The priest is Christ's slave, and Christ himself took the form of a slave and became obedient to death. So the priest in serving human needs lives a Godward life, possessed by God and witnessing that only when lives are utterly possessed by God do they find their true freedom.
quote by Arthur Middleton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Life of a Roman Catholic Priest
A priest is nearest Christ;
A priest is Christ at times;
A priest is almost Christ;
A priest is most divine.
A priest is God’s shepherd;
A priest must tend to flock;
A priest must be like ‘rock’;
A priest should ne’er defrock.
A priest communes with God;
A priest draws hope from Lord;
A priest shows love of Christ;
A priest carries His Cross!
A priest is tempted too;
A priest has falls in life;
A priest falters also;
A priest has strength from Christ.
A priestly job is tough;
A priest’s life can turn rough;
A priest has strife enough,
But has to smile and laugh!
A priest helps harvest souls;
A priest has many roles;
A priest has but one goal –
To drink from Christ’s own bowl!
Pray that more priests should come;
May priests curb their freedom;
May priest usher Kingdom;
A life for Christ’s welcome.
Fondly dedicated to Rev. Fr. Xavier Claudius,
Beloved Parish priest, ‘Holy Family Church, Perundurai
Copyright by Dr John Celes 25-7-2010
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Refugees
In the shabby train no seat is vacant.
The child in the ripped mask
Sprawls undisturbed in the waste
Of the smashed compartment. Is their calm extravagant?
They had faces and lives like you. What was it they possessed
That they were willing to trade for this?
The dried blood sparkles along the mask
Of the child who yesterday possessed
A country welcomer than this.
Did he? All night into the waste
The train moves silently. The faces are vacant.
Have none of them found the cost extravagant?
How could they? They gave what they possessed.
Here all the purses are vacant.
And what else could satisfy the extravagant
Tears and wish of the child but this?
Impose its canceling terrible mask
On the days and faces and lives they waste?
What else are their lives but a journey to the vacant
Satisfaction of death? And the mask
They wear tonight through their waste
Is death's rehearsal. Is it really extravagant
To read in their faces: What is there we possessed
That we were unwilling to trade for this?
poem by Randall Jarrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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From An Empty Tomb
Because the tomb is empty, Jesus Christ can fill your heart,
With God’s Spirit deep inside, and new life from Him above.
When this life comes to be, from your life God won’t depart,
And as The Lord you do abide, God fills you with His Love.
Christ’s death is a picture for, a true believer, like you and I,
As we die to our old life of sin, it becomes buried far away.
We’re seated now with The Lord, in the Heavens up on High,
In our heart Christ lives within, and in our life is here to stay,
From the grave He did rise, claiming over death His victory,
Now He reigns on His throne, as He rules over all the earth.
Opening up hearts and eyes, pointing men towards eternity,
Calling sinners to be His own, refining us through new birth.
Now for all Christ Jesus lives, seated on the throne of God,
With all the power as before, He came to give to us his life.
New Life to all He now gives, as we live on this earthly sod.
A life you live forevermore, when you come to Jesus Christ,
All of this from an empty tomb, provided by a Savior’s love,
Christ who died for sinners lost, becoming for us a sacrifice.
And for you there’s still room, in God’s mansion high above,
If you’d only come to the cross, God’s only way to Paradise.
Ch 05 On Love And Youth Story 02
It is said that a gentleman possessed a slave of exquisite beauty, whom he regarded with love and affection. He nevertheless said to a friend: ‘Would that this slave of mine, with all the beauty and good qualities he possesses, had not a long and uncivil tongue!’ He replied: ‘Brother, do not expect service, after professing friendship; because when relations between lover and beloved come in, the relations between master and servant are superseded’:
When a master with a fairy-faced slave
Begins to play and to laugh
What wonder if the latter coquets like the master
And the gentleman bears it like a slave?
A slave is to draw water and make bricks.
A pampered slave will strike with the fist.
