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Be Filled with the Holy Spirit.
Find a peaceful start to your day with spiritual self care and divine inspiration.
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Morning Reflections
Pentecost Sunday | May 28, 2023
This gospel reflection is based on John 20:19-2.
Sent Forth
by Deacon Andy Cirmo
We have returned to Jerusalem as he told us
And now he has returned as he said
A feeling of peace penetrates our souls
As we hear his voice and see him again
Jesus, Lord, who we feared abandoned us
Has come among us in all his glory
And brought us the peace we so long for
Our hearts and souls are in such turmoil
It is really him, Jesus, the Son of God
Who has come to lead us out of darkness
And fill our hearts with Spirit and truth
He is with us again; and we rejoice
Oh that he would remain with us
For the peace he gives is real peace
From he and also from the Father
As he is again among us even now
We long for this peace of which he speaks
As we hide in fear amid threats
Fear that we are indeed hunted
Yet his presence and voice brings calm
Just now he has breathed upon us
And what was hidden is now seen
What was unknown is now known
What was confusing is now understood
To our surprise by his Word we are sent
Into a world which does not welcome us
Yet on the breath of God our hearts soar
And we are filled with the Spirit and Truth
His words send us forth into the unknown
His breath brings us the Spirit and strength
His glorious presence lifts us up
As he speaks our hearts burn with love
And now we look calmly outward
Into an unwelcoming world
filled with passion and zeal
With a courage we have never had
To tell of him, to baptize with the Spirit
And to forgive sins as we encounter them
To retain those we cannot
Now filled with the Spirit we are lifted up
To re-enter the world revealing the good news
To Jew and Gentile alike without limitation
Facing whatever resistance we will
Carried forth by the Spirit
To all the world
Dear Jesus, Thank You and the Father
For the Gift of the Holy Spirit
To guide and strengthen us
As we bring your message
Of the Way, Truth and Life
To a world which tries to pull us off the Way
Which resists and re-creates truth
Which devalues life itself
Of this we Pray
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Sixth Sunday of Easter | May 14, 2023
This gospel reflection is based on John 14:15-21.
Of Spirit and Truth
by Deacon Andy Cirmo
Who is this holy Advocate
Of whom Jesua says will stay
Who within us he says will remain
To assure us and to help us live
As he speaks of his leaving today
We want to be with no one else
Hearing painful words of your leaving
For Jesua for us you are fully enough
How our ears and hearts now ache
As we listen through our grieving
Yet you speak of a Spirit of truth
Who will be with us yet unseen
Oh how can this mystery be true
This hard message he tells us today
How of all this can we believe
He leaves us soon for his Father
But not as orphans, does he say
For he will be and remain with us
And so through us and in us
Through this Advocate, this Way
Oh how we lament his leaving
Nothing will ever be the same
Yet it’s clear this will not be
He must return to the Father
But his words and love remain
Oh that we might join him
As his leaving hurts to hear
Yet he speaks of revealing himself
Now he goes forth to his Father
And we wipe away each tear
We will keep his commandments
As he clearly to us did tell
We’ll miss his voice and his face
Always remaining close to him
And thus to his Father as well
Dear Jesus
As you go to the Father
Send us this holy Advocate
Of whom You speak today
Help us to have the wisdom
As we live as you taught us to do
To know and do what you say -
Fifth Sunday of Easter | May 7, 2023
This gospel reflection is based on John 14:1-12.
Prepare a Place
by Deacon Andy Cirmo
We have long now followed You
Through time and distance
To places familiar and those new
Over friendly and unfriendly ground
Through doubt and certainty
Yet now You are leaving us
And so without us, why?
To where will You go?
You’re leaving hurts to hear
As we are one with you
We long to be with You wherever You go
But You say now: we cannot follow
Yet You say: to prepare a place for us
It is beyond our understanding
Why with You we cannot go
But what You have said encourages
You go to prepare a place
There will be a many places for us
At Your side when we can finally come
There will be joy in those days
Yet You say we know the way
Oh if we did we’d certainly follow
You have said that You are the way
Which is beyond our ears and eyes
Show us this way dear Lord to follow
Show us the way to the Father
Bring us with You Lord we pray
Yet we are corrected and directed
With loving and forgiving word
To a hard understanding of the One
That through Jesua we see the Father
And also hear His Father’s voice
That through Him alone
We see and feel the Father’s hand
Oh that our eyes could be opened
Dear Jesus,
Help me see and believe in my unbelief
To know and be with You and the Father
To follow You forever at Your side
Together forever as always as One
Bound by the love of the Holy Spirit
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Fourth Sunday of Easter | April 30, 2023
This gospel reflection is based on John 10:1-10.
Holy Recognition
by Deacon Andy Cirmo
Who is this who slyly now enters
Whose voice I do not know
A stranger to me in all ways
Unknown and coming suddenly
One in whom I do not trust
For he comes a different way
One which is unfamiliar to me
Likely only with mal intent
And in fear I will not follow
One who is not to me known
He did not enter through the gate
Rather through a different way
I do not know how or why but I fear
One who will not lead but pull us away
One seeking to pull us away from here
His voice strange and unfamiliar
His sound is not my shepherd’s call
One I have never heard before
One uncomfortable and I fear
One which I do not trust at all
I listen for my shepherd’s call
His strong hand and voice known
For it is he of whom I know well
He is the only one safe to follow
For his hand and voice I trust alone
He has led us to water when we thirst
He has fed us when the need comes
He alone has come to lead us out
He alone has our trust and faith
In him we are safe, only he is the One
Dear Jesus,
You are my holy shepherd
The guardian of your flock
You are the gatekeeper of my soul
You are the only voice I must follow
For you alone lead us to safety
And my trust is in you alone
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Third Sunday of Lent | March 12, 2023
This gospel reflection is based on John 4:5-42.
