Father Jerome's World Community Sermons

• 
  SERMON CONTINUED
  Getting Back In Control - OR, Taking Back One's Life!
  
  Okay, the songs - or, more accurately, the WORDS, as written BY secular humanity, in those times of need FOR such "inspiration". Let us find inspiration, AGAIN, from their words:
  

  • 
    BECAUSE ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS
    (THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD AROUND)
    From the Passion Chorale tune of J.S.Bach.
    
    BECAUSE ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS wherever men may be,
    The world shall be one union forever proud and free.
    No tyrant shall defeat us, No nation strike us down,
    All men who toil shall greet us, The whole wide world around.

    My brothers are all others, Forever hand in hand,
    Where chimes the bell of Freedom, There is my native land.
    My brothers' fears are my fears, Yellow, White or Brown,
    My brothers' tears are my tears, The whole wide world around.

    Let every voice be thunder, Let every heart be strong,
    Until all tyrants perish, Our work will not be done.
    Let every pain be token, The lost years shall be found,
    Let slavery's chains be broken, The whole wide world around.

  • 
    FREE AT LAST
    
    Martin Luther King Jr.'s favorite spiritual was quoted in his famous speech, which ended, "This will be the time when all of God's children - black and white men; Jews and Gentiles; Protestants and Catholics - will be able to join hands and sing, in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty! We are free at last!' "

    FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST! Thank God a'mighty, I'm FREE AT LAST!
    FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST! Thank God a'mighty, I'm FREE AT LAST!
    One of these mornings bright and fair, Thank God a'mighty, I'm FREE AT LAST!
    I'm gonna put on my wings and try the air, Thank God a'mighty, I'm FREE AT LAST!

    Old Satan's mad because we're glad, Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!
    He missed a crowd he thought he had, Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!

    I wonder what old Satan's grumblin 'bout, Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!
    'Cause he's chained in hell, and can't get out, Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!

  • 
    IT'S ME, O LORD
    
    It's me, it's me, IT'S ME, O LORD, standing in the need of land,
    It's me, it's me, IT'S ME, O LORD, standing in the need of land,
    'Tain't the banker, 'tain't the planter,
    But IT'S ME, O LORD, Standing in the need of land.

    It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord,
    Standing in the need of a home.
    It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord,
    Standing in the need of a home.
    Taint the lawyer, taint the merchant,
    But it's me, O Lord, Standing in the need of a home.
    Taint the lawyer, taint the merchant,
    But it's me, O Lord, Standing in the need of a home.

    It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord,
    Standing in the need of bread.
    It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord,
    Standing in the need of bread.
    Taint the grocer, taint the baker,
    But it's me, O Lord, Standing in the need of bread.
    Taint the grocer, taint the baker,
    But it's me, O Lord, Standing in the need of bread.

  • 
    KUM-BA-YA
    
    KUM-BA-YA, my Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    KUM-BA-YA, my Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    KUM-BA-YA, my Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Oh, Lord, KUM-BA-YA.

    Someone's weeping, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Someone's weeping, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Someone's weeping, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Oh, Lord, KUM-BA-YA.

    Someone's singing, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Someone's singing, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Someone's singing, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Oh, Lord, KUM-BA-YA.

    Someone's praying, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Someone's praying, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Someone's praying, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Oh, Lord, KUM-BA-YA.

    The world's in danger, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    The world's in danger, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    The world's in danger, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Oh, Lord, KUM-BA-YA.

    Tell the leaders, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Tell the leaders, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Tell the leaders, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Oh, Lord, KUM-BA-YA.

    We must act now, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    We must act now, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    We must act now, Lord, KUM-BA-YA,
    Oh, Lord, KUM-BA-YA.

    Sing out loud and clear, KUM-BA-YA,
    Sing out loud and clear, KUM-BA-YA,
    Sing out loud and clear, KUM-BA-YA,
    Oh, Lord, KUM-BA-YA.

  • 
    LITTLE BOXES
    
    Although we all might remember the ditty about Daly City, California - "Little Boxes, On the hilltops, In Daly City, California..." (where all the houses look like housing-project-boxes, as one drives by on the freeway), this piece is a bit older, and cuts much closer to home for many of us.