Right On
Ho! children of the brave,
Ho! freemen of the land,
That hurl'd into the grave
Oppression's bloody band;
Come on, come on, and joined be we
To make the fettered bondman free.
Let coward vassals sneak
From freedom's battle still,
Poltroons that dare not speak
But as their priests may will;
Come on, come on, and joined be we
To make the fettered bondman free.
On parchment, scroll and creed,
With human life blood red,
Untrembling at the deed,
Plant firm your manly tread;
The priest may howl, the jurist rave,
But we will free the fettered slave.
The tyrant's scorn is vain,
In vain the slanderer's breath,
We'll rush to break the chain,
E'en on the jaws of death;
Hurrah! Hurrah! right on go we,
The fettered slave shall yet be free.
Right on, in freedom's name,
And in the strength of God,
Wipe out the damning stain,
And break the oppressor's rod;
Hurrah! Hurrah! right on go we,
The fettered slave shall yet be free.
poem by Anonymous Americas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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It Has Come To The Time (Chiasmus)
It has come to the time
where everyone that follows Jesus Christ
must ask not
what can my faith, my church,
God do for me;
rather must ask what I can do as a follower
of Jesus Christ
for my faith, my church,
in service of Jesus Christ?
Where we must not only ask
where can I make a contribution
to them who are poor and unemployed,
but by our goodwill give food,
clothes and encouragement
to those who are poor and unemployed.
It has come to the time and place where Jesus Christ
must be the centre point of my life,
where I as a mere human being
must have Jesus Christ as the centre of everything.
This is the time where we
as followers of Jesus Christ
and of every good thing
not only must praise
integrity, honesty and sincerity as a way of life
and follow those whose lives are indicating to Him
like the compass to the pole,
like the pastor,
but where we in our own lives,
we must come to the full right,
where we as men and women must stand firmly
to that which is right, which is honest and good
like the compass needle to the pole
and by ourselves indicate the way
to Jesus Christ.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Access To God
I speak to The Father every day, through one very Glorious Way,
A way provided for you and me, to speak to the God of Eternity.
I speak to Him only through one, the Father’s only begotten Son,
Christ gained access for His own, directly to His Father’s Throne.
I have access to His Throne of Grace, at all times from any place,
An access never denied to those, who truly believe His Son rose.
A religious support, I have none, as I go through God’s Own Son,
Christ, who is my High Priest, handling concern without the yeast.
As my High Priest He intercedes, with His Father for all my needs,
Christ’s our High Priest forever, reigning with a Righteous Scepter.
Of our needs, He knows everything, ruling also as Sovereign King,
The Lamb of Glory, now Glorified, is reigning by The Father’s side.
Knowing all that Christ endured, He is our friend, not just our Lord,
Completing for all the final sacrifice; paying in full sin’s total price.
Now seated at The Father’s side, is the One who sinners crucified,
Redeeming all the world, that day, as His Father, had turned away.
God turned as Christ bore the sin, that was not at all a part of Him,
But, He bore our sin and our grief, to bring to all men Divine relief,
And changes Christ has wrought, in the hearts of those He bought,
Through all of the humble prayers, to a loving God who truly cares.
(Copyright ©12/2007)
Twenty Four Seven
Indeed, twenty four seven is He, my Lord and God of Eternity,
Ever present, He’s always there; only One, Who is everywhere,
Every minute through every hour; during a trial I needn’t cower,
As He, who rules earth and sky, shall remain with me until I die.
On my Lord there’s no restraint, He will neither slumber or faint,
Christ is not limited in His ways, regarding powers He displays,
Moving in all Grace and Power, upon our lives any day or hour,
As God works out His Decree, through the lives of you and me.
God’s not answerable to anyone, up in Heaven or under the sun,
He always was and always will be, the only Lord over all eternity,
God changes the plans of men, not hindered, by where or when,
As He fulfills His Eternal Plan, through the lives of common man.
