Chalice of Love
Receive Christ’s love from this golden Chalice
It will give you strength to see His sacrifice
He gave this pure life to give us new life
In memory, He still rises to erase our sins
and gives deeply of himself repeatedly
So we can feel His adoration within
Taste its warmth flowing inside out
Let reason leave behind its doubts
Free strong will, let love breakout
Each week we trust as men
That He will visit us again
Now, real, Heaven
Pure
Deep
Love
Here
All we have to do
Is believe the unseen
On Holy Thursday of 2007 I was a Eucharistic Minister. It seemed like everyone wanted to drink the Blood of Christ. About half way through the procession of people I noticed there was very little left in the Chalice. Despite that fact, I forced myself to believe without looking there was at least the fumes of Blood in the cup for each person so I continued to share the “Blood of Christ”. No one seemed surprised when I handed them what I thought was an empty Chalice as I carefully watched each person go through the motions. In complete disbelief when I got back up to table to return what I thought was an empty Chalice, I saw there was a little pool of Blood at the bottom. Apparently everyone had indeed received in their belief that Christ blood was giving them new life.
My mind spun out of control while at the same time seemed to spiral upward. I somehow lifted the cup to my mouth to consume the last of the precious Blood. I staggered back to my seat in the process knowing we were without doubt in the presence of the pure deep real love of Christ and in communion with the saints. There is no longer a question in my mind that Blood as mentioned so many times in the bible past and present as Eucharist is a glimpse towards our future in heaven.
For further reflection: :
John 6:1-14 (NRSVCE Bible)
Feeding the Five Thousand
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5 When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
I painted this Chalice shortly after Easter sensing a perfect glorious sweeping of to and from Heaven
Additional Thoughts about my Poetry
I believe my writing fits snugly into the category of grounded mystical Christian theology. I have studied, written, and spiritually and physically applied this practical concept in my life for nearly two decades. I have never seen or participated in what some might call a vision or phenomenon. However, I appreciate that they may be a reality for the person or group, and God has provided them with deep consolation. For me, consolation is the beginning of a two-way relationship with God.
My own experiences are more intellectual in nature because I lean toward engineering and science. The reality for me is that God is always present because we are his tabernacles. We constantly miss His surfacing of lighter than a feather touch because we are a physical people. We talk about opening our hearts to this love, but technically, our intellect gets in the way. I have been trying to prove this virtually every day for well over a decade by documenting what I believe are grounded mystical thoughts in various ways.
The tragedy of 9/11 was a significant transformative moment in my spiritual life because of a first hand experience. I am re-dedicating the thoughts and prayers associated with my Christian Poetry to all those affected.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these reflections of the contemplative material of this Web-based ministry? Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions:
This site has written permission from New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) to use Bible passages.
This website follows the guidelines for image web use at the website of the Brooklyn Museum, the Jewish Museum and this Immersive Prayer website.
Peace,
Jerry