Catholic Meditations

Sing how the Son emptied himself entering into creation,
Creator of all, choosing this lowly station,
Carried nine months near his mother's heart.
He became poor and humble, not rich and grand,
But as one of the lowly, working by hand,
Knowing how to earn his bread by muscle and art.

In love, He preached the way to live for light,
Healing and leading us out of the night,
Misunderstood by many who would turn away.
He suffered agony in the garden, burdened with our sin,
Obeying the Father, grief stricken within,
Knowing full well the evil of man to this day.

For love, He let himself be betrayed and denied,
Alone he stood before the judges, deserted, decried
Like a sheep to the slaughter, silent and mild.
He allowed himself to be mocked and abused,
Slapped, punched, lied about, unfairly accused
Of nothing but truth, a truth they defiled.

He stood there and took the stripes we deserve,
To heal wounded souls without any reserve,
Each mark, each wound, a sign of his love.
He accepted the crown of thorns, woven in spite,
A mockery of who he was, king of all light,
Perversion of his crown in heaven above.

For love, He bore his cross willingly,
Condemned with the wicked, a gift offered free,
To the Father above who would heal us this way.
He was nailed to the cross to bleed and to die
The new passover, as his mother did cry,
Entering death's night, he brought a shining new day.

Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: Jesus' Love, Passion of Christ

That Friday morning the city saw a sight,
Swollen with the crowd,
Chattering and loud,
Witness to a miracle of light,
An amazing thing they would not understand.

That Friday as an angry group cried out,
Yelling in the streets
As the hard whips beats
His back for them even while they shout,
Offering his all into the Father's hand.

The bored and angry soldiers marched along,
Dragging three three to die
Crossbeams held up high
Followed by a sad and angry throng
Stopping only when he falls onto the sand.

They reached the place of death by city gate
A place for all to see
The dying infamy.
Those coming for the feast arriving late,
Had to pass the noisy execution band.

An amazing thing was wrought for all to see,
Although they did not know
There as his blood did flow
A new sacrifice was made to set men free,
A gift of love to heal the heart's demand.

Lord bring me back in mind to see that day
When burdened by man's sin,
You died to let us in
Into the light of heaven's golden way,
Love's triumph that the dark could not withstand.

Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: Friday Meditations, Passion of Christ

O see, an unseen hand now writes
Upon life's trembling wall,
Carving letters made of light
To read, for one and all.
Counted, counted, weighed, divided --
The words He writes in warning.
O will you watch them fade away,
Forget ere comes the morning?

The writing is upon the wall,
Counted, weighed, divided --
O will the hand bring you to tears,
When you find out what's decided?
The book of life is in His hands,
Your actions tallied, all
O will you turn and walk away
Or listen to the call?

Counted counted are the cries
That rise to Heaven's door,
Mothers weeping in the night,
Their hearts a-breaking sore,
Hungry children, broken souls,
Forgotten, left to die,
God hears the pain that we let slide,
and marks down every sigh.

Weighed each answer to His call,
weighed each turn away.
Weighed each time we answer yes,
Weighed each quiet nay,
The answers written in His book,
the count made very sure --
The motives noted for each act,
greed or lust, or pure.

The day will come with trembling knees,
when we stand there at his call,
He will look within his book
to judge us one and all.
Each sheep and goat will take their place,
Each stand to left and right,
O will you name be in the place
of darkness or of light?

The writing comes as no surprise,
The Word gives out its warning.
No hidden scripts to puzzle out,
The truth as clear as morning.
Two thousand years God's made it clear,
Two thousand years and more.
O let His words work in your heart,
O open up the door!

Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: Judgment, Last things, Need for God, scripture

Meditation on Luke 6: 27-36

Lord, you ask the hardest things sometimes,
to love those who hate us,
to act kindly towards those who wish to harm us,
to bless those who wish us dead.

O Lord, give me the strength
to break the chains of hate
that tie us to sin's blackness,
weighing us down with anger,
and pain,
retaliation,
shame,
breeding darkness from darkness,
grief from grief..

When I see the depths of anger and hate that surrounds us,
I recoil in fear and disgust and disbelief,
for such a thing comes not from above,
no matter how much they do it in the name of God,
or Peace,
or Right,
or Self-determination.
Such things come only from the pit.

Teach me how to be an instrument of your peace
In an era fraught with danger, hate and night.
Touch my hands that they may act in peace
your way, for your reasons.
Touch my lips, that they may say words of blessing
the way you would have it be,
even to those who would harm me.
Touch my heart
That I may learn how to act lovingly
Even when my mind screams out for blood,
Help me to do this because you asked it,
Help me to do this through your help,
Help me to do this for your glory,
This day, and always,
Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: Discipleship, Love of Neighbor, scripture

Black as the night, and blacker than dark
Are the ways of sin that burn through the world,
Hatred and Greed and Pride's banner unfurled,
Coursing so redly like Cain's throbbing mark.

