Share

Share

During the week I spoke with parents of Confirmation Children in a neighbouring parish.  I was happy to have the chance to do this as it made me think about our own schools in the parish and the children who are preparing there for the Sacrament of Confirmation.  I thought a bit about what I might say to these parents and tried to get an image to put before them.

The notion of crossroads came to mind. For a while I thought it might describe where the boys and girls are at in life and that it’s a place of decision-making.  I felt parents would, of course, have a role in that process and help the children to figure out the best road to take.  I wanted to make the point that there was a call to be changed by the Sacrament of Confirmation and the outpouring of the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit and that staying the same wasn’t really an option. I spent a bit of time thinking about this and came to the conclusion that “crossroads” is not the right image.  For at a crossroads we have the option of just travelling on the same road, maybe even without much thought or reflection. Even if it’s the wrong road we could easily just travel on our way and not make any real or meaningful change to the journey.

I had second thoughts about the crossroads but still wanted some image that might stay with people and that took account of the “faith” journey the boys and girls are part of.  My mind wandered to another intersection we encounter on our travels – the “T” Junction.

It struck me that the T-Junction is a better image because when we reach it, a choice has to be made.  At first I thought there were two choices; Left or Right but then realised that there are, in fact, three.  We could also choose to go back the road we’ve already travelled and go no further along the way.  I would see this as very regrettable.  The only way to continue on the journey is to YIELD and make a decision for Left or Right.  I believe that is very much a daily choice for all of us and one that teenagers as they celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation are approaching in a very real way.  The decision, you’d hope, is for the RIGHT! The right path, right choices, preferring right to wrong, good to bad and safe to harmful.  All we should be about as adults is rooted in offering encouragement that the right path is taken.  Even if, for a while, we travel “left” or in the wrong direction the hope remains that the Holy Spirit, the “SAT-NAV” that is our inner and guiding voice will say “Make U-Turn when possible”.  That’s the hope but we need to equip people to hear this voice and be able to recognise and follow it.

I had an image and wanted one word that the parents might bring home with them.  The word that came to mind is SHARE and I decided to apply a thought or phrase to each letter.  We are entering Catholic Schools Week and maybe the word is appropriate to more than just the parents of Confirmation children but, in some way, to all of us as we seek to SHARE the faith with others and help people (ourselves too) to make the right choice at the T-Junction.

S (Show interest)

H (Help with projects)

A (Accompany to church and in prayer)

R (Recall your own stories of faith and traditions from your home)

E (Encourage ALL THE WAY)

What about your light and mine?

What about your light and mine?

With Bruce visiting Ireland last week, I decided to check out some of his concerts.  I wasn’t going to Croke Park.  I found a YouTube video of his concert in Kilkenny.  It was a recording of the full concert – over three hours – and I thought I’d have a look.  The opening song took me by surprise.  Not the stuff of Rock and Roll, you might think, but it surely had its place.  Well done Bruce.  It seems to be a regular in his playlists.

and though I didn’t make Croke Park, here’s a clip of a man who did!! Not a whinger in site:) You’d love to see some “action” like this in the Dáil:)  Then again, maybe not!!

On the upside … now I’m beginning to think I’ve got rhythm after all:)

Words not spoken but worth repeating

Words not spoken but worth repeating

A few weeks ago, when at the Diocesan Retreat for the Priests of Clogher Diocese, one of the men mentioned by way of introducing Evening Prayer that one of the lines in the Psalm had a special meaning for him.  It runs something like “If The Lord does not watch over the city, in vain do its watchmen keep vigil”. (Psalm 127)  He mentioned that these words were to bring to a close a speech to be given by President John F. Kennedy in Dallas the day he was assassinated.  I had never heard this before and sort of like facts of this kind.  I just searched for the speech and, sure enough, the closing lines are as my priest friend recalled, albeit a slightly different translation.  It’s a lengthy speech and President Kennedy spoke about unfairness in the media, about negativity and about his belief that the United States was in a better place.  The conclusion suggested that God had to be at the root of all that needed doing and all that he hoped to achieve …

We, in this country, in this generation, are — by destiny rather than by choice — the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of “peace on earth, good will toward men.” That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength. For as was written long ago: “except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain.”

It’s been a strange day

It’s been a strange day

Weather-wise, it’s glorious!  We really couldn’t ask for better.  Lovely skies, sun and all the forty shades of green combining to put on a display of growth and life.

It’s the Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady.  The second joyful mystery of the Rosary.  I always liked it.  The idea of Mary going to be with her cousin when she was most needed. So natural.  So right.  The decent and appropriate thing to do.

My mother was good for visiting people.  In latter years she’d ask me to go to visit some of her relations and friends. Though my initial reaction might have been rooted in my being comfortable in front of the TV and somewhat less than positive, I always agreed.  More than that, I was always glad that I went with her to visit.  I got as much, if not more, from the visits than she.  I liked her for her desire to keep in touch with people. I think it’s something that has become part of my own life too.

Like most people my phone is full of numbers and names.  I even find it difficult to delete the names of people who have died.  It seems so final to click “erase” and even more-so to click “yes” when you are asked if you are sure you want to do this.  I don’t like to erase contacts.  That said most of them are just there, resting in the phone’s memory but, more importantly, having a place in mine.

From time to time, I decide to get in touch with some of these names that I might scroll through in search of a number.  If I happen to be in the place where one of them or perhaps the family live, I might see it as an opportunity to meet for a quick visit or at least say hello. So I might dial or text.  It’s always lovely to hear a voice breaking the ringing tone and to begin that conversation that is, all too often, long overdue.  Equally the reply to the text that says, in more than words, “good to hear from you.”  I really believe we should do our best to keep in contact with people, especially those who have shaped us and shared the road with us.

There are times though when the phone rings out or the text goes unheeded.  You begin to wonder – no, I begin to wonder, if maybe the number has changed it’s been so long.  A few attempts, no response.  Maybe then a mutual friend or relative is met and when the number is checked, it’s the same one.  The no response is just that “no response”.  I find that difficult to be honest and wonder what happened.  The answer to that is rarely found. There are some who feel that’s the way life goes, you meet people, walk a bit of the road and then part ways.  There’s no denying the truth in that but I’d like to think, the opportunity to reconnect remains.

This afternoon I met with some priest friends for a Prayer Meeting.  We do this once a month (though I’ve missed a few to be honest) and the Scripture Passage for today was 2 Timothy Chapter 1. Paul is writing to Timothy and encouraging him in his ministry.  He’s telling him that the light he received must be fanned into a flame and allowed shine on and for those around him.  He’s telling him as well, that he has received a very special gift and that he needs to protect this with God’s help and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Towards the end of the chapter, Paul laments that he has lost contact with people who were once his friends and who now seem to want to avoid him.  He remembers how good these people were to him and seems genuinely saddened to have lost their support and friendship.

So today, I’ve been thinking a bit about people with whom I’ve lost contact.  I realise that’s the way life goes and realise too how fortunate I am to have the loyalty of my family and friends but there’s still something of a loss in lost contact.

Yeah, a strange sort of a day!  I think its roots are in the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.  It would be hard to imagine Elizabeth not opening the door or, if the story were moved on to now, not responding to the text that says “I’m going to visit you …. stick on the kettle!!”

I liked Mary’s approach to contact – being with people when needed and bringing something positive to their door. I still do …..

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