Peter On the Deck

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.
—Luke 5:1-11

Who are you who can call
a catch from empty seas
to fill our nets, our boats, and all,
yet bring me to my knees?

See, I had fished all night
my gaping hold to fill,
but at the dawning of the light
my boat was empty still.

Depart from me, O Lord;
I am a sinful man.
I'd not have taken you on board
if I had known your plan.

For when you gave the word 
I cast my nets again—
and I was caught by what I've heard.
Your nets are catching men.

You draw me from my sea—
I cower on the deck
and don't know if my life will be
a voyage or a wreck.

But I'll obey the call
to cast these nets once more
and offer you, my God, my all—
not my catch now but yours.

James Tissot, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, Brooklyn Museum – Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum; Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2006, 00.159.87_PS1.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10195917

This Is the Kingdom

The table set for many,
the supper where we're fed:
This is all heaven's plenty;
this is the broken bread.

The daily hidden labors,
the widow's mites we bring:
This is the love of neighbor
and worship of the king.

The candle on the table
illuming every face:
This is the light we pray for,
this ordinary grace.

The endless tasks unchanging
yet ever deepening:
This is the song of angels,
as it has ever been.

The ones we give our all to
as moments turn to lives:
This is the pearl we long for,
and seek at any price.

And they that come to seek us,
whose voices call us home:
This is the Lord, Christ Jesus;
this is the kingdom come.

4. Advent, Kerzen, Datum/Uhrzeit: 24.12.2013 18:55:59 By Dirk Vorderstraße – Adventskranz, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31871900

Two Small Coins

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”
—Mark 12:41-44

The rich men come in state and noise
to give their offerings;
the princes in their pomp and poise
show off the gold they bring.
Like children giving cast-off toys
they shed these little things,
but she who put in two small coins
has given everything.

The gold I have, O Lord, I give,
and all my treasures bring.
The pleasures of the days I live,
the simple little things,
the words of prayer I daily lift:
These are my offerings.
But you ask me for more than this;
you ask for everything.

Strip all these treasures from me, God,
and what is left to bring?
A mind distracted in its thoughts,
a strength now faltering,
a heart and soul in passions caught—
Are these my offering?
But this is what you say you want:
Shall I give everything?

Take then my weary heart, O Lord,
that daily sorrows wring;
the flick'ring candle of my soul
safely to heaven bring;
my body's strength, my mind's control—
all still such little things—
and yet I offer you the whole.
I give you everything.

The Widow’s Mite (Le denier de la veuve) – James Tissot – Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum; Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2008, 00.159.211_PS2.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10957531

Baking Bread

I have heard the earth is burning;
I can hear the tocsin ring,
but the planet still is turning—
I will see what morning brings.
For the hearth still needs its tending;
mouths are crying to be fed.
Yes, I know the world is ending,
so I stand here baking bread.

I have heard the fear that whispers,
heard the whispers turn to shouts.
I have offered no resistance
to the wisdom of my doubts.
But some other voice is calling
in the watches of the night,
saying, “Yes, the Temple's falling:
Will you offer me your mite?”

Should I so, O Christ my savior?
What I have is not enough,
but the little I can make here,
I will give the world in love.
For like Martha in her kitchen
and like Mary at your feet,
though my quiet work is hidden,
it is needed: Come and eat.

Johannes Vermeer Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, 1655 By Johannes Vermeer – fwE2zem7WDcSlA — Google Arts & Culture, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21865869

Love the Lord Your God

The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
‘He is One and there is no other than he.’
And ‘to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself’
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
—Mark 12:28b-34

Love the Lord your God o'er all things;
love your neighbor as yourself:
More than holocausts and off'rings
this the law and prophets tell.
Not by ritual's right performance,
not by sweat and sacrifice,
but by love the door is opened
to the kingdom of the Christ.

East and west will come to dine there;
north and south will meet within.
Puzzled by the ones we find there,
we shall come still marred by sin.
Yet the Lord is rich in mercy:
When he's knelt to wash our feet,
he will bid us—hungry, thirsty—
all as one to sit and eat.

We are not far from the kingdom—
Why, then, should we wait the day?
Find the neighbors now and feed them;
straighten every crooked way.
We have heard the law and prophets;
we have heard the words of Christ:
Let this love become our off'ring.
Love shall be our sacrifice.

Christ Washing the Disciples’ Feet By Anonymous 17^th century Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over charcoal? on cream paper- This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the Image and Data Resources Open Access Policy, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60853459

As They Who Burned Before Us

For Allhallowtide:

As they who burned before us
enkindled with your love
shone out your grace and glory,
so may we shine, O God.

Some glowed in chambers hidden;
some lit the sky like stars,
and all of them your children 
afire as your own heart.

For some your made as tinder
so quick to catch the spark,
and some you slowly kindle
who longest light the dark,

and some forever aching
hold light we never view,
but all are of your making
and all are made for you.

