passeth all that the heart may wish for and soul may desire.
I do not know what it is that I find so compelling in the rhythmical pulse of these words, the poetry of their expression.
I can but post them in the hope that someone else may feel the same.
I decided a few months ago to try and read a page or two of the book at bedtime and a couple of weeks ago, came to one of the parts I really love and just felt I had to share it so here goes.
THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER
.....I was learned that our soul shall never have rest till it cometh to him, knowing that he is fulness of joy, homely and courteous, blissful and very life.
Our Lord Jesus oftentimes said: "I it am, I it am: I it am that is highest, I it am that thou lovest, I it am that thou likest, I it am that thou servest, I it am that thou longest for, I it am that thou desireth, I it am that thou meanest, I it am that is all. ..........". And ....... the joy that I saw (in these words) passeth all that the heart may wish for and soul may desire.
I do not know what it is that I find so compelling in the rhythmical pulse of these words, the poetry of their expression.
I can but post them in the hope that someone else may feel the same.
Sunday, 28 January 2018
About John the Baptist, Jesus - and "Paddington 2"
The phrases that leap out to me from this early Gospel story are the two references to 'staring', or looking, 'hard' at someone! This may seem a small thing to pick up on but it intrigues me as it always seems surprising and unexpected. In the first instance, it is John the Baptist, who "stares hard" at Jesus. Then, the very next morning, it is Jesus who looks 'hard' at Simon, this, again, reminding me of "Paddington 2".
One of the scenes from the film that struck me at the time was of Paddington 'staring out' the 'baddie' with the 'hard stare' which had been taught him by his Aunt Lucy, in case he should find himself in trouble. He uses this hard stare to stand up against wrong doings. This makes the miscreants feel hot and embarrassed and completely puts them off their stroke. It reminds me of our phrase of 'staring someone out!
Looking up 'seeing' first, then 'looking' and 'staring'; the definitions given in google are of 'seeing' as using the power of sight, 'looking' as 'paying attention to what one is seeing' and 'staring' as 'looking at something for a long time with eyes wide open'. Think of the phrases we use, such as, 'take a long hard look at' ....(whatever might be the issues we need to examine with care).
.
Why would John the Baptist have needed to stare at Jesus? It must have been some kind of prompting which caused him to recognise in Jesus, as he walked along, someone and something so special, that he was 'the one who was to come', the Messiah. This seems to result in his virtually renouncing his own role, happily pointing his own 'disciples' in the direction of Jesus.
The very next day, Andrew, one of those who had followed after Jesus, brings his brother, Simon, to meet Jesus who, after 'looking hard' at him, must 'see' the man within, because he immediately renames him 'Cephas' (or Peter), meaning 'rock', a name which we know he will use much later in his ministry when he names Peter as the rock on which he will build his Church.
Wonderful!
Let us be more aware of those people or things at which we need to take a long, hard look to see the treasures within.
One of the scenes from the film that struck me at the time was of Paddington 'staring out' the 'baddie' with the 'hard stare' which had been taught him by his Aunt Lucy, in case he should find himself in trouble. He uses this hard stare to stand up against wrong doings. This makes the miscreants feel hot and embarrassed and completely puts them off their stroke. It reminds me of our phrase of 'staring someone out!
Looking up 'seeing' first, then 'looking' and 'staring'; the definitions given in google are of 'seeing' as using the power of sight, 'looking' as 'paying attention to what one is seeing' and 'staring' as 'looking at something for a long time with eyes wide open'. Think of the phrases we use, such as, 'take a long hard look at' ....(whatever might be the issues we need to examine with care).
.
Why would John the Baptist have needed to stare at Jesus? It must have been some kind of prompting which caused him to recognise in Jesus, as he walked along, someone and something so special, that he was 'the one who was to come', the Messiah. This seems to result in his virtually renouncing his own role, happily pointing his own 'disciples' in the direction of Jesus.
