The Two Ways

light and darkness
each a way to Final Justice
one leading to the Eternal

Song of Songs imbued 

with the Light of Lights

the other sliding downward

into the echoes of pain 

in the shadows of 

everlasting fires

both seem obscured in

this fallen world viewed

with fallen eyes but
deception provides
false comfort
transforming
good to appear evil 

and evil good
freedom's challenge
allows a choice to
give or hoard the
gift of self - a
humble donation to serve by
surrender's power for the
good of the other or
sophistication's vanity to
use the other for
selfish pleasure -
even by mutual consent -
under the guise of love
each a signpost exposing
our progress along a way
unveiling our destination...
still more telling is the
simplicity of mysteries -
Truths of Human Dignity -
yet clouded by deceit
tiny lives encapsulated as
innocent martyrs 
slain under the mask of
a mother's right to choose
to crush one's fruit that
stains the soul yet is
celebrated as a
living success
bearing the labor of
delusional self-righteousness

also telling is idolatry's power to
beguile the intelligentsia 

in a neopagan culture's 

web of dark enlightenment -
self-serving values of
totalitarian progress leading 

to death now and forever

even affect some who are

false shepherds
impersonating the
Shepherd's Voice
leading the sheep
ever deeper
ever downward
ever darker -
opaque angels of light -
snaring worldly converts into
confusion's morass by
mortal combat
for and against
Glory's Kingdom-norms

clearly expressed in Holy

Writ and thoroughly ratified 

in Tradition's testimony

but...Hope persists in

Light's Revelation revealing 

a History of Faithfulness to

an Intimacy more Incarnate than
any finite human can imagine

and a Promise of Power that

will never leave me stranded

in the Battle for Eternal Life
which changes everything
past by repentance
present by forgiveness
future by Committed Love to

the One whose Blood was

shed to Cleanse the sheep

now unveiled by
mystical tears

Reflection/Discussion:

-Describe the two ways.
-What are the signs of each way?
-What areas in your life are moving toward/away from the Lord?
-How can you strengthen/change each way?
-What signs of the two ways are in our culture today?
-How can mutual consent still be selfish and lead into darkness?
-How are false shepherds impersonating the Shepherd's Voice?
-How can we support one another to grow in the Lord?