2015.03.06: not forbidden fruit

“Therefore, I say to you, “the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” – Mt 23:43

long after Eden
we still eat the fruit
of the Tree of Knowledge
and drink deeply
at the fountain of pride
we fill our days
with busyness
of our own creation
never having the time
to listen to the Word

is it any wonder
that we don’t recognize
our Lord in the flesh?
long after the cross
he still comes daily
with hands once nailed
to the cross
he offers us the fruit
of everlasting Life

will our eyes be blind?
will our ears be deaf?
will our hearts be hardened?
what is freely given
must be freely received
the Kingdom of God is here
the choice is still ours

2015.03.03: a servant’s prayer

“The greatest among you must be your servant.” – Mt 23:11

Lord Jesus,
you gave me eyes to see
let me not look for the admiration of others
you gave me ears to hear
let me not listen for the applause of the crowd
you gave me a mouth to speak
let me not sing praises to false gods
you gave me hands to serve
let me not help only those who can pay
you gave me a heart to love
let me not love only those who love me
grant me, Lord, the heart of a servant
let me taste the cup which you offer
never let me be separated from you
again

2015.03.02: boundless giving

For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you. – Lk 6:38

all water flows to the ocean. what matters
is the path that water takes to the ocean.
some runs off rocks and sodden fields
into streams and rivers back to the ocean.
others are soaked into parched land turning
once desolate lands where seeds are hopefully
planted into fields of bountiful harvest. water
that is poured into the ocean is pointless,
perhaps even wasteful, but hoarding water
keeping it from flowing in containers is
selfish, the ultimate act of pride. no matter
how big the container is the water will
become stagnant, tepid, and poisonous.
likewise love should be free and
flowing as boundless as the
Giver from which it came.