The Objectified

I have created you to be a
subject not an object
you are a unique person
imbued with innate dignity
made in My Image and Likeness
designed to share My Divinity
a union of body and soul
formed by and for Love-
the gift of self to the other-
a mirror of My Nature
most purely embodied in the
sexual union of
husband and wife-
the whole-hearted donation of
one's being to the betrothed
accomplished and signified
through their bodies-
a mystical sign open to new life-
passion's fruitful expression of
two complimentary hearts
each committed to the
good of the other-
subject to subject but...
when a subect becomes
an object to be used for:
-selfish gain
-exploitation
-taking not giving
Divine Life dies within
only the flesh remains
leaving the body to be
treated as a commodity
whether for pleasure / money
fame / career / self-esteem
flaunted for favors while
losing all sense of self-respect
whether admitted or not
it should be no surprise that
the subject now object is
regarded as such by all...
understand that the
exterior expresses the interior
respect for self
means to
treat yourself and others
with reverence and honor
which the world pretends it does
while objectifying the body
rendering it only for what our
fallen nature deems as
suitable for self-gratification but
not love and therefore
without worth in and of itself
it is the way of
-darkness not Light
-sin not Holiness
-self-gratification not self-donation
-flesh not Spirit
-using not revering
the way out of all this is simple
though not easy..
surrender your heart to Me and
let My Spirit empower you to
treat yourself and others as a
subject not an object
that is the Way of True Love
but if you fall ..
I am here for you...
-repent / turn away from
 lust of the eyes to
 modesty of the eyes
-do not place yourself in the
 near occasion of sin
-treat the other as a subject
 even when they do not
-reverence yourself and others as
 you would your Sister / Brother
 in -the -Lord whom you love
-pray for those who do not do so or
 who are not there yet because
 they need help
I call you on...
run...do not walk to Me
you are made Perfect
through your weakness for
My Grace is sufficient for you
despite the strength of
your temptations
you are My Witness to the
Truth of My Creation's
Purpose and Dignity to be
subjects not objects
Sons and Daughters of God
Holy in body and spirit

Reflection / Discussion:
-Where do you see subject v object most played out in our culture?
-What does "modesty of the eyes" mean?
-What is a "near occasion of sin"?
-How are we "made perfect through weakness"?
-What does it mean that "we are created to share in God's Divinity"?
-How can you get/give support for this area?
-How can the Sacraments help us?

The Truth

I AM

The Word of God

The Truth

spoken by The Father

from the Beginning

His Eternal Son

together We send 

The Spirit of Truth

into a fallen world to

Witness to My Calling as

The Way / Truth / Life

I took on human flesh 

in doing so I

took upon Myself 

all of humanity's sin
all its consequences

all of its just punishments by
My Sacred Passion and Death

Rising to New Life

Transformed  and Transfigured

into Radiant Glory-

a New Creation- which now
I offer to you if

you let go of your

old self by giving your
whole heart to Me in order to

Love Me above all else as
your Lord and Savior
consciously renewing your
Baptism by which you
became a Son / Daughter
of the Father - your
True Identity
in this revived Commitment you
share in My Divinity and

are equipped to share in

My Calling to 

Speak My Word of Truth /

Mercy / Forgiveness /

New Life to 

sinful humanity in

The Power of the Holy Spirit

but...know this as well...
in Witnessing to My Truth

you shall also share in

My Passion...even My Death

for as they hated Me 

so shall you be hated

as I was persecuted

so shall you be persecuted

for...even though I have

already won the victory 

over satan-the liar / ruler of

this world- that realm of

deceit / darkness / death -
rooted in the flesh-
humanity's idolatry of self
rebellion and pride- you are-

by your very existence-

engaged in this warfare 

but like Me you shall
conquer even in death for
My Truth is not...
-hidden in the darkness but
 revealed in the Light
-subjective but Objective
-relative but Absolute
-confused but Clear
-based on feelings but on Reality
-passing but Constant
-just for some but for ALL
-temporal but Eternal
-oppressive but Liberating
yet...as I now speak

so many perish.....

do not follow Me.....
are deceived to....

