"God gives us love and grace. God understands. God cares. God wishes to have a relationship with us."
Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson
Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland
Song of the open table
God gives us Love and Grace so wide, so deep, so free,
A Mercy flowing endlessly to all humanity;
He understands our sorrow, each hidden joy and tear,
And whispers through the silence, “My dearest child, I'm here.”
For God desires relationship, not distance cold and far,
But closeness like a friendship that knows us as we are;
From dawn of time He’s called us, through ages past and new,
“To walk with Me in covenant, My heart belongs to you.”
From east to west His welcome rings, from north to southern lands,
Through every tongue and nation, held gently in His hands;
The peoples of all ages - past, present, yet to come -
Are gathered at His table where broken hearts are one.
No one is turned away there, no soul is left outside,
For Christ has opened fully the door none can divide;
At heaven’s feast He calls us, where love will never cease -
A banquet of forgiveness, of joy, of perfect peace.
So let us turn to God now, our true and living Way,
The Path that leads us homeward, the Truth that will not sway; Let us all thank Christ Jesus, Who bore our sin and shame,
Who gave Himself in Mercy, and called us each by name.
Let us rejoice we’re children of God’s redeeming plan,
Created for His Glory, restored in Son of Man;
Let kindness mark our footsteps, let truth our hearts refine,
And faithfulness be our offering to Love that is Divine.
Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon
mage courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "God embracing His children"
"Jesus promises to guide and equip us with everything we need in our lives."
Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson
Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland
Walking home with Christ
Jesus promises to guide us, to equip us day by day,
To walk with us in mercy along the narrow way;
He does not call and leave us to struggle on alone,
But shares with us His Goodness, and makes our hearts His home.
We need His love to hold us when life feels cold and dim,
We need His grace to strengthen each faltering step to Him;
We need His tender Presence when fears begin to rise -
The steady Light of Jesus, the Truth that never lies.
Our Saviour came to free us from chains we could not break,
To lift the weight of sinfulness no human hand could take;
And now He walks beside us, a friend both near and true,
Companion on the journey in all we say and do.
He gives the holy sacraments, rich gifts of sacred grace,
Through water, Word, and altar, He meets us Face to face;
Freely bestowed, yet treasured; received with grateful heart,
They keep us on the pathway when life feels torn apart.
Yet still He gives more graces than we could understand,
The hidden strength we needed, the touch of His own Hand;
He knows our deepest longing, the needs we cannot see, Christ fills each empty corner with Divine abundance free.
He is our loving Shepherd, our refuge and our song,
The One who leads the weary and makes the broken strong;
He is the Son of Heaven, in majesty arrayed -
In Our Lord alone we trust; unshaken, unafraid.
So help us, dearest Jesus, to follow where You lead,
To trust Your faithful promise, to rest in You indeed;
Equip us with Your Spirit, and guide us till we see
The home You’ve set before us - Your Love eternally.
Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland
Christ-Meaning of our lives
Jesus comes to walk our earth, to fill our days with light,
To give a weary world again its purpose, pure and right;
He enters in our silence, our sorrow and our strain,
And turns the weight of aching hearts to hope and love again.
Christ gives a name to teardrops that fall unseen and slow, He speaks into our darkness a peace the world can know;
Where fear once held its shadow and doubt would claim its place,
He brings the gentle assurance of His redeeming grace.
Christ breathes upon the broken, and life begins anew,
He calls the dead to rising with power Divine and true;
The blind behold His Glory, the sick are made to stand,
For healing flows like Mercy straight from His wounded Hand.
No day is lived in meaninglessness, no step without His plan,
For every soul is cherished within the heart of Man;
We rise not toward a voidness, but toward a promised home,
With Christ Himself beside us, we never walk alone.
The sacraments sustain us, like rivers full and deep,
Where grace becomes the water that wakes the soul from sleep; In each sacred moment, we learn anew and see,
That Christ has loved us wholly, and loves us endlessly.
