Mary Sullivan

As written in Isaiah;

Heralding the Messiah,

A message came from John,

the son of Zachariah:

“Prepare the way of the Lord,”

make a path that’s straight,

That the Lord may enter hearts,

And we enter heaven’s gate.

Dear Jesus may we make a way,

In our hearts for You.

May we make a straight path.

Enter our hearts anew.

Fill the emptiness within.

Bring low, mountains of pride.

May we prepare, a way for You.

In us, may You abide.

Dear Jesus, smooth the rough ways

Which have left our loved ones shaken.

Make straight the crooked, winding roads,

Loved ones so oft have taken.

Open eyes, may they now see

They too must make a way,

For You to enter in their hearts,

As You come on Christmas day.

May we repent of all our sins;

Hope for heavenly rewards.

With John, may we too cry out:

“Prepare the way of the Lord.”

Jesus was walking by the sea, that sea of Galilee

He went up a mountain.  Him, great crowds came up to see.

They brought the lame.  They brought the blind.  And they brought the mute.

They brought those who were deformed, of this there’s no refute.

The crowds then did a humble thing, with not thought of defeat;

They placed the souls who suffered, at Christ’s holy feet.

All became amazed when they saw the blind could see,

The deformed were made whole.  Could this really be?

The lame now walked.  The mute began to speak,

This was all done by Jesus, who was so mild and so meek,

When great crowds laid the suffering, at our Lord’s blessed feet.

Now Jesus didn’t want to send the hungry crowds away,

Or all the souls whom He had healed on that miraculous day,

Christ told the crowd, upon the ground, they should take a seat.

For three long days they’d been there, now had nothing to eat.

He cared that on their way home, from hunger they’d collapse.

So many days had passed. So much time elapsed.

The disciples asked a question: and asked it out aloud:

“Where could we ever get enough bread to feed such a crowd?”

Christ’s heart was touched, the truth is that His heart was moved with pity.

This deserted place had no food; and with food, no close-by city.

Christ asked His disciples: How many loaves have you?

They said that they had seven loaves, and just a few fish too.

He took the loaves and fishes, and then with hope He spoke

Words of thanks to the Father, and the bread He broke.

He gave to the disciples, the loaves and the fish.

The disciples gave them to the crowd, satisfied, for food, their wish.

The disciples gathered fragments, a gift straight up from heaven.

Baskets left of fragments; they numbered up to seven.

Jesus, we come before You, our Lord, so merciful and meek

We give to You our loved ones; humbly place them at your feet.

As you healed those in the crowd so very long ago.

We pray that on our loved ones, healing You might bestow.

Heal our loved ones of the wounds, over which they weep.

Only You can heal them Jesus, from wounds which go so deep.

Wounded they are blind, and deaf to Your ways.

Wounds have made it hard to follow You, for all their lifelong days.

It’s crippled them from righteous walking, made it tough to be converted.

They’re lacking food from heaven, like a barren land deserted.

Jesus, we give thanks, as You did, before You broke the bread.

We beg You raise our loved ones’ souls, to life from the dead.

Have mercy on us, Jesus, so great has been the fall.

We beg You, Christ, have mercy.  Have mercy on us all.

(Based on Matt. 15:29-37)

From Jesse’s stump, a root shall sprout.

This was our promise.  With no doubt,

A bud shall blossom from these roots.

A bud that was to bear much fruit.

Upon Him shall rest, the Lord’s Spirit.

Let all believe.  May all now hear it.

A spirit of council, a spirit strong,

a spirit we worship, now in song.

He would to us wisdom bring,

He would understand all things.

He would lead in perseverance.

He would judge, not by appearance.

May loved ones flee all that deceive.

May their hearts at last believe.

Christ born, the victory to win.

Christ came to save us from our sins.

For our loved ones, may justice flourish,

Fullness of peace be now cherished,

Lord, grant our loved ones a clear sight.

Come now, Lord Jesus.  Set all things right.

(Based on Is. 11:1-10)

Jesus was walking along the sea of Galilee,

When He saw two brothers, casting a net in the sea.

Andrew was the name, of one of the brothers,

And Simon, now called Peter, was the name of the other.

Jesus called to the two, while walking by the sea;

I will make you fishers of men, come after me.

At once they left their nets.  They didn’t hesitate,

Or worry it would make them, for a meeting late.

Jesus kept on walking by that Galilean sea.

He saw brothers James and John, sons of Zebedee.

They were in a boat, mending their torn nets.

He called to them.  They didn’t stop to complain or fret.

Seeking to follow Jesus, out of the boat they went.

In following the Lord, they seemed quite intent.

Dear Jesus, may we follow like these fishermen devout.

May we drop what we are doing, when to us You call out.

May we hear Your voice above the din and rattling clatter.

May we have ears to listen and quickly drop what doesn’t matter.

May we drop what keeps us from You, and from Your holy will.

This may not be easy, but a long trudge uphill.

Yet through You we can do all things.  For You are omniscient.

If we can rest in Your will, Your grace will be sufficient.

In our weakness You are strong.  In Your will we are protected.

And it is by our weakness that Your power is perfected.

We pray for grace on loved ones now immersed in so much strife.

They dropped nets that they were mending, to follow a disordered life.

Call to them now dear Jesus, as to the sons of Zebedee.

Grant them all the grace they need to seek and follow Thee.

Help them now to follow truth, discard all selfishness,

Transform them all from slaves of sin, to slaves of righteousness.

May they grow in holiness.  With sin, may they grow bored.

May all seek Your holy will, our Maker and our Lord.

(Based on Mark 1:14-20)

“Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”

(Saint Augustine)

Dear Lord, there’s so much pressure

So much to do, we fear,

Our busyness can leave us stressed,

As holidays draw near.

Help us through the madness,

Of Fridays they call black.

May rest in You defend us from,

the enemy’s attack.

May we focus more on You

Not what is coming next.

Help us simplify our days.

In You, may we find rest.

May we put aside the angst,

the things we need to do.

May we take the time we need

To simply rest in You.

May we ponder Your perfect will,

In these upcoming days.

Man sees, not as You see.

Your ways are not our ways.

Help us, dearest Father,

To at last truly see,

Our restless hearts will have no peace

Until they rest in Thee.

Grant this grace, sweet Jesus,

This grace from above

To all our sons and daughters.

To all of those we love.