Author Archives: Be Holy
Solemnity of Mary
The Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel; you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them” (Num 6:22-27
Today is the Octave of Christmas, the Solemnity of Mary – the Holy Mother of God, and the World Day of Peace. As we remember the ancient blessing God gave the Israelites, may we be reminded of the Incarnation. For through the Incarnation of the Son of God through Mary His Mother, the peace that the world cannot give begins to be among us. Mary’s “sorrowing heart was enlarged to make room for all men and women, whether good or bad,” she offers “her maternal affection to each and every person… a source of hope and true joy.”
Our God Reigns
Death walks,
Hooded and insolent.
It stalks,
Brandishing fear,
That none, but the tried,
Remain true.
They, by vow and vigil,
Are wed and bound.
Where comes the glue,
To hold fast,
To see it thru.
Who renders fortitude
To stay the course,
Stretch to the measure,
Fight to preserve the Treasure.
Fast and pray,
They are want to say.
Put not aside,
The shawl of prayer.
Let incense fill the air.
Here at the altar of sacrifice,
Lay down your heavy heart.
Now’s the time.
Mustard the children!
Yes, the children, and childlike, too!
Humanity,
Purchased on the Tree,
Be one with me.
Cast off the fear of Death.
Aside saints and angels,
Battles need be fought.
Victory, with Christ’s Blood, bought.
For peace descends,
Lowered from heaven,
To render “unclean” cleansed.
With priestly words,
Transforming gifts
Of bread and wine,
That sate the hungry
As, in Love, we dine.
“More than a conqueror”,
O, Holy Flesh,
Of Bethlehem’s crèche,
And Golgotha’s Cross,
Now, and unto eternity,
In triumph, and in mercy,
Reign.
C 2020 Joann Nelander