So we are not forgotten, nor drifting without end -
But pilgrims on a journey where heaven’s roads descend;
Each morning holds a calling, each evening finds its rest,
For every life is woven into God’s eternal quest.
All praise to Christ our Saviour, the living Lord above,
All praise to Him Who meets us with everlasting Love;
All praise to Christ our King of Light, whose Mercy makes us free,
For He has filled our lives with hope and joy, that we may holy be.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Advent journey under starlight"
"Advent speaks of God's Plan of restoration, to bring His people back to Him."
Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson
Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland
Christ-Bridge between God and world
Advent is the dawn of God’s restoring plan,
The healing of creation, the heart of God and man;
For heaven once was shuttered, its bright gates sealed in night,
But Love Himself has opened them in Mercy, Truth, and Light.
The bond once torn asunder, when humankind fell away,
Is gently being mended in the promise of this day;
For God does not abandon the work His Hands have made -
He enters into darkness, that none of us be strayed.
A Child is born in stillness, in poverty and mild,
The Infinite made humble, the everlasting Child;
In Mary’s arms He rests there, in Joseph’s faithful care,
The Maker of all heavens now breathing earthly air.
In that quiet dwelling, a mystery takes its form -
The bridge between all brokenness, our shelter in the storm;
For Christ is God among us, the path we must obey,
The living way to Heaven which clearly shows the way.
Yet still the ancient battle resounds through time and space,
As pride and shadow struggle against this gift of grace;
For satan and his legions would keep us far apart, Yet Christ has come to conquer them with meek and pierced Heart.
The war is not yet ended, but victory is assured,
For every word God speaks is forevermore secured; History bends forward to the day all things are healed,
When God will reign in fullness and everyone has kneeled.
So Advent is our waiting, but also our surcease -
The promise of restoration, the dawning of His peace;
For we are God’s own people, though still we have travail, He has come to find us, His grace will give avail.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle "Advent journey under starlight"
Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland
Love untold
When two souls meet and truly see,
A quiet truth in dignity;
No trumpet sounds, no grand display -
Yet God is near in that still way.
A glance that lingers, soft and deep,
A vow unspoken both hearts keep;
In eyes that shine with gentle light,
Love’s sacred flame is born in sight.
And God, who formed each tender heart,
Beholds their union from the start;
He blesses love both pure and true,
When one lives more for thou than “you.”
Yet love is not a path of ease,
Nor always filled with joys that please;
For woven through its golden thread
Are trials where tears are quietly shed.
To love is risk, to trust, to give,
To place one’s heart in how two live;
Each soul laid bare, each weakness known,
No longer walking life alone.
At times the road grows steep and long,
And burdens test the faithful strong;
Yet hand in hand, through dark or day,
God grants the grace to find the way.
In every trial, a chance to grow,
In every pain, His mercies flow;
To learn of Him, of self, of grace,
Reflected in the other’s face.
For love that seeks the other’s good,
And serves as Christ has always stood;
Will rise above the selfish thought,
And bloom more bright by true support.
So step by step, though skies may dim,
Their journey draws them nearer Him; While hearts once joined in earthly love,
Are led at last to Heaven above.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Divine Blessing on love"
Queen of May, O gentle Mother fair, You watch our weary world with tender care; From heaven’s light your loving gaze descends, Upon your children, whom your heart befriends.
With blossoms bright we crown your holy brow, In love and prayer we make our humble vow. Each petal laid, a quiet act of grace, A sign of faith no darkness can erase.
You held dear Jesus, so fragile, pure, and mild, And taught the world through care of holy Divine Child. In simple deeds, in kindness softly shown, We echo love that in your life was sown.
In troubled times, as ever they have been, When hearts grow faint and hope becomes unseen; We turn to you, O Mother, calm and bright, To guide our steps again toward heaven’s true light.
Lead us, dear Mother Mary, upon the narrow way, Through shadowed paths wending onward into eternal day. We ask you keep us close, whatever may befall; Sweet Queen of May, our Mother, our dear beloved all.
GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IS AT ALL NIGHT PRAYER VIGIL. WHY NOT JOIN US?