And it’s through the Spirit of Christ, that God guides my very life,
Teaching and growing me each day, as He guides me all the way;
The Lord’s Holy Spirit, I received, when in Christ Jesus I believed,
So that in God’s Truth I can abide, with God’s Spirit, as my guide.
Now as Christ reigns in Heaven, He is with me, twenty four seven,
Allowing me to serve on the earth, through the power of new birth;
The joy of serving, God will afford, to all who know Christ as Lord,
Long after we leave this earth, as my Lord God I continue to serve.
(Copyright ©12/2010)
It's no longer I
It's no longer I that lives, But Christ lives in me,
Because I'm born again, and from my sins, I am, free;
Christ is my strength, and power, and He renews every day,
So I can say with full assurance, I cope thru Him alway.
It's. Not me working, But the power of His Resurrection,
That I can do all things, thru His death has given me Redemption;
He is my strength and shield, I can banish satan, I'm no need of him,
He is just a problem, but can't control me, I've been washed of my sin.
It isn't a problem. For me. To speak, Christ speaks thru' me,
I'm just His instrument, to serve and to witness, that from sin, all an be free;
All that needs to be done, is ask forgiveness, and Christ to come in,
And He will take the sinner, change them, and renew them within.
poem by Margaret Haig
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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On Saints and Martyrs
Our sufferings are not greater than those
Martyrs, prophets, apostles, saints, who died,
A death of persecution for Christ's sake;
Upon their blood-shed sprung the Catholic Church!
Lives of all these holy persons reveal
The Holy Spirit dwelt within their flesh,
Emboldening their spirits to the core,
So that their faith remained until last breath!
Let Christians offer their sufferings to Christ,
Who took upon Himself all mankind's sins
And died upon the cross redeeming man,
And opened heaven to penitent souls!
How wonderful to bear witness to Christ!
Lord remembers all those who died for Him;
He promised eternity for those souls,
Who lived for Christ's sake all through their lives!
God's glory shines through exemplary lives,
Who lost their lives for sake of faith and Christ;
They will be closest to God in heaven,
Remaining so unto eternity!
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Resurrection Changes Everything
The Resurrection changes everything, through the power of Jesus Christ,
As Christ becomes our Lord and King, giving all Believers brand new life.
To Him we lift up our praise and sing, for us He came to be our sacrifice,
Christ destroyed death with its sting, and prepared us a place in Paradise.
This change begins first in our heart, when in Jesus Christ we do believe,
Then from Heaven Christ will impart, His Spirit, for all believers to receive.
From our being, Christ will not depart, as new life in us He does conceive,
In The Savior change has its start; by the Resurrection new life is achieved.
Through God’s Resurrection power, Jesus Christ’s body could not remain,
And believers live each day and hour, New Life through the Savior’s name.
As new life on us Christ shall shower, we no longer live our lives the same,
Now living for Him we do not cower, through Christ’s Resurrection change,
In the power of Christ’s Resurrection, believers now live life the narrow way,
A new life that was not our selection, but we live for Christ now day to day.
We’ve been called through His election, no matter what other men may say,
And ordained by God a new direction, upon a course, Christ helps us stay.
Friend, everything is changed by God, when New Life in Christ has begun,
As we live life upon this earthly sod, all believers live to Glorify God’s Son,
Lead by Christ every step we trod, we become God’s witness to everyone,
Guided by The Lord’s staff and rod, until our work upon this earth is done.