    LITTLE BOXES on the hillside, LITTLE BOXES made of ticky tacky,
    LITTLE BOXES on the hillside, LITTLE BOXES all the same.
    There's a green one and a pink one, and a blue one and a yellow one
    And they're all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look just the same.

    All the people in the houses, all went to the university,
    Where they were put in boxes and they all came out the same.
    And there's doctors and there's lawyers and business executives,
    And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just the same.

    And they all play on the golf course and drink their martinis dry,
    And they all have pretty children, and the children go to school,
    And the children go to summer camp, and then to the university,
    Where they are put in boxes, and they come out all the same.

    And the boys go into business, and marry and raise a family,
    In boxes made of ticky tacky, and they all look just the same.
    There's a green one and a pink one, and a blue one and a yellow one,
    And they're all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look just the same.

  • 
    LONESOME TRAVELER
    
    I am a lonely and a LONESOME TRAVELER,
    I am a lonely and a LONESOME TRAVELER,
    I am a lonely and a LONESOME TRAVELER,
    I've been a-travelin' on.

    I traveled here and then I traveled yonder, well
    I traveled here and then I traveled yonder, well
    I traveled here and then I traveled yonder, well
    I been a-travelin' on.

    I traveled cold and then I traveled hungry, well
    I traveled cold and then I traveled hungry, well
    I traveled cold and then I traveled hungry, well
    I been a-travelin' on.

    Traveled in the mountain, traveled down in the valley,
    Traveled in the mountain, traveled down in the valley,
    Traveled in the mountain, traveled down in the valley,
    I been a-travelin' on.

    Traveled with the rich, traveled with the poor...
    Traveled with the rich, traveled with the poor...
    Traveled with the rich, traveled with the poor...
    I been a-travelin' on.

    One of these days I'm gonna stop all my travelin'
    One of these days I'm gonna stop all my travelin'
    One of these days I'm gonna stop all my travelin'
    I been a-travelin' on.

    Gonna keep on a-travelin', on the road to freedom
    Gonna keep on a-travelin', on the road to freedom
    Gonna keep on a-travelin', on the road to freedom
    Gonna keep right on a-travelin' home.

  • 
    THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
    
    THIS-A LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I'm gonna let it shine,
    Oh, THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I'm gonna let it shine,
    Oh, THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I"m gonna let it shine,
    Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine...
    

    The light that shines is the light of love,
    Lights the darkness from above,
    It shines on me and it shines on you,
    Shows what the pow'r of love can do,
    I'm gonna shine my light both far and near,
    I'm gonna shine my light both bright and clear,
    Where there's a dark corner in this land,
    I'm gonna let my little light shine.

  • 
    WALK IN PEACE
    
    Ev'ryone who's been to school, heard about the Golden Rule,
    It's a story old but true, Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you,
    Now the way it looks to me, it's a case of reciprocity,
    We must observe it implicitly, if we hope to save the world from calamity.

    For it's as simple as one and one makes two,
    Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you,
    It's the only way that wars will cease,
    And men of good will shall WALK IN PEACE!

    We must learn to give and take,
    If a better world we hope to make,
    How can you teach Hungarians democracy,
    While at home you practice racial bigotry?
    We must get the other fellow's point of view;
    He has a right to his opinions, too.
    You know, the "know-how" of being free
    Is not a Yankee monopoly.

    We condemn Russians for tyranny,
    And denial to the press of liberty.
    But tell me this one thing, candidly:
    Is Greece, or Spain, or even China, free?
    And black men in this great democracy,
    Do they walk with noble dignity?
    Or do they hang their heads in shame,
    And torture their souls in a Jim Crow train?

    What a pity it is to see,
    Churches in our beloved country
    Denying the brotherhood of man
    By bowing to the doctrine of segregation.
    We must practice what we preach,
    If we would Poles and Balkans teach,
    That in our great land the world might see
    A shining example of democracy.