We pray for:
Peace in the world and an end to war and violence
Food for those in need
Mercy for those in need of mercy
Justice for those in need of justice
For those who struggle with addiction
For all who have been affected by abortion
For all in prison
For the conversion to holiness of all
The poor, the hungry, and the homeless
The sick, the suffering, and those in hospital
Those struggling with anxiety, depression, and loneliness
Families facing hardship, division, or loss
Children who are neglected, vulnerable, or without guidance
The unemployed and those burdened by financial stress
Workers facing exhaustion, injustice, or unsafe conditions
Leaders of nations, that they may act with wisdom and justice
The Church and her mission in the world
Those who have lost faith or feel far from God
Victims of crime, abuse, and injustice
The elderly, especially those who feel forgotten
Students and teachers, for perseverance and wisdom
Those discerning their vocation in life
The protection of unborn life and respect for all human dignity
Care for creation and the environment
Those who have died, and the comfort of those who mourn
Gratitude for blessings received and prayers for continued guidance
For conversion to faith of those who are lonely for the Word of God
We pray for all in financial difficulty
We pray for all in legal difficulty
We pray for all new parents
We pray for those who have suffered bereavements
Prayer for the Needs of the World
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, entrusting to You the needs of the world. May our prayers rise before You with faith and trust.
For Peace in the World
We pray for peace among nations, an end to war and violence, and for all who suffer from conflicts.
For the Poor and the Suffering
We pray for the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, and all who endure hardship in body or spirit.
For Families and Communities
We pray for families facing division, for children in need of care, and for healing in homes and communities.
For Workers and Those in Need
We pray for the unemployed, for workers facing difficulty, and for all seeking dignity and purpose in their labour.
For the Church and All Souls
We pray for the Church, for those who have lost faith, for the dying, and for the souls of the departed.
Happy feast of St Joseph the Worker! Celebrated on May 1, this beautiful feast honours Saint Joseph as humble carpenter and faithful guardian of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Established by Pope Pius XII, the day reminds us that all honest labour - whether seen or unseen - has dignity and value in the Eyes of God.
In St Joseph, we find a model of quiet strength, dedication and trust. The example of St Joseph shows us that through our daily work, offered with love, we too can serve God and build His kingdom.
May this feast inspire us to carry out our tasks with faith, patience, and spirit of service.
Quiet Strength of the Worker Saint
On Labour’s day, the first of May,
We lift our hearts with joy and say:
All praise to Saint Joseph, man so fine, Worker strong through labour sublime.
With steady hands and spirit mild, Saint Joseph laboured for the Holy Child. While Jesus Christ learned at his side, Joseph hard work and love applied.
No task too small, no load too great, Saint Joseph bore them all with patient gait; Through silent strength, in faithful care,
He showed that God is always there.
A husband just, so gentle, wise,
With watchful heart and lifted eyes;
Protector, guide, both firm and kind, With trust in God, in heart and mind.
O model for all who strive,
To earn, to build, to serve, to thrive;
In every trade, in every place, Joseph's life reflects God’s hidden grace.
We turn to God, whose work began
The shaping of both earth and man;
Who blessed all labour from the start,
And writes His law on every heart.
Dear Joseph, teach us day by day,
To walk with faith along life’s way;
That all we do, both great and small,
May serve in love the Lord of all.
Mary anointed the Feet of Jesus with precious spikenard. She had purchased the costly jar of perfumed ointment. Years of saving, making items and selling them for small coins at market, the saving of a price of loaf and fasting in its stead. All these things Mary possibly did, and saved for a rainy day. Then, in one magnificent gesture, Mary purchased the jar of spikenard.
Mary gave witness that Jesus Christ is Messiah. She anointed the Feet of Christ with spikenard. Mary wept with repentance and gratitude at forgiveness of her sins. She showed her love for Jesus by washing His Feet with her tears, drying them with her hair. Though Mary caused scandal amongst those around, and Judas was concerned at possible waste, Jesus commended her. Christ said that Mary had anointed Him ahead of time, for burial.
