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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
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
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
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
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