Mary Sullivan

Jesus Himself was teaching.  From every village people had come,
From Judea and from Galilee.  Some came from Jerusalem.
On a stretcher, men had brought in, a man paralyzed.
To bring him before the Lord, they would improvise.

There seemed no way to bring him in.  The crowd’s size was so great.
They made their way up to the roof, not wanting to wait.
He was lowered through the roof, and placed in front of Christ.
The Christ who came to die for us, for us sacrifice His life.

When Jesus saw their faith, He told the man, forgiven were his sins.
The Pharisees had never heard, to such a thing akin.
The Pharisees erupted.  They may have become livid.
“Who is this who blasphemes? Who but God can sins forgive?”

Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he put to them a task.
“Which is easier” was the question, which to them He asked.
Is it easier to say that sins have been forgiven?  With them, Christ had this little talk.
He inquired if perhaps it might be easier to just say “rise up and walk.”

But that the Son of Man can sins forgive, that all now might see and know,
He told the man paralyzed, rise, pick up your mat, and home you can go.
The man no longer paralyzed, then did exactly that,
He rose and went home, after he’d picked up his mat.

With astonishment, all were completely seized.
And they gave glory unto God.  His healing helps us to believe.
Jesus, so many loved ones cannot see You in their midst.
And there are other loved ones now swayed You don’t exist.

In spirit they are paralyzed as they lay on unbelieving mats.
We cannot get them into church.  They think they’ve had enough of that.
They cannot comprehend Your ways or understand Your love.
They don’t see Your blessed plans for them, from heaven above.

We bring them to You Jesus; through the roof, we lower them to You.
We ask You to touch their hearts, heal hearts through and through,
Show to them Your love that’s deeper than the deepest ocean.
Help them, Lord, to trust in You, with humbled devotion.

The faith of the man paralyzed, is not really known.
But those who brought him to You, their faith was clearly shown.
Faith of loved ones may be lacking.  This we do not deny.
Look upon our faith, Lord.  To ourselves we seek to die.

Use the grace of our faith, use all our sacrifices,
To forgive our loved ones’ sins, to wipe out all their vices.
Help them rise above their sins, seek good in all they do.
Help them to pick up their mats, seek first now to serve You.

Help them find the way to You, no matter where they’ve roamed.
Though their hearts be crippled, help them walk toward their eternal home.
Help them now, sweet Jesus.  The hour is running late.
Go to them now, dear Jesus.  Make haste, dear Lord, make haste.

John was shown by the Lord a heaven that was new.
The former heaven passed away.  John saw a new earth too.
The former earth was now gone, and with it gone the sea.
But the Holy City had come down, in all of its glory.

The Lord would come, and He would dwell among His people.
In a place where virtue reigned, in a place void of all evil.
In a place where peace prevailed, no more conflict or wars.
He would wipe away our tears.  Our tears would be no more.

The old order passed away.  No more mourning, no more moans.
Just the glory that awaits with the Lord upon His throne.
He will be forever with us.  We forever be with Him.
Forever will the truth now shine, no more will truth grow dim.

The Master had triumphed.  For us He had come through.
He pronounced the words: “Behold, I make all things new.”
All was glory, now made new, by Him upon Whom we depend.
He Who is the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end.

Dear Lord, when our earthly trials just seem too much to bear.
When life’s burdens weigh us down, help us remember You are there.
You wait for us to come to You.  You are our true and loyal friend.
Help us remember, dear Lord, the glory of our final end.

Help our loved ones to stay faithful, to what You said and taught.
Set their feet on the path to heaven, that they be no more distraught.
Guide them toward Your glory, guide them with truth, in unison.
May we all one day dwell in glory in a new heaven with You.

(Based on Rev. 21: 1-6)

Jesus will sustain us with His holy Bread.
No life without His flesh and blood.  That is what He said.
The Spirit He gives to us.  The flesh is no avail.
For if we live by our own flesh, then we will surely fail.

Jesus warned there would be some, who just would not believe.
They would reject the Sacred Bread, refuse to receive.
Many disciples left.  No more with Jesus did they walk.
Repelled by Eucharistic truths, at Christ’s words they’d balk.

Jesus, we believe in You, and in the Holy Ghost.
We know that You come to us, in the Sacred Host.
Come to us now dear Lord, that new life we will find.
Penetrate our hearts and souls.  Penetrate our minds.

May the Father grant to those we love a very special grace:
To believe Your holy truths, Your gift to the human race.
Remove doubt from each loved one.  Of doubts leave not a trace.
May they love Your Sacred truths, and Your Sacred Host embrace.

Cleanse souls through confession.  Wipe from souls iniquity.
Let us all now believe in Your Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.