-worship self and are thereby
 enslaved to satan's rule
-rebel against rationality while
 exalting emotion's authority thereby
 choosing death
 instead of Life

-seek this world's allures
 instead of My Kingdom's Riches

 following the broad road to 

 hell's perdition
 instead of the narrow road to
 Heaven's Joy
so then Today.....
-Hear My Call

-Take up My Banner

-Speak My Word of Truth

-Live for My Kingdom

-Love as I Love

-Be Merciful as I AM Merciful
-Embrace My Cross
-Be led by The Holy Spirit
-Rejoice and Be Glad

Now is the Time to

Stand for The Truth for
The Spirit of Truth is upon you

Reflection / Discussion:
-What does it mean to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
-Why is being a Son / Daughter of God your true Identity?
-Where can you find mutual support from others who have done so.
-How is Jesus The Truth?
-Is morality objective or subjective, relative or absolute? Why?
-How is the Spirit leading you to witness to Jesus?
-What Gifts has He given you?
-What does it mean to Embrace the Cross?

The Encouragement

lovely ladies

alluring women of all
ages / races / nationalities
I encourage you to
be all you can be
go after it
don't let anyone stop you
exploit your charms
you are powerful
take the advantage 
whenever you can

you call the shots
you're in charge of
your life
your body
who you sleep with
who you don't
what you do or don't do -
don't let others use you to
satisfy their sexual fantasies...no

you play them for yours
you're in control...after all...

you have what they covet so...
you determine when / where / how /
with whom you receive all the
pleasures you so richly desire...

watch what happens...it will be 

so easy...try it....just a tiny

tease..a furtive glance made

to be seen...a sly smile when 

unexpected...the faint trace of

perfume ...even a friendly

lingering  touch on the arm when

thanking for a favor..and....game over.

every time... isn't flirting the ultimate 

power-trip?...and...so much fun... 
it's the final frontier
equality is long past due
you deserve every
opportunity men have
you can have it all...
yes... you'll have accept not 

having some things in your life..

but...so what...everybody knows
nothing worthwhile comes
without maximum effort and

a little sacrifice...but remember...

don't get entangled with messy 

relationships that will only 

complicate your life or

hold you back from your goals...no
keep it simple...
freewheeling
no commitments
no problems
no worries
you call the shots...
not men...a new day is here..
you can get whatever you want
and not have to surrender yourself
remember... contraception is a
godsend as they say...
protection from that dreaded burden
that ruins plans and dreams...
but even if that
horror happens there's
a perfect solution...
abortion-my personal favorite-
ahh...freedom... yes... freedom is

the name of the game...so...
flaunt it girl..whatever you want...
hookups galore
friends for favors
live together
whatever
it doesn't matter
it's your life so
live and let live
yeah that's it
go get it all...but....you..
no you... yes... you the reader...
sushhhhh....don't tell anyone
keep this little secret
between you and me....
all this is exactly what I have
led men of this world to crave...
it's their wildest dream
come true...you see...
deception is my specialty
temptation my forte
yes... now you know my identity-
the prince of this world-
this is my perfect scenario
once these things pop
for the ladies of this world
then men get all the
goodies they want as well with
no consequences
no responsibilities

no strings attached
so... go for it everybody
debauchery is delicious so...
let libidos run free
'cause now...
I gotcha both!

Reflection / Discussion:
-What is promiscuity?
-How has contraception / abortion activated promiscuity?
-Is it moral or immoral? Why?
-Is morality subjective or objective? Why?
-How is promiscuity used by satan to destroy us?
-How does the "company you keep" help or hinder you in this regard?
-What is the virtue of chastity?
-Is it important? Why / not?
-What concrete steps can you take to remain chaste?

The Journey

lost

desperate for

direction in the 

wilderness of life

without a destination to

confidently google

from wherever I

happen to be 

but now I can only 

search for an answer that

makes some sense of 

all this confusion which

overloads my abilities to

process conflicting information

hoping for hints of clues

that cast shadowy 

replicas of unfamilar shapes

upon the blank screen of

my dreams buried deep within

hidden there by
what I imagine to be a

quiet mysterious voice

long long ago even 

before my journey began

beckoning me to follow

a would-be guilding star
in the dismal darkness to a

worthy home that would bring
meaning in the midst of
my suffering existence

brused and battered by life

pushed to grasping for 

security in the 

din of isolation

made pointless by 

ephemeral goals while
so many around me
boast of trophies from
winning not-so-grand

