Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
First impressions, judgement calls…
Super fit or out of shape,
Mentally quick or too fake?…
Stop, reflect…for goodness sake!
Broaden your mental landscape!
Knock down those prejudgment walls!
Employ Faith, not just eyeballs!
How does Jesus see that soul?
His glance cuts through the outside,
Seeing pain that people hide.
Scars that were marked classified,
Won’t make you disqualified.
He looks to heal and console,
Is this your focus and your goal?
Hidden…patiently waiting,
Heart-ache…but still pulsatiridang,
Humble…not dominating,
Hopeful…never abating,
Hearing…and concentrating,
Healing…and motivating,
Are you communicating?
Is Christ at the center? Or off to the side?
Do you seek him? Or happen to coincide?
Is he your quarterback? Or “riding the pine”?
Is he number one? Where does Jesus allign?
With Christ at the helm, your ship will not capsize,
Satan will lose, if he is your close ally,
Please make time for Jesus, press close to his heart!
He patiently waits, it’s not too late to start!
Man looks at appearances,
Christ zeroes in on the heart.
We highlight our grievances…
God treasures his work of art!
Can a mother hate her child?
Does she only see the stains?
What is mentally filed?
Virtues and qualities reign!
How does Jesus look at you?
Mother’s hearts give us a clue!
Marvelous, marital marathons,
Bearing burdens, with blistering brawn,
Fervent fidelity, dusk to dawn,
Clutching with care, this blessed baton.
“Love until death” is their antiphon,
Patient prayer allows them to push on,
Spiritual battles, worse than Bataan,
Worn at the finish line…woebegone,
Forgiving and giving…”denouement”!
At times, raising kids can be challenging.
They have ears, but are always battling,
Pushing parents’ buttons, rattling…
No respect, is maddening!
But even dirty coal,
can become diamond.
What is your goal?
selfless love=
shining
souls!
Lonely hearts, anxious minds,
Passed hurts…often close blinds,
Sin promises…but binds!
“Happiness” is not peace!
Time is short, life is leased,
Selfishness must decrease,
Jesus Christ must increase!
Let his love be released!
Holy Thursday…God’s gracious gift,
His sacred love…sublime and swift,
Always there…even the night shift!
Good Friday…Christ took on our sins,
By dying…humanity wins,
Selflessness…when will yours begin?
Holy Saturday…hope awaits,
Christ opens wide the pearly gates,
God’s “Providence” replaces “fate”,
Brothers/sisters of Christ…team-mates!
This Triduum…amalgamates!
Please try to LISTEN, don’t simply “hear”,
Catch emotions, not sounds in the ear,
Dig deeper, beyond the second tier,
Be fully present, right now and here!
Loving? Or going through the motions?
Sincerely? Looking for promotions?
Mechanical? Or with devotion?
“But Father, why all the commotion?”
They are too many who are broken,
God’s loving mercy must be spoken!
Please make it real, not a token!
You are not just “providers”,
Or simply car-pool “drivers”,
Nor cooks who crank out “sliders”…
Your loving glance lights a flame,
In hearts who share your last name,
Each kid is not “all the same.”
Heaven is your goal and aim.
Mom’s, your mission is immense!
Count on God, not your sixth sense,
Christ knows…he will recompense,
Just love…in the present tense!