Such deeds of love are never a waste. Rather, they are spending our best and all we have on Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Fragrance jar of devotion
In quiet streets where merchants cried, Where coins were earned with humble pride; A woman laboured, day by day, And slowly stored her gains away.
A loaf forgone, a hunger borne, One simple dress, now patched and worn; Small coins she saved from all she made, Through heat of sun and market trade.
Through years of want, through nights of prayer, She kept a treasure hidden there - Not gold for ease, nor wealth for show, But love that only Christ would know.
At last she found that costly grace, Pure spikenard sealed in fragile vase; A fragrance rare, a treasure bright, The sum of years brought into light.
Then came the hour, the sacred place, She stood before her Saviour’s Face; And knowing Him, her heart laid bare, She wept in love beyond compare.
Her tears fell soft upon His Feet, Sorrow before Mercy complete; For He had seen her hidden pain, And washed her soul from every stain.
She broke the jar - no thought of cost, No counting what the world called lost; The fragrance poured, so rich, so free, Her treasured act of dignity.
With loosened hair, she gently dried, The Feet of Him soon crucified; Her love proclaimed in silent art, Outpouring of her grateful heart.
The room was stirred with whispered blame, With judging eyes and words of shame; “Such waste,” they thought, “So strange a deed; The poor could have claimed this costly need!”
But one among them weighed the price, With mazed thought and guarded eyes - Judas spoke of loss, of squandered gold, Yet knew not love so sure and bold.
Then Christ, the Lord, with gentle Voice, Declared her act the truest choice: “She has anointed Me this day, Preparing for My burial way.”
No gift of love is ever waste, When offered pure, though sacred haste; For what we give with all our heart, Becomes of heaven’s realm a part.
O may we learn from Mary’s grace, To seek our Lord, to know His Face; To spend our best, our all, our store, On Him whom we are longing for.
For He is Christ, the Holy One, God’s own beloved, eternal Son - And love like hers shall ever stand, Remembered in His saving Hand.
Jesus wept at the loss of Lazarus, His dear friend. The Master also wept as He witnessed the grief of the family and friends. God had made Adam and Eve from the earth, had breathed His own Life into the clay figures. We, descendants of the first parents, are joyful to be children of God, heirs of His Breath.
Yet, God had not experienced what His creations truly feel at sorrow of death. God sent His only Son, to experience our lives to the fullest. Thus, Jesus wept. Why, in so many traditions, do we expect men not to weep? Do we not all feel? Men as well as women, boys as well as girls? Do not unshed tears come out later in our bodies as anxiety, unresolved grief, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress syndrome, heart attacks, strokes?
Let us feel our grief, and shed our tears. As Jesus did.
Jesus Wept
Before the stone where sorrow lay, Where death had seemed to claim its day; Christ stood amidst grief's great depth, And wept before the face of death.
For Lazarus, His cherished friend, For love that seemed to meet its end; For sisters bowed in aching pain, And hearts that would not heal again.
The tears He shed were not in vain, They fell like soft, redeeming rain; For God who formed us from the sod. Now wept among us - man and God.
From dust He shaped both form and face, And breathed in us His living Grace; From Adam’s line our lives began, The breath of God in fragile man.
Yet though He made the heart to feel, Its wounds, its breaking, and its heal; He had not walked our shadowed way, Nor wept as mortals weep one day.
So Love came down, in flesh and bone, To claim our griefs as now His own; Born of a woman, meek and mild, The Holy One, yet Mary’s Child.
He knew our hunger, thirst, and loss, The weight of sorrow, and the Cross; Christ walked the road our feet must tread, And wept beside the silent dead.
Then why do we, in hardened guise, Forbid the tears within our eyes? Why teach the heart to lock its pain, As though true strength must still remain?
Do not those tears, if held inside, Return as storms we cannot hide - In trembling chest, in anxious breath, In silent wounds that echo death?
O let us learn from Christ our Lord, Whose tears no shame nor weakness stored; For in His weeping love was shown, As God who made our grief His own.