The very next day, Andrew, one of those who had followed after Jesus, brings his brother, Simon, to meet Jesus who, after 'looking hard' at him, must 'see' the man within, because he immediately renames him 'Cephas' (or Peter), meaning 'rock', a name which we know he will use much later in his ministry when he names Peter as the rock on which he will build his Church.
Wonderful!
Let us be more aware of those people or things at which we need to take a long, hard look to see the treasures within.
Sunday, 7 January 2018
About New Year resolutions and sharing thoughts on the readings at Mass for the Epiphany
I'm not usually much of a one for these, as experience, from my own lack of success, has taught me that they are, generally, very short-lived. However, this first week of 2018 has seen me toying with the idea. So here goes.
The first one, from a 'God' point of view, is that I would like to share thoughts that occur to me from the Sunday readings at Mass. I've been wanting to do this for ages but kept looking for a 'good' time to start. Well, maybe now is as good a time as any.
Father has started a new practice of giving us a sheet which includes reflections on, and full versions of, the first readings and the Gospel. As he talks on them, it's great to have the texts to follow.
Yesterday's were on the feast of The Epiphany and the first phrase to jump out at me, from the Gospel, was " and opening up their treasures".
Oh what a picture came into my mind. Having seen "Paddington 2" last week with grandson E and his mum, I saw the hidden treasure chest spring open with golden and silver jewels, precious stones of all kinds, overflowing and bursting out.
Oh, if only we would open up our own inner treasures to the world, I thought, to share them with each other, as God shares his treasures with us. What a gift that would be for the newborn child!
The second phrase was above that one in the text, but, as I looked up the page, it caught my eye. Herod is told that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, as "a leader, to shepherd his people, Israel".
What a beautiful image that is; not as a King, nor even, as a Ruler! No, he comes as a 'leader', who will 'shepherd' his people!
How much are we all looking for a 'true' leader, one who cares, one who loves, one who will bring justice, peace and consolation; a shepherd who would guide and guard us and save us when we stray!
It's amazing how words that we may have heard countless times before can suddenly come alive for us. They certainly did for me, yesterday evening.
The first one, from a 'God' point of view, is that I would like to share thoughts that occur to me from the Sunday readings at Mass. I've been wanting to do this for ages but kept looking for a 'good' time to start. Well, maybe now is as good a time as any.
Father has started a new practice of giving us a sheet which includes reflections on, and full versions of, the first readings and the Gospel. As he talks on them, it's great to have the texts to follow.
Yesterday's were on the feast of The Epiphany and the first phrase to jump out at me, from the Gospel, was " and opening up their treasures".
Oh what a picture came into my mind. Having seen "Paddington 2" last week with grandson E and his mum, I saw the hidden treasure chest spring open with golden and silver jewels, precious stones of all kinds, overflowing and bursting out.
Oh, if only we would open up our own inner treasures to the world, I thought, to share them with each other, as God shares his treasures with us. What a gift that would be for the newborn child!
The second phrase was above that one in the text, but, as I looked up the page, it caught my eye. Herod is told that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, as "a leader, to shepherd his people, Israel".
What a beautiful image that is; not as a King, nor even, as a Ruler! No, he comes as a 'leader', who will 'shepherd' his people!
How much are we all looking for a 'true' leader, one who cares, one who loves, one who will bring justice, peace and consolation; a shepherd who would guide and guard us and save us when we stray!
It's amazing how words that we may have heard countless times before can suddenly come alive for us. They certainly did for me, yesterday evening.
Wednesday, 3 January 2018
Favourite sayings of Jesus
This, like our individual love of words, must be an entirely unique choice but here are some of mine.
Top of the list is always this:
A close second is:
A favourite of more recent years is this:
Top of the list is always this:
- "Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
A close second is:
- "Let (s/)he who is without sin cast the first stone!!"
A favourite of more recent years is this:
- "You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)