O Lord you have shown me, shown all who would see
What the wages of sin are across the land,
Wages that hunger and ever command
Payment in blood and death and grief and misery.

Each harsh word, each blow, each theft in the night,
Bombs blowing up in unwary market places,
Each lording over another, injustice that races
To breed new darkness and hate to smother the light --

These are creatures of the pit, the dragon's delight,
Brought forth in abundance since Mother Eve's choosing,
Binding us in chains of dark bitter accusing --
Satan wanting to show God we are not worth his sight.

And yet God still loves us, the work of his hands,
And showed us the way to break those dark chains
Long ago it seems now, but his touch still remains
To deliver the hearts of those caught in dark lands.

"Love those who hate you, " his soft words proclaim,
A message that seems overwhelming to do,
Breaking the hate chains of darkness anew
By refusing to pass on by action the same.

By action and prayer and love do not stain
Your soul with the evil passed down from the fall,
This is his answer, this is his call
To those of us who would break dark night's chain.

So hard to do, this call now to love,
So hard for us sin-sick, made out of mud
So hard that he gave his own bright heart's blood
To give us the strength from heaven above

To change the world and let in the light,
Showing there's hope in the sorrow of life,
Showing a way out of sin and of strife,
Showing a way out of the endless night

If we answer the call.

Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: Jesus' Love, man's inhumanity, Need for God

Meditation on Malachi 6:8

Nations now rage across the world,
pax, pax vobiscum,
Sword in hand, flags unfurled,
Et cum spiritu tuo.

They stand for good, they stand for greed,
pax, pax vobiscum,
They rage over words, they kill over creed
Et cum spiritu tuo.

Voices weeping in the night,
pax, pax vobiscum,
breed new hates by morning's light.
Et cum spiritu tuo.

Daughters slain for father's pride
pax, pax vobiscum,
Mothers kill their child inside,
Et cum spiritu tuo.

Orphans are removed from sight,
pax, pax vobiscum,
Disappearing in the night.
Et cum spiritu tuo.

Dogs fed better than homeless man,
pax, pax vobiscum,
Ragpickers living where they can,
Et cum spiritu tuo.

God turned into sign of war,
pax, pax vobiscum,
A bloody mark upon the door,
Et cum spiritu tuo.

O who will break these chains of night,
pax, pax vobiscum,
And lead the weeping into light?
et cum spiritu tuo.

God has told you what to do
pax, pax vobiscum,
To live with Him and brothers, too,
et cum spiritu tuo.

Walk humbly with Him, hand in hand,
pax, pax vobiscum,
To find that peace across the land,
et cum spiritu tuo.

Know all you see are God's children,
pax, pax vobiscum,
Treat all like they belong to him,
et cum spiritu tuo.

Walk in the paths of justice right,
pax, pax vobiscum,
Love mercy like it's Heaven's light
et cum spiritu tuo.

Act lovingly to rich and poor,
pax, pax vobiscum,
And God will open wide his door.
et cum spiritu tuo.

The peace that comes from Heaven's touch
pax, pax vobiscum,
requires your all, returns so much,
et cum spiritu tuo.

This peace is passed from hand to hand,
pax, pax vobiscum,
across a dark and savage land
et cum spiritu tuo.

Nations may rage, but there within
pax, pax vobiscum,
You'll find God's peace where he's let in
et cum spiritu tuo.

Man may maim and man may kill,
pax, pax vobiscum,
The light of God will reach out still.
et cum spiritu tuo.

(pax, pax vobiscum = peace, peace be with you
et cum spiritu tuo = and with your spirit)

Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: current evils, Jesus' Love, man's inhumanity, Need for God, scripture

The white wool sits there in my hand,
the wheel goes round and round and round,
As the thread is formed, a thin white strand,
And the wheel goes round and round.

Once it sat on back of ewe,
The wheel goes round and round and round,
And knew the sun, the feel of dew,
And the wheel goes round and round.

Once it knew the shearer's hand,
The wheel goes round and round and round
all gathered up in a dirty white band,
And the wheel goes round and round.

Once it met the water clear,
and the wheel goes round and round and round,
That made its grime all disappear,
And the wheel goes round and round.

Once it met the woolen card,
And the wheel goes round and round and round
To make it smooth and not so hard,
And the wheel goes round and round.

And soon it will be cloth of wool,
and the wheel goes round and round and round,
To keep me from the winter's cool,
and the wheel goes round and round.

The hand of God works like that too,
and the wheel goes round and round and round
Takes me through each step I rue,
and the wheel goes round and round,

Finds me wild then cuts the dross,
and the wheel goes round and round and round,
The tool he uses is his own cross,
And the wheel goes round and round.

Baptismal waters to wash my soul
and the wheel goes round and round and round,
And his own love to make me whole,
And the wheel goes round and round,

His cleansing comb sweeps through my life,
and the wheel goes round and round and round,
to straighten out the noise and strife,
and the wheel goes round and round and round.