So let us feel, and not deny The tears that fall, the inward cry; For we are His - both frail and strong; And in our tears, we all belong.
Let us thank God for every physician, nurse, chemist, herbalist and health professional over the ages, who have made and administered remedies for pain and restoration to health. We are blessed to have dedicated called, who have spent their lives in the pursuit of excellence in medicine, nursing, healing and medicaments.
Hymn of Thanks for Healers
O Divine Source of wisdom bright, Who kindled minds with healing light; We lift our hearts in grateful praise, For healers’ works through all our days.
For every physician, wise and true, Whose caring hands our strength renew; For every chemist, keen of sight, Who laboured long by day and night.
For those who searched through nature’s store, In root and leaf, on distant shore; Who drew from earth its hidden grace, To soothe the pain of suffering’s face.
For nurses gentle, watchful, near, Whose quiet presence calms our fear; Whose tender care and patient art, Bring balm and hope to mind and heart.
For all who answered to the call, To serve the weak, to tend to all; Who gave their lives in steadfast quest, To bring to suffering relief and rest.
Bless every mind that sought to find, Relief for body, soul, and mind; For all whose skill, refined through years, Has wiped away each patient’s tears.
Through trial and effort, success and gain, They strove to lessen human pain; With courage firm and vision clear, They pressed on for many a year.
O Giver of each healing gift, Our hearts in thanks to You we lift; For through these souls Your Mercy flows, In their work Your Goodness shows.
May all their labours, great and small, Be crowned with blessing over all; May all their service ever be, Great sign of Your deep Charity.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Galen creates healing cream"
The rose flower possesses both herbal healing powers and spiritual significance. Many angels and saints are notably linked to the fragrance of roses. The scent of roses is considered a sign of their sanctity. This scent is called the "odour of sanctity."
Quiet power to heal
The rose has long been treasured not only for its beauty, but for its quiet power to heal the body, mind, and soul. Across cultures and centuries, this flower has been seen as both a medicine and a sign of Divine Love, carrying within its petals a language that speaks to human longing for wholeness and peace.
Rose scent, spiritual significance and heavenly consolation
Spiritually, the rose carries profound meaning. The fragrance of a rose represents the sacredness of people's souls, within which the Imago Dei (Image of God) dwells. If the scent of a rose permeates the air, yet no actual earthly roses are nearby, it is sign that God or one of His angels is sending a spiritual message supernaturally through claralience.
Claralience means smelling a fragrance that comes from a spiritual source (such as God and His angels) rather than from a physical one. Such messages are meant to encourage people, in their life-journey.
The fragrance of the rose holds a special place in mystical and spiritual tradition. The scent of the rose, in particular, has been associated with heavenly consolation. Throughout history, there are accounts of saints and holy persons surrounded by a mysterious fragrance, often described as the scent of roses.
This scent is experienced especially at moments of deep prayer, suffering, or even at the hour of the death of a holy person. This phenomenon, sometimes called the “odour of sanctity,” has been understood as a sign of God’s Presence and the soul’s closeness to Him.
The image of the rose in spirituality is far more than poetic ornament. The rose is a sign of love, sacrifice and purity of soul. The rose mystically points towards the Divine Presence. Within this sacred symbolism, many beloved angels and saints stand out in luminous way. They are associated with the rose, not only as flower, but as a living sign of God’s Grace manifesting in life.
Holy Spirit of God
The Holy Spirit of God may surround you with the scent of roses. The odour of sanctity comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit in situations where the person experiences it.
Rose of Sharon
The floral imagery of the rose appears in the Bible: “I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley,” [Song of Songs 2:1]. Christian devotion embraced this verse as a symbol of Divine beauty and Love. Many expositors agree that these words refer to Jesus Christ.
