It’s time to commemorate Jesus’ passion
At the cross for world’s glorious redemption
An opportunity to reflect as Christ’s followers
Unifying in deeper faith to our Almighty Father
March 2,2022 11:50pm
(Ash Wednesday)
Joel 2:12-14-That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the LORD your God as before.
A Blessed Lenten Season to All!
It's time for us to contemplate
And search our mortal souls
And ask repentance for our sins
Created long ago
For 40 days and 40 nights
The wilderness He faced
He sought the solitude He'd get
Withdrawn from human race
He thought of all the things He's done
Relived His blessed life
And asked why all these things would cause
Such anger and such strife
He fasted all these forty days
Prayed hard and looked above
Then He returned to His devoted twelve
With adoring endless love
His countenance was changed you see
He knew His coming fate
His entourage was quickly formed
And passed through Jerusalem's gate
He rode upon a donkey
Through a loving cheering throng
Not one who waived a Palm for Him
Thought anything was wrong
Some cried "Hosanna" just for Him
He smiled for all to see
As onward He continued
To meet His destiny
Now is the time for us to go
On solemn bended knee
And bless this fasting Lenten Time
Forgiveness is our plea!
With a heavy heart I embrace
Willingness to come forth efface
All my many unspoken crimes
In the name of our Jesus Christ.
Beneath the breath of my still tongue
They stay struggling to flit among
Memories of stained sinful deeds.
In the name of our Jesus Christ.
To completely wholeheartedly
Accept your judgment blessedly
For your most infinite mercy
In the name of our Jesus Christ.
With a blithesome bosom rising
Of God's anointing sight I sing
Of place of shelter from the storm.
In the name of our Jesus Christ.
12/27/2019
Poetry Contest: Writing Prompt - Take The Dagger Out
Sponsored by: Dear Heart
A Lenten Message
2000 years of theology and science
double down on assumed separation..
The assumption lies in hiding
prescribing limits and locations..
Worshipful observing and measuring
lodges us in an imprisoning body..
A crisis arises when it is found
we cannot locate this body or prison..
Of a sudden a veil is removed and
separation melts as ice in warm water..
Yet now we can celebrate separation
with a body finally set free..
The cave is empty and we are not
the person we assumed we were
destined to be...
I go into the desert
To find my lost self.
I go to lodge with vipers
And dine with vultures.
Gladly taking up my cross
To triumph over my transgression!
Into the desert I will stay
With none but myself,
For forty days and nights
There I will be
Finding my lost self!
Into the wilderness I will wade;
Thirsting with Christ
From that world of torment and temptation,
I will come stronger and healthier
To rise with Him on the third day.
Self-denial is the doorway
that leads us closer to God.
To lose oneself is to gain
a deeper intimacy with Christ.
Self-doubt is the window
through which the devil
makes his entrance.
3/9/11 Ash Wednesday
A Lenten Dirge
Ash Wednesday I saw Quinn again,
first time in years, sailing the streets,
weaving through people,
his collar up, his head cocked, his arms
like telephone poles sunk
in the pockets of his overcoat,
the brilliant pennants of his long red hair
waving over the stadium
where years ago he took my handoff,
bucked off guard, broke two tackles,
found the free field and heaved
like a bison into the end zone.
Today, when Quinn wove by me muttering,
I should have handed him the ball
and yelled, “Go, Quinn, go!”
With the crowd on its feet,
he'd stiff-arm the lamppost,
take the free field in stride,
leave all in his wake to gawk
till he hit the end zone
and circled the goal posts,
whooping and laughing,
flinging the ball like a spear
over the cross-bar, into Iraq.
Donal Mahoney
published in print at
The National Catholic Reporter
115 E. Armour Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64111-1203
March 6, 2009
Well, my sex life just got up and went
So I’m giving it up over lent
But should you feel inclined
I am sure you will find
That my arm can be easily bent
the sun on my back warms me inside
when i think of its brilliance radiating
from the puncture in your palms
where the nails festered.
those holes grant me agency,
undeserved am I, merciful are you,
cleaning my slate clean time again.
if only my heart could hold more of you.
I strive for full to bursting
but get knocked back time again.
[My own stupid fault.]
loving you is why i live
serving you is all i need
You are everything.
So why is it so hard for me to love,
to serve, to live for you?
undeserved am I, merciful are you-
sharing your light unto my path time again.
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