Poems and Reflections

Life and Time

Lord, this is a time to begin; a time to let you in
Time to answer your call; time to call upon you
For every time there is a season; a new beginning
Time for: praying, listening, hoping, and believing

Seek out the kingdom; embrace the power of love
Let go of every vice and burden weighing us down
Allow the Spirit of Truth to work miracles in our lives
Time to flee the darkness; be enveloped by the light

Lord, this is a time to win; a time to conquer sin
Time to cast doubt away; time to live lives of faith
This is a time of grace; time to sing songs of praise
Time to understand; "Life" is in the palm of your hand

Reflection/Homily: First (1st) Sunday of Lent Year C (February 17 2013)
Theme: The Temptations of Jesus

This first Sunday of lent, the gospel reading (Luke 4:1-13) presents us with the temptations of Jesus Christ in the wilderness. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness immediately after his baptism for a forty day period of prayer and fasting. Jesus went to prepare for the commencement of his public ministry. As we begin our annual Lenten observance, it is worthwhile to learn from Jesus’ experience that nobody is above temptation and that the closer we are to God, the more we are tempted. From Jesus’ temptations, we realize that almost all our temptations are either to satisfy the desires of our flesh or to acquire material goods or to presume divine favours.

The first temptation of Jesus concerns the human appetite and all that the flesh desires. The devil said to him “if you are the son of God, tell this stone to turn into bread”. But Jesus replied “The Scripture says: No one can live on bread alone.” The devil wanted Jesus to use his supernatural power to satisfy the desire of his flesh (hunger). But Jesus conquered this temptation by proving to the devil that “matter” (food) was not the only thing required for man’s survival and that we must not use what we have to get what we want when it pertains to the desires of the flesh.

Today, we are often tempted to use what we have to satisfy the desires of our flesh. That is why some people use their wealth, influence and position to lure young girls and boys into immorality. Others engage in alcoholism and the consumption of hard drugs while others still engage in all sorts of sexual immorality just to satisfy the desires of their flesh. In conquering this temptation, Jesus is teaching us to consider the desires of the spirit as more important than the desires of the flesh. We should always be aware that the devil knows what is pleasing to our appetite and tempts us with that. Therefore, we should be conscious not to give in to lust, gluttony, and inordinate desires of the flesh for these temptations come when our bodies are vulnerable.

The second temptation of Jesus as recorded in the gospel reading concerns the acquisition of power and material goods. The devil took Jesus to a place where he would see the kingdoms of the world and said to him “I can give you power over all the world and all their wealth … provided you worship me”. But Jesus replied “Scripture says: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.” We observe that in our world today people are ready to worship anybody or thing that can guarantee them material goods, fame, success and honour. That is why people engage in all sorts of evil such as examination malpractice, prostitution, disgusting behaviours like the “Sugar-mummy syndrome”, kidnapping, injustice robbery, murder, extortion under the disguise of religion, etc just to acquire wealth, power, success, honour, etc. Jesus’ response therefore teaches us never to bow down to anything or body we have deified such as the evils mentioned above in other to receive material goods or power.

The third temptation of Jesus concerns the presumption of divine favour. The devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and said to him “If you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written God will order his angels to take charge of you…” But Jesus replied “Scripture says: You shall not tempt the lord your God”. Today, the devil still tempts us to presume a lot of things about God’s promises especially about the mercy of God. That is why many people consciously engage in sinful acts and presume God will simply understand and forgive them since He is a merciful God. We are tempted to presume that God will grant us success even when we have not read, that God will give us children even when we have destroyed our wombs in abortion, that God will grant us healing even when we do not make efforts to treat ourselves. This is a temptation to accept the gospel of prosperity.