Mother Mary, Mystical Rose
In Christian tradition, rose is often associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary, sometimes called the “Mystical Rose.” The Mystical Rose is a symbol of purity, humility, and holy love unfolding in the world. Mother Mary is particularly associated with the scent of roses, symbolizing her presence and blessings.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: The famous Virgin Mary miracle involved roses, during her visit to St Juan Diego, at Guadalupe in 1531. Mother Mary arranged roses (which grew out of season) inside the tilma (poncho) of a man named Juan Diego. When the roses were removed from the tilma, a supernaturally imprinted image of Mother Mary was found on the poncho.
Our Lady of the Rosary: The prayer tradition of the rosary dates back to 1214 AD, when St Dominicexplained that Mother Mary described it to him, during an apparition in Toulouse, France.
Saints
Saint Charbel Makhlouf,a Lebanese Maronite monk known for a life of deep prayer and solitude, is associated with numerous reported miracles after his death. Pilgrims who visit his monastery in Lebanon sometimes describe experiencing a fragrance similar to flowers such as roses, or incense.
Saint Padre Pio is often associated with the scents of roses and violets, which many believe signifies his presence and intercession.
“I will let fall a shower of roses upon the earth after my death.”
In the spiritual life of the Church, this has been understood not as metaphor alone, but as a lived reality of intercession. Many faithful across the world testify to receiving unexpected graces, answered prayers, and signs they interpret as “roses”; whether actual roses, sudden peace, or timely help in difficulty.
The rose here becomes a sign of hidden but active love: grace flowing from heaven into earthly life.
St Rose of Lima; the first canonised saint of the Americas, lived an austere and deeply prayerful life in Peru. From childhood, she was associated with roses; her very name “Rose” became prophetic of her spiritual identity. St Rose of Lima is the patron saint of embroidery, gardening and cultivation of blooming flowers.
Tradition tells us that her beauty was marked by humility. St Rose offered her suffering, fasting, and prayer for the love of Christ and the salvation of souls. In iconography, she is often shown wearing or holding roses. This image symbolizes purity of heart, mystical union with Christ, and the fragrance of a life given wholly to God.
In St Rose of Lima's life, the rose becomes not only beauty, but sacrifice transformed into spiritual fragrance.
Angelic presence
Some traditions associate certain scents with angelic presence or guidance. These scents are often noticed during prayer to the angel, during moments of decision, uncertainty, or emotional need. The scent of roses is a sign of protection and Divine Love.
Often, this scent will come from nowhere, and lingers for a few minutes before disappearing as quickly as it appeared.
Your guardian angel may be supportive of you by sending rose or floral scent during times of prayer, meditation, and when you ask your guardian angel for help.
Archangel Gabriel is an angelic being, often depicted as a messenger or announcer of significant events or messages from God. Gabriel's name means "God is my strength."
Archangel Gabriel was the messenger who announced the birth of Jesus Christ to Mary. He also appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist. Archangel Gabriel sometimes makes his presence known by the sudden appearance of the scent of roses or lilies.
Archangel Michael is revered as the protector and warrior of light. He is known for his strength, courage and unwavering commitment to righteousness. Various scents have been associated with the presence of Archangel Michael during prayer, and when his special protection is invoked. The rose scent is a sign of Michael's protection, especially when we are in danger.
The rose as spiritual language
Together, Mother Mary, the angels and saints reveal a deeper theology of the rose. The rose of Mother Mary shows that she was tabernacle of Jesus, The Rose of Sharon.
The rose of St Charbel and St Padre Pio show their great holiness, and closeness to the Divine Presence.
In devotional thought, angels are believed to communicate Divine comfort through beauty and fragrance. The scent of roses, soft yet unmistakable, has come to symbolize a touch of heaven. Rose scent is a reminder that God’s grace can be experienced not only in grand miracles, but in quiet stirring of the senses.
In a practical sense, the rose can still “heal” us today. Rose tea can calm a troubled mind. Rose's fragrance can ease sorrow and lift the spirit. The flower's symbolism can draw the heart toward prayer and reflection. To pause with a rose - to see its form, to inhale its scent - is to be invited into stillness, into gratitude, into awareness of a love that is both tender and enduring.