The Well
by Deacon Andy Cirmo
I saw him sitting by Jacob’s well
Quietly in the sweltering heat
In the hot, dry dustiness of midday
Calmly present, waiting for someone
As I sneak in the shadows and stay
I’m frightened but must get water
This is the only time of day I can
For of me they cannot see
I am a sinner and could be stoned
In hope I pray that he won’t reveal me
In this burning heat he looks peaceful
With a gentle coolness of smile and voice
This could be a trap to catch me
Asking me now to take my cup…I think not
Yet In his eyes a cool calmness I see
He wants a drink? Of all people, from me?
Clearly he is dressed like a Jew
And should not be near my life of sin
Yet he asks again and speaks strangely
He somehow thinks I should know him
Now he speaks of a living water he will give
He has no bucket nor cup yet I am cooled
Telling me I will never again thirst
Oh I must drink of this living water
And he nods and smiles at first
In his eyes I see my heart
He must be the prophet of which all speak
And now foretells of our worship
Neither on the mountain nor Temple
But in Spirit and in Truth
I speak of the Messiah and he nods
Is he the One, who is to come?
To a Samaritan town, alone he goes!
And yet he himself says it is so
I believe because my soul he knows
I feel a weight lifted from my heart
As he sees my heart and speaks
His eyes and voice tell me to sin no more
To believe and be forgiven much
I must tell all of him, our Messiah, my Lord
He stays with us now, this Son of David
This holy prophet of God with us
And we believe in him and hear his call
Our hearts are healed and cry in joy
That he has come to us, to all
Dear Jesus, give me your living water
That I may be forgiven and refreshed
For you know my heart as I pray
That I may bring the wellspring of life
Your peace and your love
To all I meet every day -
Second Sunday of Lent | March 5, 2023
This gospel reflection is based on Matthew 17:1-9.
Wholly Changed
by Deacon Andy Cirmo
We have climbed with him
To the very mountaintop
Following as well as we can
A trek alien to men of the sea
Wondering, yet we will persist
This is a quest we have begun
A long while ago on this journey
To face what he wants us to see
For which we are wholly unprepared
Yet we have surmounted all on the way
As now in the bright light we witness
His countenance beyond our senses
A vision of prophets with him
The voice of the Father shakes us
As in fear we tremble
Yet we know it is good to be here
To witness we want to remain
In awe and wonder to behold
As the power of light envelops all
And his garments shine like the sun
For we too are changed just now
As we are bathed in this place of grace
And as we journey back down
Following Jesua back to the world
We are bursting with new joy
Yet this powerful wonder seen
Is not for us now to reveal
To those who are not ready
To witness the miracle he foretells
Of being raised from the dead
Transfigure me Lord
As I have received and see you in truth
Robe me now in your grace
Send me forth into the world
As I too descend from the mountaintop
With your love and blessing
And the gift of understanding -
First Sunday of Lent | February 26, 2023
This gospel reflection is based on Matthew 4:1-11.
Against Temptation
by Deacon Andy Cirmo
As it was said in test that day
In the dry desert of life
May these stones become bread
I believe in the power of the Son
And feeds the hungry with his love
And in his presence alone I truly find
The fulfillment of all my need
Holy nourishment for my soul
And all satisfaction in his love
The One who is true food
As it was said in test that day
From a vantage place on high
No eye can truly withhold
The power of the creator of all
Nor reveal his glorious wonder
And in he alone I truly find
The divine power of all giving love
Wholly beyond my understanding
At the edge of my comprehension
A holy all-fulfilling love which is life itself
As it was clearly seen on that day
From a place held high above
All that is, belongs to the One
Who is my creator and God
Who is love itself and all power
Dear Jesus,
Send me the power of your grace
To resist the temptation of pride
For you are the nourishment of my soul
Your strength alone is beyond all need
Your majesty on high I humbly serve
With my whole heart and being
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Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time | February 19, 2023
This gospel reflection is based on Matthew 5:38-48.
Love Above All
by Deacon Andy Cirmo
Turn my cheek, Love my enemy!
How can it be this which we must follow
So far from what we have been taught
Yet somehow its beauty is its truth
And its truth is its beauty
This teaching is so hard to hear
Because it is so different and counter
To all we have been taught
Yet our hearts burn at this message
As it in heart it changes everything
His word does not end or refute all
But fulfills its true meaning
It challenges our thoughts and minds
It now shows us a new way
Of living love rather than enforcing law
This teaching shows us such clear new lesson
That the law is the roadmap of God’s love
And that how we live is how we love
And how we love is how we live
In God’s love
This new law is a difficult challenge
For us all to bring to life in ours
Yet this teaching is not new at all
As in living it we fulfill the truth of old
And of the two greatest commandments
Can I live this way in reality
Turning the other cheek and loving my enemy
Can I so deeply embrace this teaching
That I no longer refuse one who would borrow
Oh that I have the strength to do this
Can I love those who hate me
Those who condemn and wrong me
And pray for those who persecute me
Do I have the will and the strength
To strive for such a change of heart
Dear Jesus, help me to live your love
Help me to have the strength of will
To act in ways of gentleness and love
In spite of my desire to defend and act
Against those who would tempt me
Be with me Lord