
How easily done depends
on the sinner and sin done that day.
No “ I lay me down to sleep”
before this Catholic child closed her eyes.
An examination of conscience,
a deep and complete review
of my sins committed that day, as I prayed
in true contrition for my sins; and a promise
to make restitution to all I had harmed
in my self-centered, humanly-corrupted way.
Only then, could forgiveness be petitioned
and God swayed. Sister told me so in class.
Father told me so in the dark confessional.
I await an examination of conscience by all
who voted for MAGA entranced and enthralled
by promises of heavenly and earthly reward
for allowing hate to invade and invoke
the souls of nation recently made awoke
by African-Americans and women who showed
they were equally great to any American.
Make America Great Again only meant
make America white again.
And my church paved the way.
Her misogyny always ready to deprive
women of any control over
the length of their skirts,
the choice to love or escape
abuse in any man’s embrace,
manage their reproductive health,
choose or excuse another’s hate.
Abortion became the rallying cry
to bring sinners off their knees and to the polls
to vote for the liars who played priests like fools.
There is no place for judgment or blame.
Sinners all, we play the same game.
There is a need for an examination of conscience,
for restitution to a nation’s sacred tenets defamed
by such reckless, sincere but sinful moves.
Now, priests and pastors see the error of their ways
as they accompany immigrants to hearings
to protect them from MAGA misrule?
The MAGA the churches helped elect
is not a surprise. And, it remains a sin to be
examined deeply, and completely reviewed.
I await the results of such a self-examination.
I await the restitution to be completed.
I await the apology for distorting Christian theology.
I await the chance to forgive, wholeheartedly.
I know my church is only human.
If only it could remember that truth.













MERRY CHRISTMAS 2024
Hope is the deep breath needed to sing Carols
heralding Jesus’ birth.
Hope is the breath first breathed into all living things.
Hope is the breath that softens
the hard contours of defended hearts.
Hope is the breath that soothes
the rough edges of fearful minds.
Hope is the breath that animates
the graceful move to gift our very selves.
Hope is the breath that lifts
the blindness of hateful eyes heavenward.
Hope is the breath that challenges
the world to dream of peaceful, new beginnings.
Hope is the breath that stores
the strength needed for moments when courage is needed.
Hope is the breath that brightens and enlightens
the darkness within each breathless soul.
Christmas is a time for deep breaths filled
with hope to face another moment, day, month, year.
Keep breathing is all that is required to fill
the world with Hope.
Each breath keeps Hope alive.
Merry Christmas with every breath taken
deeper in every way, every day
during the Jubilee Year of Hope.
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