Soul's journey toward God
The rose’s beauty, hidden within layers of petals, has been seen as an image of the soul’s journey toward God - opening slowly, revealing deeper depths of grace. Rose thorns remind us that love, in a fallen world, is not without suffering. Yet the bloom itself speaks of hope, redemption, and the promise of eternal life.
Ultimately, the healing power of the rose lies not only in its chemistry, but in what it points toward. It reminds us that true healing is holistic: body soothed, mind calmed, spirit lifted. Like the rose itself, we are called to open, to receive light, and to grow - even among thorns - toward fullness of life.
Rose of Eden restored
O Rose of Sharon, pure and bright, Soft blooming in eternal light; O Lily of the Valley fair, God’s tender Love made full known there.
When we, by choice, from grace did fall, Then shadows dimmed creation’s call No longer held in Theocracy’s embrace, We wandered far from Eden’s place.
Yet God, in mercy, did not leave Our wounded hearts alone to grieve; He promised One, a saving Bloom, Whose life would break the darkest gloom.
The Rose was sent in time and space, A sign of beauty, truth, and grace; His petals speak of heaven above, The fragrance whispers: “God is love.”
In quiet hours, when burdens press, When life feels but a wilderness; A sudden sweetness fills the air - The hint of angels lingers there.
For saints and hosts unseen draw near, To comfort hearts weighed down by fear; In that sweet scent, so soft, so mild, We are consoled; God’s weary child.
Blessed be God for healing art, For hands that soothe the aching heart; For those who tend with gentle care, And find His grace in roses fair.
O gift of petals, balm and sign, Sweet testament of love Divine; A glimpse of joy is gently shown, Where beauty flowers before His throne.
In that Kingdom, bright above, Where all is peace, and all is love; I pray my garden there may be With roses blooming endlessly -
Each blossom turning, full of grace, With full-felt joy toward His Face; Till all creation, bright and true, Blushes in Christ, forever new.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Jesus blessing the rose"
There was a hunter in the desert. He saw Abba Anthony joking with the brethren. Desert Father Anthony, wanting to assure him that it was necessary sometimes to show consideration for the needs of the brethren, said to the hunter, "Put an arrow in your bow and draw it." So he did.
Abba Anthony then said, "Draw it again," and the hunter did so. Then Abba Anthony said, "Draw yet again," and the man replied "If I draw my bow so much, it will break."
Then Abba Anthony said to the hunter, "It is the same with the work of God. If we submit the brethren to stress beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary show consideration for their needs." The hunter was deeply struck by these words. As for the brethren, they returned strengthened to their own dwelling.
Desert fathers
The desert fathers in the early church waited on the Word of God, and taught many lessons of holiness to others. Their words continue to inspire today.
Excessive strain
When we place excessive demands on others - expecting more time, energy, and output than is humanly possible - we risk not only diminishing their dignity, but also harming their health and spirit.
Constant pressure and unrealistic workloads can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, and even physical illness such as headaches, ulcers, and more serious conditions brought on by prolonged stress.
Demand without mercy burdens the soul
A true work ethic is not measured by how much we can extract from others, but by how justly and compassionately we treat them. The wisdom of Anthony the Great reminds us that holiness is rooted in balance, humility, and love. To demand without mercy is to burden the soul; to lead with kindness is to give life.
Every person has limits
Let us therefore be rational and gentle in our expectations, remembering that every person has limits. In honouring those limits, we reflect the compassion of God and help others to flourish rather than fade under strain.
Voices of the Abbas
In desert vast where silence lay,
The holy fathers knelt to pray,
With hearts attuned to heaven’s call,
They sought the Word that speaks to all.
No gold had they, no earthly claim,
Yet burned within a living flame;
A hunger deep for truth Divine,
A thirst no world could e’er define.
They waited on the sacred Word,
In stillness where God’s Voice was heard;
Through wind and sun, through night so long,
Their lives became a silent song.
In caves and sands, in lonely place,
They learned the depth of boundless grace.
Through fasting, tears, and watchful eyes,
They fixed their hope beyond the skies.
