Dear Readers,
Today's Poem is inspired by something that has been puzzling me for a while. The more it puzzles me, the more my eyes open, and the more I am aware of how unaware we are of it. Maybe I mentioned this before but my favorite verse in the
Scriptures is Luke 2:19 "As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart". Every January 1st, I eagerly look forward to hear these words repeated in the Gospel.
Why am I mentioning it? I had often seen pondering as reflecting, digesting situations like Queen Esther before speaking up. I often believe that there is power in a woman and a man who seek to understand before reacting. We may not always be successful, but it is worth the try.
Nowadays, the more I have become allergic to gossiping, the more my eyes open. The more they open the more I am allergic to gossiping, and the more I have come to comprehend another angle of Luke 2:19, and why there is so much about the tongue in the Old Testament - we must strive to not have a loose tongue - whether men and/or women.
It is incredible how much is done with the tongue - I have always believed that it is the one member of the body who commits crimes for which it never goes to jail.
The tongue is powerful - use it to bless yourself and others. Stay away from wishing yourself ill or to be more direct from cursing yourself and/or others.
I am still recovering from this weekend's retreat but will surely post the poem picked this week by a Blessed soul.
Countdown: 124 Days - 142 Poems - (18 Weeks / 19 posts).
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Monday, 29 July 2013
125 Days - 143 Poems - 19 Posts (54, 55, 56, 57)
Dear Readers,
it is great to be back. It has been quite a weekend spiritually I must say as every day was impactful. Our diocese organized a World Youth Day @ home for all those who could not make it to Brazil this year. Our Lady I must say was very present in this World Youth Day whether at home, in our diocese or in across the continent.
Poem 54: Just like in Brazil where young people enacted the Via Crucis, among the young people who travelled from other cities such as BC, NWT, Lethbridge, Red Deer, etc... to our diocese but a city different from mine; the young people from Edmonton enacted the Via Crucis. What a moment to live the passion of Christ and put Him on. That evening I dropped a HAIKU on the stations of the Cross.
Poem 55: The next day we had different bishops and priests come forth and teach us about the faith, and the choice was ours to choose and go and listen to whom we were compelled to go to. Other bishops led the morning mass, and the Vigil in the evening was also led by another bishop. O what a day. I must admit that in the midst of it all, I found a moment to retract myself before the Blessed Sacrament - our Lord who made Himself available to us 24 / 7. And there I was able to write.
Poem 55: is actually inspired by the speech of Pope Francis on Elders and the opportunity we had as pilgrims to stay in different families in the city where it was planned. I had the privilege to actually stay with an older Catholic couple who did share wisdom their wisdom with me over that weekend. Countdown: 127-145-19
Poem 56: is inspired by the Gospel that was read on the morning of July 27, 2013 there on God permitting the Wheat and the Weeds to grow together. Countdown: 127-144-19
Poem 57: My last poem was tonight. Indeed I did not write yesterday. Tonight's poem sprang from reflections, experiences over the weekend that led to ponder on the beauty of OBEDIENCE - A vow we are all called to make like our Lady and Christ should we desire the fullness of Christian life. Many became saints because of their obedience. Many died because of their obedience. Obedience, as mentioned by St Ignatius, is the safest guide and most faithful interpreter of the Divine Will.
Countdown: 125 Days-143 Weeks-19Posts
it is great to be back. It has been quite a weekend spiritually I must say as every day was impactful. Our diocese organized a World Youth Day @ home for all those who could not make it to Brazil this year. Our Lady I must say was very present in this World Youth Day whether at home, in our diocese or in across the continent.
Poem 54: Just like in Brazil where young people enacted the Via Crucis, among the young people who travelled from other cities such as BC, NWT, Lethbridge, Red Deer, etc... to our diocese but a city different from mine; the young people from Edmonton enacted the Via Crucis. What a moment to live the passion of Christ and put Him on. That evening I dropped a HAIKU on the stations of the Cross.
Poem 55: The next day we had different bishops and priests come forth and teach us about the faith, and the choice was ours to choose and go and listen to whom we were compelled to go to. Other bishops led the morning mass, and the Vigil in the evening was also led by another bishop. O what a day. I must admit that in the midst of it all, I found a moment to retract myself before the Blessed Sacrament - our Lord who made Himself available to us 24 / 7. And there I was able to write.
