by Vincent | Oct 2, 2016 | General Interest, Reflections
I really thought this was Mayo’s year. I am a Sligo man but when Sligo’s out of the equation, I believe our next loyalty lies with the province and when the county representing the province is one in which I’ve spent most of my years as priest, it’s obvious my loyalty was rooted in Mayo in the lead up to yesterday’s game. I truly hoped (and believed) victory would come the way of the Green and Red. Alas!
I never played football at anything approaching a meaningful level and certainly have no concept of what it means to wear the Club Colours, never mind the County Colours. I know there’s pride in the wearing and that it is hugely significant to those talented enough, dedicated enough, honoured and picked to wear the team’s jersey. In more recent years my admiration for such people has increased to a degree that shocks me. Unlike others, I can’t name teams or follow the game at the intense pace that comes so naturally to some but I totally respect those involved.
Truth told, at times I envy the dedication shown to the team and the willingness to do whatever one is told by management in terms of training, food intake, alcohol avoidance etc. I sometimes wish we could harness that degree of commitment and bring it to my own area of involvement in the lives of people. practice of the Faith and commitment to parish life. That’s an aside though and maybe something to think about for another day.
It was such an intense game yesterday (as indeed was the drawn game) and nail-biting to the end. It was not to be Mayo’s day and Dublin achieved the “back to back” so desperately wanted. I suppose nobody can blame the team or county for that. Their dedication too in undoubted as is their obvious skill.
A few photos emerged last night – many photos but two caught my attention. Both were of Andy Moran in the company of his young daughter. I celebrated Andy and Jenny’s Wedding Mass and feel something of a connection though we don’t meet very often. There’s no denying Andy’s passion for the game and I’ve no doubt he’s deeply disappointed that another year has come and gone.
Together on a field of dreams
In the photos, one shows Andy sitting on the grass of Croke Park. and his daughter sits on one of his outstretched legs. There’s something healing in that photo – something that says the Metal of Sam Maguire may be sought after but it’s cold comfort when compared with the flesh and blood you shaped, nurtured and nourish. The little girl sits with one who is not judged on which side he was on at the sounding of the final whistle but on one who is her “father”, provider and one who loves her unconditionally. The love is likewise returned. She is undoubtedly more crucial and cherishedl than a cup to be passed from hand to hand, team to team, year to year. In this child, in this picture is life and all that is meaningful therein.
Photo taken by www.advertiser.ie (Galway Advertiser)
The second photo is of Dublin’s Bernard Brogan,reaching out to place his open hand on the top of the little girl’s head. Andy is now standing, smiling as he watches this gesture. To me, the Dublin man is saying “be proud, very proud of your father. I’ve given everything I have over the last seventy and more minutes to hold him back, to beat his team but you have a father to be proud of there.” I’d like to think that somewhere deep within, he might even feel a tinge of regret for Andy and his team mates but more than that, it’s a gesture that says when the game is over, life goes on and must be cherished. It’s moment that speaks of a respect between players, even when on opposite teams, maybe especially when on opposite teams.
At Mass today, St Paul tells Timothy to “fan into a flame” the gift God has given him. He’s told it’s not a spirit of “timidity” but one rooted in love and self-control. I’d like to think the Mayo team might hear those words and recognise deeply the gift so obviously given to its players. May the fanning into flame commence and may “the fans” breathe life into that flame.
“A year til Sunday”
by Vincent | May 24, 2015 | Reflections
A week ago I spoke about Friday’s Referendum and mentioned it quite likely that by this weekend, the votes, cast and counted, would reveal a majority in its favour. I didn’t need to be much of a forecaster or analyst to arrive at that conclusion.
Such is the case today. On this Pentecost Sunday we stand with all who stood yesterday in the hope that they too stand with us. It is certain that many of those gathered yesterday, longing and waiting for our country’s yes, are today, like us, gathered in church, praying with their neighours and communities. We were not enemies yesterday, nor are we today. On the contrary, as one we seek peace and direction, strength, dignity and hope.
There is surely no better day to do it. Into the “locked upper room” came the Spirit of God to empower and release. Doors once locked were opened, voices once silenced found their breath, language once confused found a common and shared vocabulary. The Holy Spirit came to bring courage for the road and hope for the day. The Apostles left that upper room and walked onto the world’s streets. We have been walking since. That conversation continues.
Archbishop Diarmuid Marin spoke yesterday, in a timely and gentle tone, to say our church needs to have a “reality check”. I liked what he had to say and believe there’s a great truth in it. It’s certain we have lost contact with a sizeable number of our people. He spoke, in particular, of young people but I feel it goes broader than that. So on this Day of The Holy Spirit, what better way to begin that check than to ask that same Spirit to empower us, engage us and bring us to a place and point where discussion continues.
Are we about yes and no? Are we meant for division and hostility? Are we intended to be fearful or mistrusting of one another? I think not. We are on a journey as one and, to that journey, we invite again the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit. More than invite them, we rely on them.
I mentioned last week that if the referendum passed because people genuinely felt it was for the good of our country and its people that I could and would live easily with that decision. If, on the other hand, it was to be viewed as some victory over the Church and its teachings, I’d find it difficult to come to terms with that and considered it a high price to pay. For that reason, I think it’s only fair to acknowledge the many who called for “no”, voted “no” and believed in “no”. This “no” was and is rooted in love of something held very dear and sacred – something at the core of most of our lives – the reality that was father and mother, doing together their best. Of course there were exceptions. Sadly too there were tragedies and illnesses that deprived children of one or both parents but the truth remains that many among us value married life and felt it under threat. Out of that and because of that, there was a desire not to have its meaning changed.
This, for the majority of people calling for “no”, had nothing to do with hatred, homophobia or oppression. People – the Church (and its teachers) wanted to protect something held sacred. There was no wish to hold people back or create division but, as I understand it, a call to reflect before change might be made.
To that end, it is possible that many did in fact “reflect” as the bishops asked and having done so came to the conclusion, that they had enough faith to sustain marriage as we know it, to continue to cherish it whilst opening the way for other understandings. Should that be the case, we pray for the sustaining of that faith and a way to communicate it with generations to come.
My deep wish is that we can put “yes” and “no” behind us now and journey respectful of one another in a way that is dignified and worthy of human beings – men and women – sharing time and space.
Furthermore, I truly hope that all can come to see our church as a place of welcome and challenge. Through that welcome may we accept the challenge to be better people because of our Faith, Hope and Love. I don’t believe the church seeks to oppress people. That is not why we are Catholics. On the contrary, we are called to be people of hope and encouragement. We have to own our Faith and speak from it. There’s so much good to be cherished, valued and shared. I fear the apparent desire to silence this sharing and the lack of courage, at times, to bring our Faith alive to the market place. Of course some of our teachings are demanding and maybe even burdensome but, like all lessons taught with passion, seek to bring us to a place of understanding.
Indeed Archbishop Diarmuid’s words refer to this. Whilst most will focus (as did I) on his mention of the need for “reality check”, he had more than that to say – not least about the teachings of our church. He puts it well:
“we tend to think in black and white but most of us live in the area of grey, and if the church has a harsh teaching, it seems to be condemning those who are not in line with it.
“But all of us live in the grey area. All of us fail. All of us are intolerant. All of us make mistakes. All of us sin and all of us pick ourselves up again with the help of that institution which should be there to do that.
“The church’s teaching, if it isn’t expressed in terms of love – then it’s got it wrong,” he said.
So come again Holy Spirit and fill (again) the hearts of ALL your Faithful, enkindle in them, the Fire of your love, and we shall renew the face of the earth.
