anoint the wounds

of my spirit

with the balm

of forgiveness

pour the oil

of your calm

on the waters

of my heart

take the squeal

of frustration

from the wheels

of my passion

that the power

of your tenderness

may smooth

the way I love

that the tedium

of giving

in the risk

of surrender

and the reaching

out naked

to a world

that must wound

may be kindled

fresh daily

to a blaze

of compassion

that the grain

may fall gladly

to burst in the ground

-and the harvest abound.

Ralph Wright OSB, 1938- , St. Louis Abbey

__________________

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.