Biblical Poem for February 8, 2022: Jesus Christ Stresses Purity of Heart by Patrick McCaskey

 

Photo by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O. P., Benediction in
 Blackfriars priory church; https://flic.kr/p/87eU4H

Jesus Christ Stresses Purity of Heart

 

          Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

 

From the “Workbook for Lectors” we know that

“Jesus prefers to associate with

An amiable, if somewhat unti-

dy, group rather than…critics with clean hands.”

 

Jesus declared that all food is clean.

Sin begins in the interior life.

Jesus healed with just one look of true love.

Bing Crosby sang “True Love” to Grace Kelly.

 

God restores our heart with a tender gaze.

We can do the same the rest of our days.

Husbands can give their wives the look of love.

Parents can look at their children with love.

 

Jesus Christ looks at us with compassion,

Even if we do not like poetry.

 

Patrick McCaskey

 

Patrick McCaskey is a Vice President and Director of the Chicago Bears, Chair of Sports Faith International, and Chair of WSFI Catholic Radio 88.5, as well as poet and the author of our Sports and Faith Series. He is also a grandson of George "Papa Bear" Halas. Surprising, inspiring, and all very human, Patrick McCaskey's Poems About the Gospel and Poems About the Gospel II are books for all seasons where readers can find a few words of encouragement in every poem. Poems About the Gospel is available from Sporting Chance Press, Amazon and select bookstores like the Little Way in Crystal Lake. Poems About the Gospel II is exclusively available from Amazon.

Copyright 2020, Sporting Chance Press

Image: Photo by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O. P., Benediction in Blackfriars priory church; https://flic.kr/p/87eU4H

Brown and White Publisher Has Published Second Poems About the Gospel by Patrick McCaskey

 Poems About the Gospel II, now available from Amazon, features another 150 short works written by Patrick McCaskey. Like our Poems About the Gospel (published in 2020), each poem provides the author's own take on an individual passage of one of the Evangelists that are often read at Mass and other Christian services. The poems reveal the thoughts and feelings of a modern man responding to the Gospel with faith, humility, and humor. The author’s poems remind us that the Christian faith is just as alive today as ever, and the inspired writings live alongside all our foibles and culture. The author’s sense of reality rushes in at unexpected times with a “time out” for humor. Readers are struck with all the author’s variety of thoughts that fall as they might, but never take away from the faith distilled. A 45+ year veteran and Vice President of the Chicago Bears, Patrick McCaskey is the grandson of founder George Halas. McCaskey has written many books on sports and faith. He serves as Chairman of Sports Faith International an initiative which recognizes people who are successful in sports while leading exemplary lives. The author also chairs WSFI Catholic Radio that broadcasts to northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin.

Biblical Poem for October 20, 2021: Jesus Explained the Steward Parable by Patrick McCaskey

 

Poems About the Gospel,
Patrick McCaskey

Jesus Explained the Steward Parable

 

Luke 12:39-48

 

Christ talked about responsibility.

The faithful souls and the ignorant would

Be judged differently from the lazy,

The calculating, the noncompliant.

 

Duties of life can lead to holiness.

The Spirit of God leads to sanctity.

Let’s worship God in spirit and in truth.

Jesus was poor, humble, and cross-bearing.

 

Everyone has different chores and gifts.

Charity arouses hope and good works.

Let’s act with courage and humility.

Jesus Christ washed the feet of His apostles.

 

My grandfather overslept and missed the

Eastland.  Sometimes it’s okay to be late.

 

Patrick McCaskey

 

Patrick McCaskey is a Vice President and Director of the Chicago Bears, Chair of Sports Faith International, and Chair of WSFI Catholic Radio 88.5, as well as poet and the author of our Sports and Faith Series.  The Sports and Faith include stories of athletes and others who live exemplary lives like George "Papa Bear" Halas, Pat's grandfather. Surprising, inspiring, and all very human, Patrick McCaskey's Poems About the Gospel is Patrick's first book of poems where readers can find a few words of encouragement in every one. Poems About the Gospel is available from Sporting Chance Press, Amazon and select bookstores like the Little Way in Crystal Lake.

 

Copyright 2021, Sporting Chance Press

Bookies Bookstore to host Chicago Bears VP Patrick McCaskey for Book Signing on June 15, 2019

                                                                                

PRESS RELEASE

Crystal Lake, IL—Sporting Chance Press author Patrick McCaskey will be signing his new book Worthwhile Struggle at Bookies this Saturday in Chicago at 10324 South Western Avenue at 1 PM.

Bear fans think this year’s team might lead to something special–if you want something special this year for Christmas, birthdays, and Fathers’ Day–Worthwhile Struggle checks all the boxes. Worthwhile Struggle is the fourth book in the Sports and Faith Series published by Sporting Chance Press of Crystal Lake. Each chapter is titled after one of the author’s 10 Commandments of Football, principles based on McCaskey’s life with the Chicago Bears and reflecting his own distinctive sense of humor. The book includes vignettes of athletes such as Tom Waddle, Bill Wennington, and Sister Jean of Loyola University (who also graces the cover). McCaskey family stories, Bears history, and sports questions/answers round out the sports coverage. For the faith component, stories of saints and McCaskey’s Biblical poems are included. Struggle is a theme that is clearly seen and understood in sports, which serves as a metaphor for life lessons in the Series.

McCaskey, a grandson of Chicago Bears founder, George “Papa Bear” Halas, is one of the team owners and serves as a Vice President. McCaskey is a frequent speaker and author who is involved in the Bears charitable and outreach efforts.  Working for good causes for over 40 years, McCaskey is Chair of Catholic Radio Station WSFI (88.5 FM) and Sports Faith International (an initiative the honors high school, college, and professional athletes and coaches who lead exemplary lives).  

Specs:

Worthwhile Struggle

352 Pages, 5.5” x 8.5”

Paperback

Includes index, table of contents

Photo and Illustrations

Pub. 2019, $20 each

Printed in the United States