They taught that holiness is found,
Not in the noise, but sacred ground;
Within the soul that bends in prayer,
Where God is near, forever there.
O desert saints, so strong, so wise,
You turned from earth to gain the prize;
Your witness still lights up our way,
And calls our hearts to watch and pray.
If you wish to know more about the Desert Fathers and Desert Mothers, please click in the link below;
God looked down from ages past at His beloved creations, He chose a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey, to carry His Son. The Almighty looked from eternity into the gentle eyes of the animal who would faithfully carry His Son, as King, into Jerusalem.
God bent down, and drew ash-coloured cross upon the donkey's back. This sign is almost a symbol of the crucifixion-week of the Christ, which lay ahead.
Every being is precious in God's Sight, and this chosen donkey was destined to carry the King of kings into Holy City. This foal would do, without rearing or fright, whilst palm fronds waved, hosannas rang, and cloaks were thrown upon the path of Jesus.
This is what the donkey had been born for. For greatness. For what greater is there than to carry the weight of the King of kings upon your shoulders, with devotion and joy? Just so do we carry the weight of Jesus' expectations upon our shoulders. Obey the commandments. Be faithful. Be kind. Do not lie. Do not steal. Jesus expects us to be like Him - loving and gentle and life-respectful.
Long after the crosses had been taken down, and resurrection-tomb stone had creaked out of the doorway, the donkey passed on. Surely there is a heaven where this faithful one looked once more upon the gentle King Who so lovingly patted foal's head, during the ride into Jerusalem.
Let us, too, be faithful, to whatever the Lord calls for us. For God did not call us by accident. No, He looked down the ages and saw you - and me - and adjusted our missioned calls appropriately.
Humble bearer of Holy Son
From ages vast, before all time,
In wisdom deep, in love sublime,
God looked upon His works so dear,
Each soul, each life, both far and near.
In that gaze so vast, so wide,
He saw a colt, both meek and mild,
A donkey small, of humble birth,
Yet marked for purpose on this earth.
God looked into those gentle eyes,
So free of pride, so free of guise,
And chose this creature, soft and grey,
To bear His Son one sacred day.
He stooped in love, as legends tell, To mark a cross where shadows fell,
An ash-toned sign upon his back,
A quiet grace he did not lack.
For every life, both great and small,
Is known to God Who fashioned all, This small foal, so often passed,
Was held in love from first to last.
Then came the day, long prophesied,
When Christ the King in peace would ride;
Through Jerusalem with palms that swayed,
Amid cloaks along the roadway laid.
No fear the foal showed, no wild alarm, He bore the King with steady calm;
While voices cried, “Hosanna, sing!”
As they hailed the saving King.
This was the work for which he was born,
Not crowned with gold, nor robed, nor worn;
But raised to greatness, pure and true -
To carry Christ as it passed through.
What is greater, tell us now,
Than to bear such weight with willing brow?
To lift the King with heart so free,
In humble, joyful dignity.
So too are we called forth to bear
The weight of love, the call to care;
To keep God's Word in all we do,
In thought, in deed, in purpose true.
Obey His law: be just and kind,
Keep truth and mercy close in mind.
Do not deceive, nor take, nor break
The bonds that love and trust must make.
Harm not a life, but guard it well,
Let peace within your spirit dwell,
“Be like to Me,” the Saviour said,
With gentle Heart and Love outspread.
Long after crosses fell and tomb was bare,
And risen light had filled both earth and air;
That little donkey passed away, His task complete, on his final day.
Yet surely in God’s realm above, Foal knew again that touch of love -
The King Who once, with tender hand,
Had guided him through Holy Land.
We as well are chosen still,
Not by our own, but by His will;
For God has seen through time's long haul,
Both you and I - our life's great call.
No life is cast by chance alone,
Each path to Him is surely known.
So let us answer, firm and true,
Whatever work God bids us do.
For in His sight, both great and small
Are held in love - He calls us all.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Palm Sunday procession with celebration"
