Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 14)
When tetrarch Herod then had heard
About Jesus’ reputation,
He told his servants, ‘This is John,
The Baptist, who’as been raised from dead,
Because of which mighty powers
Are seen at work in him right now.’
For, Herod had arrested John,
Bound him and threw him in prison,
Because of Herodiaz, wife
Of his brother Philip, as John
Had told Herod, ‘’Tis unlawful
For you to have your brother’s wife! ’
Although, he wanted to kill him,
He feared the people who had high
Regards for John as a Prophet.
Herodiaz’s daughter then,
Performed a dance for Herod’s sake,
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Bible in Poetry: 1 John 2
I write to you my dear children,
So that you must not commit sin;
And if someone does commit it,
Our defense is Lord Jesus Christ,
The Righteous One, Holy Spirit,
Who’ll speak to Father for our sake.
The Lamb of God, sins did He take,
He paid the price in atonement,
For mankind’s sins and punishment.
If we obey His commands all,
We’ve come to know and heard His call;
The man who says, ‘I know him, ’ but
Does not follow His commands, yet,
Remains a liar, without doubt.
By obeying, we’re made complete,
And know His word and feel His love,
And walk with Him to heav’n above!
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 15)
The Pharisees and scribes who came
From Jerusalem asked Jesus,
‘Your disciples break traditions
Of elders like washing their hands
Each time, before eating a meal? ’
But Jesus answered them and asked,
‘Why do you break God’s commandment
For tradition’s sake? For God said,
‘Honor your Father and Mother.
Whoev’r curses parents, shall die.’
‘You nullify the word of God;
So, Isaiah did prophesy
About you well, you hypocrites:
‘They honor me by their lips just
Their hearts are far away from me.’
‘They worship me with vanity
And teach as doctrines, mere precepts.’
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Bible Stories: Daniel, Bel and the Dragon
When King Astyages died,
Cyrus of Persia became king;
Daniel was his honored companion.
The Babylonians’ idol was Bel;
Each day, they offered twelve bushels of flour,
Forty sheep and fifty gallons of wine;
The king too worshipped Bel;
But Daniel worshipped his own God!
When the King asked Daniel,
‘Why don’t you worship Bel? ’
Daniel answered he didn’t revere
Any man-made idols,
But worshipped the One, living God,
Who’d created heaven and the earth.
The king asked him, “Isn’t Bel’s a living God?
He eats and drinks each day”
But Daniel told him not to be deceived;
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The Lamb and the Wolf (Ballad)
I saw a lamb to wolf turn prey!
I saw it kill’d in gruesome way;
The lamb was rather small, I say;
I saw it frolicking that day;
It bleated while busy at play;
That day, its life, it had to pay;
And soon, I heard a plaintive cry;
The grass was smeared by lamb’s blood dry!
My good shepherd, “Did you not know? ”
My God, “Did You all this allow? ”
The wolf was dressed in fine lamb-skin;
It killed by habit, kith and kin;
Like lamb, it spoke and went so near;
It acted friendly, allayed fear;
It took the lamb afar to play;
The lamb was foolish on that day;
It was so meek and frail, not bold;
It wished to see the far-off world.
My good shepherd, “Did you not know? ”
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 6)
‘Let righteous deeds be performed then,
Such that the people don’t see them;
For, otherwise, you can’t expect
Reward from your heavenly Father! ’
‘When you give alms, give quietly;
Don’t like hypocrites blow trumpet,
In synagogues and in the streets
To win the praise of all others.’
‘When you give alms, let your left hand
Not know what your right is doing;
Let it be secret alms-giving,
So that, your Father repays you.’
‘Don’t pray like hypocrites who stand
In synagogues and street-corners,
And pray so that others can see.’
‘They have had their reward, ’ I say.
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The Priest with Christ’s Stigmata – St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
A baby boy was born
to Catholic parents both –
Father, Grazio and mother, Maria,
On May25,1887,
In Pietrelcina, town in Italy.
Fourth amongst the seven children,
He was baptized next day as Francesco,
After St. Francis of Assisi,
At Castle Church.
He was a special child of God.
The Forgione family
Was pious to the core;
They were just peasants;
Although, they could not read or write,
They kept God above everything:
Attending daily mass;
Reciting Rosary,
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 23)
Then Jesus told his disciples
And crowds, ‘As scribes and Pharisees all sit
In Moses’ chair, do all they tell;
Observe all things they tend to say,
But don’t follow their example,
For, they preach but do not practice.’
‘They place too heavy burdens on
Shoulders of people to carry
But will not help even a bit.’
‘They do things so that they are seen;
They widen their phylacteries,
And lengthen their tassels often;
They love honor at banquet-halls;
Be exalted in synagogues;
Be greeted in market-places;
Get salutation as ‘Rabbi’.’
‘As for you, don’t be called, ’ Rabbi’.
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Bible in Poetry: 1 Corinthians 9
The Rights of an Apostle:
1Am I not free, an apostle?
Have I not seen Jesus, our Lord?
Aren’t you the fruit of my labor,
For Jesus Christ, my savior, Lord?
2 Although to others not, may be
I am an apostle to you!
You’re seal of my apostleship.
3 This is my one defense to those
Who sit in judgment upon me.
4Don’t we have right to food and drink?
5Do not we have the right to take
A wife believing, that’s with us,
As do the other apostles,
The Lord's brothers and Cephas too?
6 Or only I and Barnabas
Must have to work for a living?
7Who serves as soldier without pay?
Who plants a vineyard on his own
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Bible Stories: The Story of Susanna
Susanna was a beautiful dame,
Daughter of Hilkiah;
Her parents had a righteous name,
In Mosaic laws reared, yeah!
A rich man, Joakim, married her;
They lived in Babylon;
Susanna led life in Lord’s fear,
And children too were born.
Adjoining her husband’s big house,
There was a garden fine;
Because Joakim was reputed,
Jews came to meet and dine.
Two elders made new judges then,
Came home with their law-suit;
Joakim was honorable man,
They came to see him oft.
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