Poetry: Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gandalf Corrects Frodo (Image Source: New Line Cinema)

“May the working of this heavenly gift, O Lord, we pray, take possession of our minds and bodies, so that its effects, and not our own desires, may always prevail in us” (from the Post-Communion Prayer).

“Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin!” (Sirach 28:6; from the First Reading, Year A).

“Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this, [Jesus] turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.’” (Mark 8:32b-33; from the Gospel, Year B).

“[The father] said to [his older son], ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’” (Luke 15:31-32; from the Gospel, Long Form, Year C).

"Correction Sunday"

Poem for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

To the words of a wise man take heed,

Implement his correction with speed;

For the words of a fool, have disdain,

For they’ll tarnish your name with a stain.

To the threats of a violent man,

Show naught but your weapons in hand.

To the wantonly violent ones

Bare your teeth and your sword till they run.

Throw not your pearls before swine,

Lest they turn upon you for to dine.

Better heed the wisdom of the old,

But be frank with the haughty and bold.

That’s the lesson we learn from the Lord,

Who rebukes Peter sharp with a word,

For he tempted to abandon the cross,

Which, if heeded, would turn to our loss.

The face of the Lord is like flint,

For when struck with some steel will not dent,

But instead with a spark kindles fire:

To set ablaze the whole world His desire.

Now all this can be learned in a camp

Where a fire is both stove and a lamp,

Whereon food is cooked to survive,

Or make s’mores so the campers can thrive.

A fire gives warmth and gives light,

Which are good for the cold winter night;

This world is nothing else to me

But the cold darkened exile I see.

Yet while we are here on this earth,

We must become the fire in its dearth:

A flame that sets fire to so much,

Like Midas, but better – God’s touch.

A fire starts small but will spread,

Bringing life to the wood that is dead.

Like unbraided rope rolled in a ball

Gets a spark, lights fire to kindling and logs.

So love often spreads heart-to-heart,

Then from there it will spread hearth-to-hearth,

And then a whole city’s ablaze

As the people embrace Christian ways.

But there are expressions of love

That people don’t want or think of

That can bring back to life embers cold

Of the tepid by pleasure too dulled.

These expressions are merciful doings

That neglected, would bring men to ruins.

As God will correct and will chide,

We must do just the same and not hide.

With charity we do likewise,

And corrections received not despise,

But sagacious and prudent and wise,

Discerning the truth from the lies.

God Himself can correct us direct

Through good conscience that’s not derelict,

Or through others He can check our course,

If we’re open to honest discourse.

Authority’s solely from God,

To correct and to punish the wrong.

So we should accept correction that’s shared

From all those who authority bear.

If we have to correct, it is said

That we let not pride get to our head,

But we humbly and candidly speak,

And then graciously hold we our peace.

I know of a genius who was

Corrected by his Catholic boss,

Who admonished him personally,

Though found no fault professionally.

The man knew his boss was not dumb,

Giving pause then to think and not run,

That his conduct matched not to his claim:

He was Catholic only in name.

Because his boss did not have fear,

But he challenged this man to be clear

And consistent with what truly he was,

He has depth now in things that he does:

The genius is now Catholic priest

Because grace and correction increased;

By grace we all now call him Father,

Which would not be had his boss not bothered.

Movie Clip

Gandalf speaks to Frodo in the Mines of Moria, and corrects him about pity and about his attitude toward the times in which he lives.

Story of the Priest

This is the story of Father Ken Geraci, CPM, the priest mentioned in the last few stanzas in the poem above.