triveal tournaments of

mundane pursuits

so useless

so annoying

so pitiful

it seems though that

someone must be

praying for me

because I am still here

continuing to search

day after day

sometimes without any

conscious decision

it is as if 

someone is pursuing me

like magnet to metal

a drawing force that is 

constant yet gentle

a wooing rather than a

sharp grappling
some say it is Jesus
I don't know
maybe it is
I'm not religious but
I'm not totally closed to the idea
though sometimes it feels like a
song of wishful thinking
within the winds of yearning

that stir in my heart 

when drifting into sleep

or crying for completion

in lonely dreams 

only to find myself 

awake to face 

another empty day

foraging for 

more of the same

besides depressing

it is all I can do to 

do the next right thing

in front of me

hoping to find hope

something significant that I

can embrace and in doing so

'fight the good fight'

as they say

for a higher purpose

even becoming-

though it is far beyond me now- a 

light in the darkness

Reflection / Discussion:

-How does / did this poem relate to your life?

-What helped you in your journey?

-What do you need now to support you?

-How can you help Jesus find others when they're not "religious"?

-Do you know others who travel this path?

-How can you support them?

-How can you become a light for others?

The Light

I am the Light of the world
you flourish only
in as much as
you live in My Light
satan reigns in the darkness
sin abounds there
as well as its fruit that
festers unto eternal death
Holiness thrives
in the Light as
well as its Fruit that
ripens unto Eternal Life
but because you bear
the effects of humanity's
original fall from Grace:
-darkened intellect
-weakened will
-attraction to your
 lower instincts of self
there is a battle raging
within you and
around you from the
world which is in the
power of the evil one
fighting to ensnare your soul by
keeping you enslaved to its
thinking and ways
glorifying itself as god which
only leads to eternal doom
but in this conflict
Grace abounds even more to
Live in My Light and
follow My Word in the
Power of the Holy Spirit
however to attain Victory
you must learn this lesson well:
live with both feet
in My Light...you cannot
have 1 foot in the Light
and 1 foot in the Darkness
for to do so is to
live  a double-life-
saying one thing but
doing another
living in both camps means
you are hiding / holding back
living in fear / insecurity
serving self rather than Me
you cannot be
transparent / authentic / vulnerable
in the darkness but only
secretive / false / guarded
which only crushes
True Intimacy with Me
as well as with one another
all this duplicity must end...so...
in My Mercy for you
I shall shine My Light upon you
that others may see what I see
for I see clearly in both
Light and darkness
pain and anguish shall come upon you
because everything hidden shall be
exposed to the gaze of all especially
those from whom you desire respect
but also know that
in this humiliation and shame
you shall experience both the Blessing of
immeasurable Sorrow embedded in
Repentance as well as the unearned Love
Robed in Merciful Forgiveness
but in Justice you shall also
reap what you have sown
it will be a relief and an
opportunity for a
True Turning back to Me
where you can humbly
learn to rely upon My Spirit
and upon the support of your
Brothers and Sisters
with whom you can strive to be
My Witness as an
authentic / transparent / vulnerable
Faithful Disciple
Living in the Light
you are free to choose
which will it be...
Light or darkness?

Reflection / Discussion:
-Are you hiding your struggles with sin / your true self?
-If you are double-minded, repent / confess / be real.
-What are the qualities of Repentance / Conversion?

-Do you have Brothers / Sisters in the Lord with whom you can mutually support one another?

-If yes, how well are you authentic / transparent / vulnerable with them?
-What is holding you back?
-If not, how are you going to find them?

The Quest

THE QUEST

at birth each embarks upon

a Quest to find Happiness...

it is a Precious Seed of the 

Eternal which I have tenderly 

planted in your heart meant to 

germinate...grow... and ultimately

blossom in My Love ...it is a 

journey through joy and sorrow 

nurtured by desire's finite / infinite 

qualities seeking both immediate 

and ultimate objectives as your 

Thirst seeks satisfaction in the 

refreshing waters of achievement 

but ultimately in Me where Thirst 

is finally Quenched in Living Waters 

but because of sinful nature's darkened 

intellect and weakened will leading to 

disorientation in this fallen world 

combined with deceptive freelance 

feelings tossed to-and-fro by shiny 

objects that surreptitiously become 

humanity's false idols to pursue and 

ultimately worship - all that this self-

oriented world offers - success...wealth...

material goods...fame...power....beauty...

pleasures of body and soul - too many to 

even count - each having the common 

denominator of seeking the...

