Daily Lenten Thoughts February 16th

Daily Lenten Thoughts February 16th

We’re nearly a week into Lent now.  How is it going?  Have there been slips? Chances are, there have been some … As they say so often at meetings: “Where to from here?”

At the third station of the Cross, we reflect on the first fall of Jesus. Though it’s not recorded as such in Scripture, it’s certain there were moments on the Calvary Road when Jesus collapsed beneath the uninvited and equally undeserved weight of the cross.

Falls are uncomfortable and unsettling.  The ground is never welcome and we prefer to be on our feet.  The fall has its place though, it reminds us of our fragility and weakness.  It speaks to us of seeking help and support that feet may be found again.  There’s a need to reach out to others – to God – for guidance.  The helping hand is never more welcome.

So, a week in, fallen or not let us trust in the “helping hand” and not be afraid to seek its gentle and guiding way.

Patrick Kavanagh expresses this desire to rise again in one of his poems, entitled “From Failure Up”

Can a man grow from the dead clod of failure
Some consoling flower
Something humble as a dandelion or a daisy,
Something to wear as a buttonhole in Heaven?
Under that flat, flat grief of defeat maybe
Hope is a seed.
Maybe this is what he was born for, this hour
Of hopelessness.
Maybe it is here he must search
In this hell of unfaith
Where no one has a purpose
Where the web of Meaning is broken threads
And one man looks at another in fear.
O God can a man find You when he lies with his face downwards
And his nose in the rubble that was his achievements?
Is the music playing behind the door of despair?
O God give us purpose

Daily Lenten Thought February 15th

Daily Lenten Thought February 15th

Just in from Mass. Matthew’s account of the final judgement. Sheep on the right and goats on the left. Reward and punishment. Consequences.

Sometimes I say a prayer at Mass, I think it’s part of a prayer I heard used by the Redemptorists years ago at a Parish Mission.  It includes words along these lines:

“When night time comes, may I look back on this day with no bitterness or regret in my heart because of anything I’ve said or done”

Consequences! Choices!  “Choose life then and live”.  In the choices made, may we allow others to live better.

Daily Lenten Thought February 14th (St Valentine’s Day)

Daily Lenten Thought February 14th (St Valentine’s Day)

Today we celebrate St Valentine’s Day. Celebrations may take the form of sharing gifts, cards, going out for meals to name but a few.  For some it will just be an excuse to show how much they love another.  For others, it might be an opportunity to take the first steps towards showing feelings for another.  For all it is an opportunity to show gratitude for the trust shown by another in his or her love. For all too, it is a timely reminder of how much we need one another in life.

Many of the images used will be of young fun-loving couples in air-brushed photos that show no sign of the wear and tear that is truly part of love.  For Valentine’s Day Love is found in Nursing Homes too, where an old man or woman sits by the side of an ailing partner.  It is the home, where mothers and fathers do so much for their families and not just children but their adult families who may have long since moved out of home.  It is the man or woman who maybe had love for a while and somehow it got away.  In other words, the love celebrated this weekend, is as much about long term commitment as social media fun.

“Will you still love me”, he asked, “when I’m old and fat?”  “I do!”, she replied 🙂

 

Daily Lenten Thought February 13th

Daily Lenten Thought February 13th

Four days at this!  Not sure it’s reaching out but maybe it’s reaching in!  Chances are that’s what we need to do during Lent – reach in so that we can more effectively reach out.

Why do we do the things we do?  Is it for recognition? Possibly at times.  Vanity?  Alas, equally probable.  Should that be the case and the only reality, in truth we should stop.  I should stop …. I’m hoping it’s not the only reality.

I like to think these words go somewhere.  The hope is they might have a meaning when strung together that allows a little room for thought.  Neil Diamond has a nice tune that goes “Leave a little room for God, as you’re going through your day, leave a little room for God, you know he won’t get in your way”.  Maybe that’s what these words are about.  Leaving a little room …

Room for what?  Room for whom?  Space for you and me.  If we’re doing something sort of worthwhile, and hurting nobody in the doing, then chances are we’re on the right road.

So, the thought for this Lenten Saturday.  Don’t lose heart!  Keep doing what you believe in and the rest will fall into place.

Daily Lenten Thought February 12th

Daily Lenten Thought February 12th

“What about us?”, they said, “we left everything and followed you?” An old priest I know said he often thinks Jesus must have laughed when they said this and thought to himself, “what had you only two bad boats?”

Maybe at times we exaggerate how much we’ve given up for the Lord or indeed how much he asks of us.  It’s not overly demanding to ask people to love.  Not always easy, admittedly, but not a huge demand either.

What a difference it would make if today we could even replace a little bit of our frustration, anger, resentment with a bit of love. Love of and for God.  Love of and for the neighbour.

There’s a lot to be gained – much more than the loss of two bad boats!

Daily Lenten Thought February 11th

Daily Lenten Thought February 11th

“You’ve great heart”, I said to him.

Truth told, I didn’t know what to say or how to say it.  He’s in his early twenties and has been in hospital since the summer of 2015 with a serious illness.  His eyes were so bright as we spoke, he looked at me in a way that was, at once, humbling and frightening.  Humbling because I knew I’d find it very difficult to be in his position and frightening because I feared he’d be angry and vent that anger.

“And faith”, he replied!

And faith!  I wasn’t quite ready for that.  “Did you ever lose it?”, I asked.  “Never”, came the instant and deeply lived reply.  “It’s just that I was talking to a parent yesterday and we were talking about teenagers maybe losing their faith for a while.  Just wondered if that ever happened you or have you always had faith?”  “Always”, again his reply was from a place within.

“And”, he continued, “I don’t know why people would blame God for this.  It’s not God’s fault.  Just one of those things that happens.”

Silence followed.  It was needed – perhaps more for me than him.

“Is there anything you’d like – anything I could get for you?”, I heard myself say.

“Pears”, he replied.  “I like pears”.

On this day of World Prayer for the Sick, I pray for him and for all who are sick – pears and prayers- reward and healing.

Miracles do happen.

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