by Vincent | Feb 23, 2018 | Reflections, Lent 2018
Bill, my father, R.I.P.
I love this photo! It’s not the best one I have of my father and I often wonder what he’s thinking but I know where he was just before the photo was taken.
We were in Edinburgh and had just visited the Botanical Garden. I’d discovered just days before that both my great-grandfather and grandfather had worked there. We went to see the place my father had heard about from his father but had never visited. It’s one of those days that I knew we were doing the right thing. My mother and aunt were there too and we spent a fair bit of time, wandering around, looking and (no doubt) thinking about other days.
As we came away from the Botanical Garden in a black taxi, I sat opposite my father and just looked at him as he looked out to some place in his memory and, I like to think, gave thanks that he had walked where his father walked, seen what he’d seen and had a new memory to add to the old. He gazed, perhaps, into what someone has called “a room called remember.” I am so glad I clicked that moment – for his memory gave me mine.
Today, February 23rd, Bill would have celebrated his 98th Birthday. I’m thinking of him and my mother (both gone to their reward) and encouraging anyone who reads these words on this Lenten Day, to take every opportunity to share time and place with your people.
The time spent today may well prove to be tomorrow’s happy memory.
Bill – between the garden and the taxi!
by Vincent | Feb 22, 2018 | Reflections, Lent 2018
Urlaur Abbey (Parish of Kilmovee)
Urlaur Abbey lies in ruin. Its walls have crumbled and roof has long since collapsed but its floor – foundation – remains solid. Many people come here to spend a bit of time at the lake, to say a prayer in the cemetery and to imagine (pray) the sacred past of this place. On the 4th August every year, the place fills and the familiar sounds of Eucharist echo from the walls “do this in memory of me.”
At the Pattern Mass some years ago, a Dominican priest spoke of the positioning of the Abbey. He said the water’s edge was often a chosen spot for the building of a monastery. Is there a link somewhere with Jesus standing on the shore? Is there a connection with his calling people to come from the water, spend time with him and be nourished by him? Only then could he send them on mission.
The priest that day spoke too about cemeteries developing around these monastic settlements and that somewhere there’s an image of and a connection with the journey from the waters of baptism to the final resting place. The structure and the sacraments of the church seeking to be the bridge between the two.
Today we celebrate the Feast of The Chair of St Peter “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church” … Peter’s “rock”, no more than Urlaur Abbey’s walls, crumbled but his foundation was solid. We are still walking on the floor he laid.
A Lenten thought! Gratitude for an ongoing faith, a present church – even if walls and structures aren’t as solid as they might have been or wished for. There’s a rock beneath.
by Vincent | Feb 21, 2018 | Reflections, Lent 2018
Casting its shadow – Culmore Cemetery (Kilkelly)
It’s a week now since we received the cross of ashes. Its shape most likely disappeared by bedtime and most certainly washed away in the cleansing waters of Thursday morning. You’d like to think its memory has lingered a while and grounded us a little.
Today’s photo is from our November Prayers in Culmore Cemetery. As the prayers concluded, the sun came out and rose to a point in the sky where it cast a long shadow over the people as they walked and talked following our prayers. I thought of the shadow the cross casts over so many people and, unlike the one in the photo, the cross with all its weight and pain doesn’t fade quickly or pass from sight in the twinkle of an eye or shifting of the clouds.
A thought today for those so burdened. Parents grieving the loss of a child – maybe a child they never got to say hello to or one who lived and loved and left. Husbands, wives, parents, children, friends, neighbours trying to come to terms with their grief and loss. We think of those meeting doctors today who may not have a good story to hear. We remember all battling addiction and pray strength and guidance for them. We pray for healing and forgiveness for those who have been hurt by life’s experiences. We pray and, with Simon and Veronica, allow ourselves to step from or be taken from the crowd to bring healing, a soothing hand and a caring word.
The shadow cast by the cross runs long and deep but let us pray that it be a shadow that will in time – sooner rather than later – give way to hope.
Leonard Cohen put it well in his prayer for healing:
“The splinters that we carry – the cross we left behind – come healing of the body – come healing of the mind.”
by Vincent | Feb 20, 2018 | Reflections, Lent 2018
I haven’t seen the movie “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” but just watched the trailer now. A woman, feeling she has been deprived of justice, following the murder of her daughter, leaves no stone un-turned in her pursuit of justice. From the clip I just watched, it would seem she left no feathers or personages unruffled either. You can see where she’s coming from.
The three billboards outside Ebbing are there to be seen (or ignored) by all who pass the road. Her desire, her absolute need, of course, is that they will be seen and evoke response.
In looking through photos just now, I saw again these three candles and thought the link too good to pass up on!! These candles too call people to response. Like the billboards, they have their message. Maybe one of them is calling us to spend time with God The Father today, the second encouraging us to hear again the words of Jesus Christ and maybe the third is calling us to an encounter with The Holy Spirit. Again, maybe one is asking us to come to terms with the past, a second to embrace the present and the third to put trust in God’s guidance of our future.
Endless possibilities as to what these three candles might have to say. The difference between them and the billboards is that we have to pull off the road for a while, enter a church (like Kilmovee, Co. Mayo) and see the signs that are there for all who choose to enter.
The link … the absolute love of a parent …. of God …. for the child.
by Vincent | Feb 19, 2018 | Reflections, Lent 2018
Heading nowhere!
If a picture tells a thousand words, you could delete 999 of them! “Wrecked” is the only one you’d need:)
The idea was a good one – to cycle 3000 miles in a day, recalling the journey of Fr Patrick Peyton, CSC (Venerable) – The Rosary Priest – from Attymass to the United States. It was achieved. A room full of stationary bicycles and a room full of willing cyclists saw to that. My contribution was limited but I was glad to be part of the day.
The Stationary Bicycle is a strange animal! That day in Attymass put me thinking about one and a year or more later, on a total whim, I bought one. I was excited to set it up and hit the road from my “Attymass” to New York and beyond! Alas! I even set it up in the bedroom that I’d have a constant reminder of how easy it would be to get in a bit of daily exercise. My challenge now is not to hang clothes on it:) That, without doubt, would be the final insult!
The thought for today might be something to do with having the right intention and knowing what needs to be done. It might even be about going further than knowing and getting what is needed but the harsh reality and truth lies in making use of the tools.
Exercise Bike for exercise ……
Prayer for faith ……
One pedal – one cycle at a time!