Poem 55: is actually inspired by the speech of Pope Francis on Elders and the opportunity we had as pilgrims to stay in different families in the city where it was planned. I had the privilege to actually stay with an older Catholic couple who did share wisdom their wisdom with me over that weekend. Countdown: 127-145-19
Poem 56: is inspired by the Gospel that was read on the morning of July 27, 2013 there on God permitting the Wheat and the Weeds to grow together. Countdown: 127-144-19
Poem 57: My last poem was tonight. Indeed I did not write yesterday. Tonight's poem sprang from reflections, experiences over the weekend that led to ponder on the beauty of OBEDIENCE - A vow we are all called to make like our Lady and Christ should we desire the fullness of Christian life. Many became saints because of their obedience. Many died because of their obedience. Obedience, as mentioned by St Ignatius, is the safest guide and most faithful interpreter of the Divine Will.
Countdown: 125 Days-143 Weeks-19Posts
Thursday, 25 July 2013
129 Days - 147 Poems - 19 Posts (Poem 53)
Dear Readers,
today's poem is inspired by our Father in the Lord, Pope Francis, to the young Argentinians in the large Cathedral of St Sebastian. It was a short speech, yet very empowering in making all of us realize that the two groups that are marginalized in society today are the young people and the elders. I liked when he asked that we shake the church, that to believe in Christ is to make noise ... Beautiful, real and deep.
Address to Young Argentinians
Today as well, he visited the slums of Varginha , empowering words spoken to the families living there, and finally later on, he was welcomed by the young people at Copacaban where he also addressed us. I must confess that you will not read from me over the next three for I myself will partake in the rest of the pilgrimage from tomorrow on in our city. Permit me to immerse myself fully as well that I may update you on Monday again on the riches gained, and the mortifications offered.
Countdown: 129 Days -147 Poems - 19 Weeks/Poems left to post.
Thank You.
today's poem is inspired by our Father in the Lord, Pope Francis, to the young Argentinians in the large Cathedral of St Sebastian. It was a short speech, yet very empowering in making all of us realize that the two groups that are marginalized in society today are the young people and the elders. I liked when he asked that we shake the church, that to believe in Christ is to make noise ... Beautiful, real and deep.
Address to Young Argentinians
Today as well, he visited the slums of Varginha , empowering words spoken to the families living there, and finally later on, he was welcomed by the young people at Copacaban where he also addressed us. I must confess that you will not read from me over the next three for I myself will partake in the rest of the pilgrimage from tomorrow on in our city. Permit me to immerse myself fully as well that I may update you on Monday again on the riches gained, and the mortifications offered.
Countdown: 129 Days -147 Poems - 19 Weeks/Poems left to post.
Thank You.
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
130 Days - 148 poems - 19 Posts (Poem 51, 52)
Dear Readers,
what a week for me, as we progress my attention, my mind and my soul are entirely in communion with my brethren in Brazil for World Youth Day. See, the concept of pilgrimage has disappeared quite a bit nowadays! Yet it is still very much alive and it is a deepening experience for who experiences it. Once tasted, you would rather sacrifice any other vacation and save for pilgrimages alone whenever God permits. You come to realise your every trip is a pilgrimage where God works even family gatherings, because you pay more attention to how God is moving. Bl. Pope John Paul II used to say that his every trip was a pilgrimage. We are pilgrims on this earth, and at times, we forget that we are to live as such.
Few years ago in Madrid, I met a couple that has 10 kids. The oldest was 16 years of age, and the youngest in the arms of the mother. They had arrived with all ten kids with the help of divine providence. They shared with me how when they were still singles, their love for World Youth Days drew them closer, and during their courtship they kept going whenever God permitted together.
Now after getting married, they had promised each other to trust that Our Good Lord would always provide for them to carry on that tradition with their children, just as Mary and Joseph annually took Jesus on a pilgrimage.
They had a very limited budget that year, and kept asking for the intercession of our Blessed Mother to make a way. Usually WYD packages go pretty fast along with accomodations, and etc... They were regularly checking trusting that if she wanted them to take the kids this year again to deepen their knowledge of the Faith - she would make a way.