(Copyright ©04/2007)
Eucharist
the last and perfect celebration of mankind
center in the breaking of bread; bless and thank
by Christ in the eve of his death
it is the ultimate and the final vow of self giving
of what the wisdom of salvation mean to man,
the gift of servitude is just a beginning to the
Calvary of life
the death that He freely accepted from the
Father's hand, a sacrifice of what meant to
share what you have in life, a will being of every
things of He who is bound to give of what all that
has given
a mighty of self-giving, a sacrificial lamb comes to
reveal thy heaven's home, a receptacle of all sin
whose blood will hold on the angry God, pacify by
His own blood and nail in the most brutal death in
human race
what wonder that He gives, when life flows in the
wounded chest, flows as it goes in the soil where
it rest, even the heaven's dark clouds witness the
lamb that give, wondered by million of angels
in the paradise it cease
the cross comes to gives us the true God, whose
father sudden the only begotten Son of God, it was
the moment that last through out eternity
Christ come in witness to the Father's love, a
love that beyond death, He lives with him for thy
Father everlasting love transcends beyond death,
through his death
as the Eucharist passion our hearts, the unity of the
Holy Spirit guide us to thy everlasting soul, it is by
taking Christ in the Eucharist He lives in us, leave
nothing to believe of what is taken, but live what is to
believe that Christ gives the life that afraid no death
and leads us to the Father in heaven
let our soul be lifted high to the most heavenly Father
and brings us to life Everlasting
poem by Antonio Liao
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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His Righteousness Alone
I have no righteousness of my own but stand on faith in Christ alone,
Abraham's an example to all of us for he believed unto righteousness.
On my own, from God, I stand apart as I was born with a sinful heart,
But Jesus took upon the sin of us to cover us with His Righteousness.
God knew before man's fall that Christ would die for the sins of all,
Satan would strike Christ's heel but God followed with this appeal,
Christ would in turn crush his head and Satan will be eternally dead,
Sin's price of death is on my head but Jesus Christ died in my stead.
Though Jesus died He rose again for death could not hold Him friend,
Death may come to all my friend and apart from Christ it is your end.
If you accept His Righteousness in-lieu of death you'll be blessed,
Reject The Lord and your last breath will take you to eternal death.
Christ suffered death for a while so to God we could be reconciled,
From the grave Christ did rise and now He lives even though He died.
Christ bore our sins on the cross and for our sins He paid the cost.
In the grave He buried our sin so we could rise to new life with Him.
There's still hope you can be sure for Jesus is knocking at the door,
He's waiting for you to come in for the cross is your victory over sin.
For our sin Christ did atone and Salvation is in Him and Him alone,
The One knocking at the door can be your Righteousness forevermore.
(Copyright ©03/2004)
Who Most Honours Jesus Christ?
Who honours most messages purpose of Jesus Christ?
Those who make showy public lip service declarations?
Or those who live the words the wisdom of Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ lives within hearts souls accepting his sacrifices?
Jesus Christ lives within hearts souls loving God's truths?
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Second Coming
The second coming has been postponed
By a million years.
Christ has his own reasons.
A priest addresses a mass
All weep for a while.
The second coming has been a Hope.
The Vatican releases the new list of sins
And the filthy rich start rotting in the hell of anticipations.
Then comes the message from the Almighty:
'My son is coming late by a million years'.
The Vatican falls into a gloom of woes.
The Second Coming has been a Dream
And why have Christ and his father done it?
A priest reads out from the Bible:
'Thy Kingdom come'.
The Second Coming has been a Manifesto.
poem by M.d Dinesh Nair
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Veil of Death
Death for believers is but a veil, for through Christ we will prevail,
For we may die upon this earth, but live the promise of new birth.
After this life and much travail, we slip through a mysterious veil,
Into the presence of God’s Throne, through no efforts of our own.
For a brief moment we may sleep, but as we awake we will reap,
Reap from God an Eternal Life, and all due to the work of Christ.
When we sleep in Christ we wake; because He died for our sake.
Though Christ died now He lives, and Eternal Life to us He gives.
Death although it may come, has been swallowed up by The Son,
Through His victory on the cross, where Christ died for all the lost.
Now not only have we been found, but in Him new life will abound,
A life that starts upon this earth, when we experience a New Birth.
Life may begin here my friend, but a new life in Christ has no end,
As we enter what seems as death, we breathe in Heaven’s breath.
We’ll leave behind all that’s frail, as we briefly slip through the veil,
As we enter into God’s Paradise, to live forever with Jesus Christ.
