The Seasons: A Poem

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Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
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What I have done and what I have failed to do

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READINGS FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING

Isn't it interesting that the Gospel doesn't read like this....
"Then the king will say to those on his right,'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For you gave in the collection basket and you helped with the festival, and you were on a committee and you never missed Mass, you didn't kill anyone and you didn't drink too much, and you didn't do drugs and didn't commit adultery, and you cared for your family, friends and relatives."

or

Then he will say to those on his left,'Depart from me, you accursed,into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. You were in a gang and you murdered, gambled your family's savings and drank your inheritance, committed adultery and stole from work, used drugs, gossiped, and you did all sorts of evil."

No, the Gospel doesn't read like that today. Rather, its message is far more challenging than simply doing what we ought and avoiding what we ought not.

No, those who are rewarded with the blessedness of Heaven are rewarded for the good that they did in this life out of love for Christ. They saw Jesus in each and every person. They did not judge as to whether they were worthy of their love. Rather, they loved them because God loved them. They loved them because they saw God in them. We need not think further than Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta for a striking example of this in our day.

Likewise, those who are punished are punished because of the good that they could have done but failed to do out of love for self and disdain for others. They saw the need and passed it by. They saw Christ in others but turned away. They judged, "I wonder what he did to end up naked, thirsty, hungry, or imprisoned?", and in doing so brought about their own judgement.

Those who are rewarded are rewarded for following that law which is above all other laws, the law of charity. Those who are punished are punished for their disregard of that law.

Lord, as I approach this time of Advent, a time of prayer, penance, and preparation, help me to see You not only in the Christ child but in everyone. Help me to see You in the least of my brothers and sisters and reach out to their needs. Help me to reach out to them as though I were reaching out to You in the crib or on the Cross.

Lord, reveal to me this week an opportunity to serve the least of my brothers. Open my eyes to the needs of others around me and give me the grace to respond willingly and lovingly to those needs.

The reward comes from the King to the servant who best imitates the King who said, "I am among you as one who serves."(Luke 22:27)

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