Please complete the next paragraph here: http://www.uwakwereflections.com/201...sunday-of.html

One more thought...I have been contemplating all night...my appointment to see Father to discuss my calling more and to get involved with my Episcopal church is coming up on the 21st ...I have to get to know the parish and familiarize myself with the church....little anxious....the best decision I have made to listen to God...but still a huge one with great responsibility in the future....I was just thinking..I had felt a little unworthiness to proclaim Gods word because of a sinful past...or I would of not be able to preach as well as my grandfather did....he was Southern Baptist..fire and brimstone. ..I think I desire a little of that but I am soft spoken...well I was just thinking /praying this...I pray in the future after I have made it through my journey to priesthood..I pray to God that he will send me the loneliest,bitterest,most hateful,the most sinful ,the most self centered,the angriest and the ones that are most in need of his precious love..because I was at one time "ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED"and a little more..Because I know what it is like...been there done that and I will understand ..understanding, compassion and non judging are qualities that I know I can use to lead others to him...used to regret my hard knocks..but they have conditioned me and formed me into who I am today..

ROSEO..I was Catholic..I had to leave because of my call


having a very spiritual day and reflecting upon lent

Jesus,
We reflect upon your passion
and selfless sacrifice for all.
You are our beloved,
our Lord,
our one true Savior.
Your precious gift of salvation
releases all sin that binds
Your precious blood has
washed us clean...

Hi TONYG...God bless you and thank you for your beautiful poetry
HI ROSEO..good to see you

Just some thoughts of mine :

GRATEFUL for certain people in my life that were bad and good for me. Honestly I have learned so much from the people...I have learned who to listen to and who to not, who to believe in and who to not.,who to trust in and who to not and most of all who is a real confidant and who is not...biggest lesson is when you find the ones who have all the right who to's..hold on to them

Hello DON and everyone ...prayers and blessings

PathWalker - Roseo - Kelly---Amen

Lord, finally I realize my purpose
My heart you truly know
Within darkness, you sent light
to all that was weakened from below
In all undefined and peculiar
unanswered and untamed,
you sent direction and courage to refrain
As I look at what lies before me
sinking low within my chair
contemplating within the shadows
through your strength I will fare
As I give myself to you Lord
As I answer your beckon call
With your strength and guidance
with you, I will never fall..

Souled

I was in the lane at the office store
A young man walked up next to me
Did you find what you're looking for
Then proceeded to take care of me

Walking back at the end of the lane
He started speaking with his friend
What I heard him saying souled me
The goods I needed when I came in

He spoke the good news with conviction
Unafraid of anyone that was listening in
I was souled on the his love for scripture
He was bold; I was souled - hearing him

I went up to him saying, it's refreshing
Listening to you speak the way you do
No fear of a negative soul listening in
I wanted to say to you, God bless you

Saying, that he is not ashamed at all
No apologies for his Spirit filled faith
This is a young man just standing tall
He souled good news to me that day

He spoke the good news with conviction
Unafraid of anyone that was listening in
I was souled on the his love for scripture
He was bold; I was souled - hearing him
A young man, the good news - God bless you!

beutiful poem path walker ..thank you!!


amen

with each drop
i decrease
and what a
good thing
that IS.

kelly...all this time i thought you were catholic?? so i was a
lot shocked when i read you wanted to be a priest??? now i see why it entered your thoughts.
still stunned by our pope stepping down...
miss him already...he is truly a brillliant thinker
and probably would be so acclaimed if he wasn't connected to the catholic church.

been a while since i posted..hope all is well with everyone and once again i hope to get closer to our Lord this lenten season. could use a lot of prayers......so thanks in advance to any who are so inspired.

Journey of 40 Days

Today we begin our journey
Eagerly taking one step into the unknown
Armed with trust
Beginning with the acknowledgement
Of our nothingness
Denying the needs of the passing
With emptiness, needing to be filled
We remove our blinders
Unmasking the world
Closing the divide

Let us see with new eyes
Let us hear with opened ears
Let us learn with empty hearts
Let us give with Your abundant love

Tomorrow, the journey begins. My prayer is that, together, we as a family of poets, will use the gift that we have been given, to further the Kingdom of God and to proclaim His truths. I wish you all a blessed Lenten journey. Peace, Anthony