We’ll leave the bodies that have died, and get new bodies glorified,
We will live an eternity with Him, in God’s Paradise that has no sin,
This could be the reason why; precious is the death, in God’s eyes,
Of all the saints He calls His own, as they enter their Eternal Home.
(Copyright ©05/2006)
Yes, I Said Possessed
I can be lofty and mentally detached.
But with you?
I find no need for that.
I only want to be for you accessible.
Direct and possessed without being excessive.
I can be intelligent.
Or silly without making a bit of sense.
If I choose to do it.
And as long as you accept that,
As a part of me I do not have to prove.
I just want to be me with you that's all.
To role play is outdated.
And I don't know how to be fake.
But if I find you masquerading...
I too can be two faced.
I can be lofty and mentally detached.
But with you?
I find no need for that.
I only want to be for you accessible.
Direct and possessed without being excessive.
Yes.
I said possessed.
With a doing for each other,
The only way we know best.
Yes, I said possessed.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Willing Sacrifice
They say they love God like me, and they want to live eternally,
Without the love I have for Him, as they continue their life of sin.
But the power of Calvary’s Cross, changes the hearts of the lost,
As men come to Jesus Christ, His Spirit changes wayward lives.
They say in God they believe, but life in Christ they don’t receive,
But men must believe in their heart, for life in Christ to truly start.
Most men will acknowledge God, and agree He exists with a nod,
But never truly embrace His Son, Who came to die for everyone.
Some want to believe religiously, without a change men can see,
Afraid more about what men say, than our Lord on Judgment Day.
But we can’t believe Saving Truth, without our life showing proof,
Within our hearts and in our lives, that we belong to Jesus Christ.
For He did more than die for men, on a cross He purchased them,
When He became God’s sacrifice, His Blood for all paid the price.
A price we could not pay for sin, that on a cross was paid by Him,
When God sent Christ to the cross, to save a world of sinners lost.
The debt that we could not afford, was paid in Grace by The Lord,
And so we die to a life of sin, and use our life to acknowledge Him.
Being truly loved by God’s Son, we profess His Name to everyone,
Willing to be God’s living sacrifice, and God’s Light for Jesus Christ.
(Copyright ©01/2007)
Prophet, Priest And King
An Angel came to shepherds at night with Good News in which to bring,
A Savior’s been born to you today, who is a Prophet, Priest and King.
The shepherds filled with great joy praised The Lord from the start,
Mary hearing them praise her boy, pondered these things in her heart.
Visiting the Temple at age twelve Christ spoke with much insistence,
And speaking to Mary would tell her He’s about His Father’s business.
For Christ was not just another man but He is Almighty God Incarnate,
He was sent into The Holy Land and revealed as God’s final Prophet.
He was spoken of by Moses as the prophet like him, who would come,
And this Prophet knows all about us for He is God’s One and Only Son.
Many men were prophets in the past and used by God as He had willed,
And Jesus, my friend, was the last, as prophecy in Him was fulfilled.
The Old Testament economy of then since that time, friend has ceased,
And Jesus is now The Way for all men, from the greatest to the least.
No longer one ordained by men, Christ is our Heavenly Eternal Priest,
He is the final Priest my friend, to bring all men God’s Eternal peace.
The Jews mocked Jesus as a king, but that is exactly what Christ is,
And He’s coming back as Eternal King, with all those He knows as His.
He is the final revelation from God no matter what this world thinks,
And He’s coming with an iron rod to reign as Lord and King of Kings.
Archaic Humour
Something was always missing around
one had to die daily.
To find out, what?
Just a slip of time,
life was death and death was life.
Death of a man or death of a city
death had no other name.
Hearing the footfalls of death
dogs were howling around a temple
where god was dying.
The nation now mourns
for the banished priest.
At the burning pyre
there is still no peace.
Anger lives inside the books,
flame hides in the candles.
And a rage surges forward
in the bones of archaic humour.
poem by Satish Verma
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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