You made us to be embers:
Then touch us with the flame
that every saint remembers,
that never burns the same.

And someday you will show us
how every spark's inspired:
Your own eternal glory
that sets each heart afire.

All Souls’ Day, J Schikaneder 1888. This oil painting shows an elderly woman praying after placing a wreath upon the tombstone of her loved one. – Ophelia2, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12453561

Seat of Grace

Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
—Hebrews 4:14-16

When you appear before us
and all has been made known,
shall we approach your glory
and kneel before your throne?
So now while you are hidden
we still seek out your face;
we know you welcome sinners
there at the seat of grace.

No kings sit at your right hand,
no princes at your left:
The throng who in your sight stand
were servants of the rest.
And you, O Lord, uphold them—
so we would be upheld.
Until we can behold you,
grant us your timely help!

To love you in our service,
and love our neighbor, too,
to know the gift of mercy—
and always to know you.
So we bring all our weakness,
our sorrow, and our sin
and seek our great high priest here:
O, bid us enter in!

Living Waters

From spring to river streams will go,
and rivers to the sea,
and when the living waters flow,
Lord, let them rise in me.

For I have thirsted these long days
while fountains run no more,
and now bone-dry I wait for pain—
Somewhere your waters pour.

Like sentinels await the dawn,
I wait for clouded skies,
for rivers rolling ever on,
for fallen waves to rise,

for creeks to laugh until they weep,
for cataracts to shout.
I know that deep calls out to deep
while I sit here in drought.

But you, who closed in doors the sea,
set hills not to be moved,
if you have closed these doors in me,
Lord, let me call it good.

Is this the fasting that you wish?
Not to my name but yours 
be all the glory, even if
the waters never pour.

Niagara Falls, from the American Side (Frederic Edwin Church, 1867) – qQE5jAFm16XHjQ at Google Cultural Institute maximum zoom level, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21865696

How Hard It Is

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
“How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
“Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For human beings it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God.”
—Mark 10:17-27

How hard it is to enter in God's kingdom:
Sell all you have and bid your world goodbye.
So camels thread the slim eye of the needle
before the rich can claim a place on high.
But heaven calls, and only this is needful:
to give your all and follow after Christ.

What is the price your savior now is asking?
You gold and gems, your lavish gifts displayed?
No, but your heart poured out in prayer and action:
This is the gift your offer day by day.
Not faith alone or keeping each commandment,
but love itself: This is the narrow way.

For gold will dim, and silver coins will tarnish.
All swords will rust except God's holy word—
a living edge that parts the joints and marrow
to lay us bare before the eye of God.
So whittled down, we pass with room to spare then:
The needle grows; the narrow gate is broad.

And all we've lost, and all we've gladly given
shall be restored in Spirit and in truth.
All we forgave as we have been forgiven—
that mercy shown our own hearts will renew,
will heal our eyes that we may share the vision
of God's great love, while Christ makes all things new.

About The Rich, O discontented mancan ever be rich. The golden calfnever grows into acow that gives milk. The devil comes to the wedding when•-;ople marry for money. God has never made gold enough tomake a selfish man rich. On Gods scales a poor mans best and« rich mans best balance each other. Some people will sell their souls verycheap for the prospect of quick payment. Success in this world often means fail-ure in the next. What do you suppose angels think ofthe man who is doing his best to die rich? We are not in a condition to enjoyriches until we can be happy withoutthem. They know in heaven how much relig-ion the rich have by the way they treatthe poor. It is seldom that a man ever gets to bewise enough to know what to do with alarge fortune- IBy Frank Beard – https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14597788930/Source book page: https://archive.org/stream/blastsfromramsho00unse/blastsfromramsho00unse#page/n19/mode/1up, No restrictions, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44080771

More Than Prophets

At that time, John said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.”
—Mark 9:38-43

Would that all God's own were prophets
burning with the Spirit's flame,
every son and every daughter
given courage to proclaim!
Yet a greater gift is offered,
first and last and all may claim:
Offering a cup of water
to the thirsty, in Christ's name.

All the good things we have treasured
we are given from God's hand;
all the joys of rest and pleasure,
all the gifts of sun and land.
None, though, can we hold forever,
having but to give again.
Breaking heaven's bread together:
We are more than prophets then.

We are mortal; we are sinful,
yet such gifts we have received,
how can we be else than gen'rous
with God's generosity?
Word of God, come dwell within us;
form and shape all we shall be.
Let the love that you have giv'n us
echo in our every deed.

Bernardo Strozzi – An act of mercy, giving drink to the thirsty- http://emuseum.ringling.org/emuseum/objects/18885/an-act-of-mercy-giving-drink-to-the-thirsty?ctx=554eb923-d6df-4234-82e9-e439b2d967fe&idx=1, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66957640