Mary Sullivan

Jesus had addressed them.  A parable He told.

To teach them true humility, this story would unfold.

Two men were in the temple.  They had gone there to pray.

A Pharisee and tax collector—to God some things they’d say.

The Pharisee told the Lord how he did things well.

The head of the Pharisee likely began to swell.

He said he wasn’t greedy.   Adultery he’d not commit.

He fasted and he tithed.  He was proud to admit.

Now off at a distance, the tax collector’s head was bowed.

With lowered head he beat his breast.  He said—perhaps out loud:

“O God be merciful to me.”  He told the Lord he was a sinner.

Through repentance he gained peace with God.  Emerged as the winner.

The tax collector went back home.  He had been justified.

But to that Pharisee, justification was denied.

That man who exalts himself, finds only he has stumbled.

As time goes by, he’s sure to find by God he will be humbled.

The humble man who turns to God, of earth he’ll be its salt.

The Lord Himself will lift him up.  The Lord will him exalt.

Dear Father, keep us humble in all we say and do.

Help us clearly see our sins, that we may repent too.

Grant to us and our loved ones, grace to be sanctified.

In humility may we repent.  Thereby be justified.

We may be perplexed.  But to despair, not driven.

We can be but thankful for all we have been given.

Persecution comes our way. Yet we are not abandoned.

By the One who loves us so—our Defender and Companion.

Our trials we endure.   We conquer by God’s power.

Struck down we may find ourselves. But from there we flower.

In Him there’s no destruction.  Ane we are not destroyed.

In Him, there’s only glory.   In Him, there is true joy.

Just as our Lord rose from the dead, one day we will rise too.

Be placed in His presence.  All things will be made new.

Let us persevere for Him. Let us now soldier on.

Let us fight the fight before us.  His armor, let us don.

Until that day of glory, when all is truth and light.

Until our final end arrives—let us fight the good fight.

A mighty God we serve—this much we know is true.

When Amalek waged war, God showed Moses what to do.

When Moses hands were raised in prayer, enemies had no chance.

But if his hands were lowered, the enemy advanced.

We faithful friends united form a prayer army each day,

Through our united prayers we keep the evil one at bay,

We think some things are pretty bad, but what we cannot see:

Without our constant praying—how much worse some things would be.

Our God is rich in mercy.  He feels the pain we feel.

Performing mighty miracles—when did Christ fail to heal?

He healed the paralytic whom friends lowered through the roof,

Jesus healed the lepers—of this there’s ample proof.

He healed the daughter of Jairus, whom all forsook as dead,

She came to life.  “Little girl, I say to you, get up” is what He said.

He healed the demon-possessed-daughter—who but Jesus could foresee

This mom would beg mercy; and cry out: “Lord, help me.”

The disciples urged: “send her away.”  She had that Canaan label.

With faith, she preserved and said: “even… dogs eat from their Master’s table.”

Many pressing on Him, many voices getting loud,

with just her touch He healed the woman in the crowd.

He healed the blind. He healed the mute.   He healed the boy possessed.

Do we believe that somehow God for us would do less?

The truth is Christ healed everyone who came forth in faith to ask.

Not one soul did He miss, from the first until the last.

When we go before our Master, when on humbled knees we kneel,

Can we see we serve a God who answers prayer and longs to heal?

We can persevere, like the widow with the judge unjust.

The Lord hears our every prayer.  In Jesus, we can trust.

“In the Dark Night of the Soul, Bright Flows the River of God.” (Saint John of the Cross)

The day has grown so dim, dear Lord, our souls face darkness of night.

All around seems doom and gloom, with no hope or relief in sight.

We struggle to peer through the darkness.  We search for some semblance of light.

Dear Lord, have you abandoned us?  From darkness, we long to take flight.

It’s in darkness, Lord, that you teach us, to look for You, and to pray.

It’s in darkness, Lord, that we learn to reach for Your hand in the darkness of day.

It’s in darkness, Lord, that we turn to You to feed us Your spiritual food.

It’s in darkness, Lord, that our prideful souls, are humbled and firmly renewed.

It’s in darkness our ears once deaf to Your voice, develop a sharpened hearing.

It’s in darkness our souls learn trust, to set aside all our fearing.

It’s in darkness that virtue begins to grow, on this unlit road which we trod.

It’s in darkness that bright rivers start to flow—that flows the bright rivers of God.

Our loved ones too are in darkened nights.  Guide them to reach for Your hand.

Show them how to use their ears, to hear and to heed Your commands.

Guide them to trust, to find in You a new peace and tranquility.

In the darkness, Lord, help them to find the truth of humility.

Then lead them, Lord, through the darkness, by bright flowing rivers of light.

Lead them, Lord, through the darkness.  Give them a burning a desire for right.

Lead them, Lord, to dependence on You, to a love for Your merciful ways.

Lead them, Lord, through the darkness to a truth they’ll embrace all their days.

Lead them, Lord, through the darkness, to a longing for serving souls too.

Lead them, Lord, through the darkness.  Lead them Lord through the darkness to You.