Perfect in the imperfect
Infinite in the finite
Eternal in the temporal
all of which remain powerless to bring 

anything except momentary delight but 

then frustration when the ambition 

attained only brings exacerbation with 

the under-whelming fulfillment resulting 

from exorbitant expectations and left with 

no other recourse than to commence once 

again the dance of delusion  - a cruel 

imitation of Sisyphus condemned to an 

exhausting uphill enterprise only to 

hopelessly watch his achievement 

backslide down the slippery slope... 

Satan of course is delighted with your 

treadmill imitation tempting you with 

imaginative dreams of greater conquests -  

more...always more....while gaining less...

always less...but Know that in this journey 

I will never leave you nor forsake you for 

I continue to speak to you especially in your 

frustration because My Hope is that in your 

misery you will be open to My offer of Grace- 

an opportunity to realize the reason for your 

emptiness and set out in a New Direction 

finally comprehending that it is only in My 

Perfect... Infinite...and Eternal Love that will 

ultimately Satisfy your lifelong Quest for 

Happiness...that only I will Truly Fulfill you 

and it is only in your Surrender to Me as your 

Personal Lord and Savior that you Truly begin 

to find the Total Joy that My Own Surrender has 

Won for you

Reflection/Discussion:

-What does it mean that our desires have 'finite and infinite' qualities?
-How do people look for the "Infinite in the finite"?

-Explain the story of Sisyphus.
-What does the "dance of disillusion" mean?

-What does our "fallen nature" mean?
-Using 'success' / 'money' as examples, explain "The Quest".

-How is Jesus' Infinite Love the Source and End of your Quest?
-What does it mean to "surrender to Jesus as your Personal Lord and Savior"?
-What does "begin to find the Perfect Joy" mean?
-How has Jesus' Surrender won Total Joy for you?

The Father

the father-wound
is a plague
all too rampant
among us
sadly most are
damaged by Dads who
pass-on their own
wounds through
sins of what they
do or fail to do
leaving us with
sometimes under-the-
surface feelings of being
abandoned / unloved
angry / alone / insecure
neglected / abused
leading us to look for
love and comfort in
places that ultimately
do not mend our hearts but
lead to deeper destruction
all of which delights
satan who makes it seem like
it's all our fault while also
deliciously contaminating
our self-image and that of
God The Father
without realizing the
transference of infected
characteristics and feelings
but... Jesus came not only to
save / free / heal us from the
effects of sin but also to
reveal His Father to us
because through Jesus
His Father has become
Our Father who has
Created us in His Own
Image and Likeness
and who FIRST loved us
through Jesus despite
our sin and weakness-
even while being rejected
He showed us that
His Father is
Tender
Merciful
Loving
Forgiving
Gracious
like the father of the
prodical son story
so...now what?
we need to
go after the Truth by
asking The Father to Reveal:
-any false images
 we may have of Him and
 ourselves and begin to live our
 True Identity and Dignity as a
 Son or Daughter of God
-His Personal Love for us
-by Grace forgive our own Dad of
 his sins againt us- one at a time
-give over our anger and hurt to Jesus
-realize how these have led into
 behavior / thinking that are
 not true / healthy and ask
 The Father to heal us
-get whatever help we need
 in this process
-begin to speak to The Father as
 our ABBA...Daddy.....because
THAT is the TRUTH...and
ask for the Grace to
accept in our hearts that
we ARE precious to Him
He DOES Love us and...
He WANTS us to live in
Intimacy with Him
Now and Forever

Reflection/Discussion:
-What is your image of The Father?
-What was/is your relationship like with your own Dad?
-How has that affected your own self-image?
-Spell out the truth/lies about The Father's image you have?
-With whom can you talk about these matters?
-If you haven't done so, speak to The Father in prayer.
-Ask Him to speak to you and listen for His quiet Voice.

-If you are a Dad, ask The Father to show you where you
      have sinned by what you have done and failed to do
      with your children.. Then, begin to repair. The Father
      will help you. Get help if you need it.