More than a click

More than a click

Cousins Meet (Jesus of Nazareth 1977)

John the Baptist meets his cousin and, for the first time truly knows the one about whom he has been preaching and, for whom, he has sought to "prepare the way". It's only when they meet, truly and in person, that the truth is fully revealed.  How easy it can be for us (for me) to speak about Jesus, even want to prepare the way for him, and not have fully encountered him in personal contact.  There has to be a message in here somewhere.  For me?  For you? Friendship with Jesus, like all true and meaningful friendships, must allow for meeting and spending time face to face, so that words can be exchanged and recognition made possible.

In reality all meaningful friendships are the same.  Our true friends are those who are in our corner and, as the saying goes, "have our back".  True friends are those who walk into our lives in moments of crises, times of need, grief or bereavement.  True friends are those who walk towards us when others might choose to walk away.  Friendship has to grow and develop - it's not instant and has little, if anything to do with, "clicking" a mouse, "liking a comment", "tagging a photo", or "following" on FaceBook, Twitter, Snap Chat, Instagram or any other platform of that kind.  These may well be the tools of friendship and, without doubt, have a role to fulfill but they can never replace personal contact, face to face meetings and being with people when most needed. Like John the Baptist and his cousin, our Saviour Jesus Christ, true recognition and friendship is formed through personal contact.

These are the thoughts I tried to share at today's Mass.  I received a humorous piece during the week that I included in the bulletin.  I wanted to read it because I liked and enjoyed it but also because as often happens in humour, a real point is being made ...

THE PIECE!

I am trying to make friends outside of Facebook while applying the same principles. 

Therefore, every day I walk down the street and tell passers-by what I’ve eaten, how I feel at the moment, what I have done the night before, what I will do later and with whom. 

I give them pictures of my family, my dog and of me gardening, taking things apart in the garage, watering the lawn, standing in front of landmarks, driving around town, having lunch and doing what anybody and everybody does every day. 

I also listen to their conversations, give them the “thumbs up” and tell them I “like” them. 

And it works just like Facebook!  I already have four people following me: two gardai, a private investigator and a psychiatrist!!!!

 

Remember me ….

Remember me ….

In the past few days people have received calls from Donald Trump, inviting them to Trump Towers and they went in the expectation of receiving an appointment to his administration.  He’s now in “power” and will gather around him people who seek power.  He’s no different to many others in similar situations.  For more than two years he has sought power, as did those who campaigned against him, for there is something in power that attracts people.  That’s the way it’s always been and is certain to continue.

On the last Sunday of the Church’s Year we are given the image of Christ The King.  There is little that speaks more to power than “KING” – from our childhood days we heard stories of Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses and their lifestyle.  We imagined their castles, thrones, kingdoms and rejoiced with the good ones who did well by their people and hissed disapproval at the evil and warped ones who sought to make life difficult for others “Look out, he’s behind you”, was the pantomime roar.  “Oh no he’s not” – “Oh yes, he is”!

Christ the King is found neither in castle or on throne.  He’s crucified between two thieves.  He’s mocked, jeered, spat at and offered vinegar to drink.  A sign says he is “king of the Jews” but those gathered around have no regard for him or his “kingship”.  It’s total humiliation.  It’s awful.  He is at his lowest moment and begins to doubt even the Father’s love “why have you abandoned me?”.

In the midst of all this awfulness there is a moment of light.  “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”.  How those words must have lifted his fallen spirit.  In the absence of pomp and ceremony, robes and crown, someone was still able to grasp the truth.  “There’s more going on here deeper than meets the eye”. What was it that sparked that moment of recognition in the “good thief”?  Where did he find those words? Where did he unwrap that gift of faith that allowed him see beneath the lashes and bruising, the nails and the blood to the one beneath and above it all?  Somehow he managed it!  Hands tied and in undoubted pain, he realised the man beside him was more than man.  He was KING!  Some kings had the name of being merciful and surely he’d be numbered among them – “Jesus”, he said, “remember me when you come into your kingdom”.

His words, far from falling on deaf ears, gave hope to a dying man and helped him realise his words had not fallen unheeded to the ground.  In the midst of all this hostility and hatred, there was sill hope – still faith and a desire for something better.

“Indeed”, replied the King “this day you will be with me in Paradise”.

Trump Towers or Calvary?  Power is at its best in fragility and weakness for it is from these it can draw and transform people.  Power, when recognised where you’d least expect it, is a special and life-altering gift.

Remember!


Later today we will have a Remembrance Service in our parish for all who died in the past year.  The words of Christie Hennessy’s “Remember Me” come to mind yet again and maybe they have a place in your day too.

“Remember me whenever you are blue, remember me when there’s no one holding you, anytime you feel like you can’t make it through, remember me and I will be with you.”

https://youtu.be/j4ZswHM1YS0?rel=0

Daily Lenten Thoughts March 20th

Daily Lenten Thoughts March 20th

 

“This will be your busy week”!

I’d say there aren’t many priests in the country who haven’t heard or will hear that comment made many times.  I have one priest friend who has a set response at this stage, he just says “Well sure when it’s over, I can slacken off til Christmas”:)

Is it a busy week?  In ways, I suppose it is but it’s a week that is more or less mapped out for us.  The scene is well set in today’s “Long Gospel” and the story is told a-new once again so that it becomes part of our fabric in the coming days.

Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, Mass of The Lord’s Supper on Thursday evening, Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday (possibly Stations of the Cross somewhere along the way that evening), Confessions and, of course, the Easter Vigil. It’s all there for us, scripted and laid out but we have to try to make our own of it.

Someone shared a video clip with me a little while ago.  Two young brothers at Mass on Palm Sunday, totally bored by the long Gospel, they start to mess.  Their mother chastises them but the response in better behaviour is short-lived.  One challenges the other to shout out loud when the crowd is to say “Crucify him”.  He bets his brother one dollar that he won’t.

There’s a change …. sure have a look yourself and you’ll see what I mean.

Whether it’s a busy week or not, is pretty much up to us.  For it to be a meaningful week, we need to make it personal. That personal moment may well come at a moment we least expect and it will make all the other moments make sense ….

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