Spun into thread for God's tapestry
and the wheel goes round and round and round,
I'm part of that bright cloth, you see,
and the wheel goes round and round.

Each life is precious in his hand,
And the wheel goes round and round and round,
Each life has place, a shining strand
And the wheel goes round and round.

The cloth he makes a shining white,
And the wheel goes round and round and round,
To clothe his Bride in linen bright,
And the wheel goes round and round.

And when the last strand's woven in
And the wheel goes round and round and round,
The wedding feast will then begin.
And the wheel goes round and round.

Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: Discipleship, Jesus' Love

Now at this time when I come here to be
with just you and I, O most dear Lord of me,
Let me stand in your presence, all quiet and stilled,
Anchored on your words, O Lord, open and filled.
Anchored in your love, O Lord, which changes me,
Anchored to your cross, O Lord, which sets me free.
This be my resting place, my lamp in the night,
My ark in the flood, my fortress of light.
My solid rock are You, my hope and my way
Jesus, my Savior, guide me each day.
Dear Lamb of God who bore all to save me,
Teach me to love you more - how I want to be
Anchored here firm in what will not fade away,
Safe in your hand til I come home to stay.

Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: Discipleship, Loving God

Now, in this moment, at this minute,
Let me stand here,
Firm, unmoved,
anchored on your words, O Lord,
anchored in your love, O Lord,
anchored to your cross, O Lord.
This be my resting place,
my fortress in the darkness,
my strength in the flood,
my sold rock,
my hope.
Jesus, Savior,
Lamb of God
You who take away the sins of the world,
teach me to love you more,
anchored here
in the love that will not fade,
in the palm of your hand.

Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: Discipleship, God Our Shelter, Loving God

How do we walk, O Lord, when we see the darkness falling?
How do we stand, O Lord, when the winds are blowing long?
How do we pray, O Lord, when shouts are growing louder?
How do we love, O Lord, when the evil seems so strong?

Let me recall that night You prayed there in the garden,
All alone with grief, of knowing what would be,
How heavy was the weight of sin upon your shoulders,
How your heart longed to leave, but you chose to set us free.
You let them take you there, you chose to walk the darkness,
You let them take you there, and let the Father be your light
You let Him guide your steps, in pain and blood and sorrow,
You stepped out in the dark, and let the Father be your sight.

O teach me Lord, to trust, when darkness is around me,
O help me walk in faith when I cannot see my way,
O let me know that You will guide me where You want me
O help me trust You, Lord, to lead me into day.


O let me remember, Lord, how you stood there next to Pilate,
Marked there with blood and dirt, a crown of twisted thorn,
Marked with the harsh whip's stripes you bore to heal the broken,
Prepared to bear your cross, our salvation being born.
You let them mock you there, as you listened to their howlings,
You let them call you fool to bring us through Death's night.
You took their blows and words, an offering to the Father,
In grief and pain and blood, you brought the world to light.

O teach me Lord, to give when others seek to stop me,
O help me stand in faith when they try to block my way,
O let me know that You will guide me where You want me
O help me trust You, Lord, to lead me into day.

Let me remember how they nailed you to the crossbeam,
And raised your body up between the earth and sky
And then you looked at those who chose to take your life there,
And prayed forgiveness on the ones who made you die.
You let them take your life, you gave it to the Father,
A sacrifice in love, to open up the way
No cursing passed your lips as your blood dripped out in offering,
But words of blessing there were what you had to say.

O teach me Lord your words when others try to harm me,
O help me stand in faith and remember how to pray,
O let me know that You will guide me where You want me
O help me trust You, Lord, to lead me into day.

You were the sacrifice that opened wide God's mercy,
The weight of sin you bore to free us from our plight
Emmanuel, you came, Creator to creation
And went down into death to lead us into light.
The face of love is yours, no other is as perfect,
You put your hand in ours to show us how to be,
And if we take your hand, you will guide us to tomorrow,
Refined, transformed and white, in loving purity.

O teach me Lord, to love, when loving is not easy,
O help me stand in faith when death draws near to stay,
O let me know that You will guide me where You want me
O help me trust You, Lord, to lead me into day.


Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: Discipleship, Passion of Christ, Trust

Abba, Father, hear me call You --
What a gift given by Your Son,
To call You, O most holy One,
And know You are my parent, too.

You, who breathed upon the water
At the dawning of all things,
You, the source from which all springs,
Let me call you Abba, Father.

Let Your name be ever holy
In our hearts and in our minds,
Yours the love that heals and finds
Place to care for weak and lowly.

Abba, Father, hear my prayer,
Shape me in Your loving hand,
Lover of my soul, I stand
Before You thankful for Your care.

Grateful, let my song arise,
Abba, Father, for your love
That lets my heart soar above --
Keep me ever in Your eyes.

Susan E. Stone, 2007

Labels: Loving God, Praise and Thanksgiving