  • 
    WE SHALL OVERCOME
    
    WE SHALL OVERCOME,
    WE SHALL OVERCOME,
    WE SHALL OVERCOME some day,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    We'll walk hand in hand,
    We'll walk hand in hand,
    We'll walk hand in hand,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    We shall live in peace,
    We shall live in peace,
    We shall live in peace,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    We shall all be free,
    We shall all be free,
    We shall all be free,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    We shall end Jim Crow,
    We shall end Jim Crow,
    We shall end Jim Crow,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    We are not afraid,
    We are not afraid,
    We are not afraid,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    The Lord will see us through,
    The Lord will see us through,
    The Lord will see us through,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    We are not alone,
    We are not alone,
    We are not alone,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    The whole wide world around,
    The whole wide world around,
    The whole wide world around,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    The truth will make us free,
    The truth will make us free,
    The truth will make us free,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    We shall ban the bomb,
    We shall ban the bomb,
    We shall ban the bomb,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    Black and white together,
    Black and white together,
    Black and white together,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

    WE SHALL OVERCOME,
    WE SHALL OVERCOME,
    WE SHALL OVERCOME,
    Oh, deep in my heart
    I do believe
    WE SHALL OVERCOME someday.

  • 
    THE UNIVERSAL SOLDIER
    
    He's five foot two and he's six feet four,
    He fights with missiles and with spears,
    He's all of thirty-one and he's only seventeen,
    He's been a soldier for a thousand years.

    He's a Catholic, a Hindu,
    An atheist, a Jain,
    A Buddhist and a Baptist,
    And a Jew,
    And he knows he shouldn't kill
    And he knows he always will,
    Kill you for me, my friend,
    And me for you.

    And he's fighting for Canada,
    He's fighting for France,
    He's fighting for the U.S.A.,
    And he's fighting for the Russians,
    And he's fighting for Japan,
    And he thinks we'll put an end to war that way.

    And he's fighting for democracy,
    And he's fighting for the Reds,
    He says it's for the peace of all,
    He's the one who must decide
    Who's to live and who's to die,
    And he never sees the writing on the wall.

    But without him how could Hitler
    Have condemned him at Dachau,
    Without him Caesar would have stood alone,
    He's the one who gives his body
    As a weapon of the war,
    And without him all this killing can't go on.

    He's the UNIVERSAL SOLDIER
    And he really is to blame,
    His orders come from far away no more,
    They come from him and you and me,
    And bothers, can't you see
    This is not the way we put an end to war.

  • 
    A SATISFIED MIND
    
    How many times, have you heard someone say,
    If I had his money, I would do things my way;
    But little they know, that it's so hard to find,
    One rich man in ten, with a satisfied mind!

    Once I was winning, in fortune and fame,
    Everything that I dreamed for, to get a start in life's game.
    But suddenly it happened, I lost every dime;
    But I'm richer by far, with a satisfied mind!

    Money can't buy back your youth when you're old,
    Or a friend when you're lonely, or a love that's grown cold;
    The wealthiest person, Is a pauper at times,
    Compared to the man, With a satisfied mind!

    When life has ended, my time has run out,
    My friends and my loved ones I'll leave, there's no doubt;
    But one thing's for certain, When it comes my time,
    I'll leave this old world, With a satisfied mind!

  • 
    GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR
    
    Give me your tired, your poor,
    Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
    The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
    Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed, to me;
    I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

    Give me your tired, your poor,
    Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
    The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
    Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed, to me;
    I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
    

  AND FINALLY, let us "IMAGINE", as John Lennon, of the Beatles, did so "imagine", when he wrote the following:
  
  IMAGINE, by John Lennon
  

  Imagine that there's no heaven,
  See if you can try,
  No hell below us,
  Above us only sky.
  Imagine all the people,
  Living for today...
  Imagine there are no countries,
  It isn't hard to do,
  Nothing to kill or die for,
  And no religion too.
  Imagine all the people,
  Living life in peace.
  You may say I'm a dreamer,
  But I'm not the only one,
  I hope some day you'll join us,
  And the world can be as one.
  Imagine no possessions,
  I wonder if you can,
  No need for grief or poverty,
  A brotherhood of man.
  Imagine all the people,
  Sharing all the world...
  You may say I'm a dreamer,
  But I'm not the only one,
  I hope some day You'll join us,
  And the world can live as one!

  Aum, Peace, Amen! Father Jerome
  Reply to: fatherjeromeusa@fiwd.org

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