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Morning Reflections
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
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time | February 12, 2023 This gospel reflection is based on Matthew 5:17-37.
Truth at Heart by Deacon Andy Cirmo
This prophet, this carpenter’s son This man from lowly Nazareth This prophet Yesua of whom all speak Who with words which bless our ears Makes all clear and teaches truth
This Son of David, this preacher This miracle worker from Galilee This carpenter’s son of whom John spoke Who is a wondrous teacher and prophet Shows us the meaning of Law
Our hearts burn as we hear him So clearly teaching the core of all truth That God wants us not just in obedience But in faithfulness to his love Not just in the signs of the written law
Our minds are shown such clarity When he speaks of how we treat each other Acting not just as the law requires But from the depths of our heart As brother and sister above all
He comes not to remove the law But to clarify the love of the Father Teaching us how to reflect this love in life In how we act and live and judge Understanding the letter in its full meaning
That we should follow the law Not because of its detail and severity But because of its deepest meaning To come through life’s difficulty and pain That of fulfilling God’s desire for us
That all live and love and come to him One by one and one with another Overcoming earthly darkness and doubt By finding and following truth in him alone And live the law of love and heart
Dear Jesus, help me to live in the light of your love By not just checking off the letters of your law But by always seeking peace of heart By always acting in truth and selflessness And by understanding and living The truth of your righteousness