A week before World Youth Day in Spain, the plane tickets dropped radically, so radically that; it was within their budget, but even lower than what they had set for budget. Upon arriving in Madrid, Spain - there were no more accomodations, when someone who had just purchased a house there and was among those giving pilgrims their back packs said: 'Why don't you come stay at my house for the week?' I will not be there for the week.
Such is the testimony that I just shared with you in short. I am let you partake in this because the two poems of today are inspired of Pope Francis' Homily at the National Shrine of our Lady of Conception of Aparecida today, and by the reminder of the story of this family I was blessed to meet in Madrid. Indeed God can surprise us if we allow ourselves to be open - such is the beauty of being a pilgrim, yet a challenge at times. We wonder how many blessings do we throw away at times.
Thank You...
what a week for me, as we progress my attention, my mind and my soul are entirely in communion with my brethren in Brazil for World Youth Day. See, the concept of pilgrimage has disappeared quite a bit nowadays! Yet it is still very much alive and it is a deepening experience for who experiences it. Once tasted, you would rather sacrifice any other vacation and save for pilgrimages alone whenever God permits. You come to realise your every trip is a pilgrimage where God works even family gatherings, because you pay more attention to how God is moving. Bl. Pope John Paul II used to say that his every trip was a pilgrimage. We are pilgrims on this earth, and at times, we forget that we are to live as such.
Few years ago in Madrid, I met a couple that has 10 kids. The oldest was 16 years of age, and the youngest in the arms of the mother. They had arrived with all ten kids with the help of divine providence. They shared with me how when they were still singles, their love for World Youth Days drew them closer, and during their courtship they kept going whenever God permitted together.
Now after getting married, they had promised each other to trust that Our Good Lord would always provide for them to carry on that tradition with their children, just as Mary and Joseph annually took Jesus on a pilgrimage.
They had a very limited budget that year, and kept asking for the intercession of our Blessed Mother to make a way. Usually WYD packages go pretty fast along with accomodations, and etc... They were regularly checking trusting that if she wanted them to take the kids this year again to deepen their knowledge of the Faith - she would make a way.
A week before World Youth Day in Spain, the plane tickets dropped radically, so radically that; it was within their budget, but even lower than what they had set for budget. Upon arriving in Madrid, Spain - there were no more accomodations, when someone who had just purchased a house there and was among those giving pilgrims their back packs said: 'Why don't you come stay at my house for the week?' I will not be there for the week.
Such is the testimony that I just shared with you in short. I am let you partake in this because the two poems of today are inspired of Pope Francis' Homily at the National Shrine of our Lady of Conception of Aparecida today, and by the reminder of the story of this family I was blessed to meet in Madrid. Indeed God can surprise us if we allow ourselves to be open - such is the beauty of being a pilgrim, yet a challenge at times. We wonder how many blessings do we throw away at times.
- Poem 51 -----"130 -149 - 19"
- Poem 52 -----"130 - 148 - 19"
Thank You...
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
131 Days - 150 Poems - 19 Posts (Poem 50)
Dear Readers,
Today's poem is inspired by the Homily of Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta retransmitted live on EWTN and transcribed already by Salt and Light Television. Delivered at the Opening Mass this evening on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, July 23, 2013. Every baptized person is a missionary, but before we do so - we must recognize that the Lord is speaking to us and answer like Samuel "Speak Lord your servant is listening."
Homily of Archbishop Tempesta
Throughout these days of the 28th World Youth Day being held in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil, I will be inspired of it quite a bit because I will be following it thoroughly. Though my body is here, my soul is in communion with the thousands who are witnessing the Good News.
Countdown: 131 Days - 150 poems - 19 Weeks /Poems left to post
Good Night
Today's poem is inspired by the Homily of Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta retransmitted live on EWTN and transcribed already by Salt and Light Television. Delivered at the Opening Mass this evening on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, July 23, 2013. Every baptized person is a missionary, but before we do so - we must recognize that the Lord is speaking to us and answer like Samuel "Speak Lord your servant is listening."
Homily of Archbishop Tempesta
Throughout these days of the 28th World Youth Day being held in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil, I will be inspired of it quite a bit because I will be following it thoroughly. Though my body is here, my soul is in communion with the thousands who are witnessing the Good News.
Countdown: 131 Days - 150 poems - 19 Weeks /Poems left to post
Good Night
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