Transfiguration! Mountain climbed in the company of friends. A revelation takes place that confounds the friends, and roots them to the spot – “Lord”, they said “it’s wonderful for us to be here … let us build three tents …..” They, we are told, did not know what they were saying.
There are many moments we’d like to capture and put in an air-tight container so that they’d never change. Life though, is for living not preserving and likewise life-giving moments.
What was seen and heard on the mountain top must be brought back to ground level so that it can be appropriately shared with those who were not there.
A picture may well tell a thousand words but is no substitute for the re-telling, one to another, of the Sacred Story.
Yesterday I went to visit some parishioners in hospital. On my way home I came on the scene of a serious accident. Emergency services were there and some shocked passers-by. Sadly one man had lost his life and two others were being removed by ambulance to hospital. I asked if I could be of any help and said a prayer and offered a blessing at the car of the man who had died. May he rest in peace. I spoke with one of the others as he was placed in the ambulance and came away from it all, shaken and very saddened. My heart and thoughts remain with all involved, especially the families who received such bad news last evening. I pray they find much and lasting support through family and friends.
It is so frightening to think of the darkness and heartbreak a split second can bring to all of us who use the road.
I felt very much too for the Gardaí, Fire Service, Paramedics and Doctors who attend these tragic and heartbreaking scenes. It strikes me that their work is often very much taken for granted. I know I certainly take it for granted and perhaps that’s the thought for the day.
Say thanks to these people. They do our country “no small service”.
Just had a short prayer service in the local cemetery with a family remembering their baby, Sarah Ann, who died just before birth two years ago. We had a similar gathering last year. A short prayer, a hymn and we sang “happy birthday”. Her brother and sister released two balloons to the sky and it’s amazing the freedom of them in the air and how quickly they disappeared. I believe this will be a very strongly embedded memory in the hearts of Sarah Ann’s brother and sister and full credit to their parents for keeping their little baby’s memory so rooted in the family circle. At Sarah Ann’s “Mass of The Angels”, I read a letter I’d composed on her behalf and perhaps it might be a thought today for all parents and families who have had to make this difficult journey. A thought too, around the sacredness of human life, its protection and eternal value.
Dear Mammy, Daddy, Amy and Seán,
Thank you for your letters, I’ve read them over and over. Amy’s picture of the church is lovely. It’s great to have them and I know that I’ll often look at them. I thought maybe I should write to you too. I hope it makes sense …
Thanks for welcoming me! I felt so safe with you – that seems a daft thing to say since how else could I feel. I loved the way you talked about me and, though you might not have said it out loud, wondered what I’d be like, who I’d be like. I wondered that too. Chances are, I’d be like both of you. Now that wouldn’t have been bad.
I was ready to meet ye. I so looked forward to it. Amy was so grown up in my world with her talk of school and friends and games and dresses … She seems like great fun. I know she’d have made me very welcome. I loved that black dress she has and all the red flowers on it. I thought I might borrow it sometime. I felt so lucky to have her as a sister and knew we’d always be friends.
Seán! Now what can I say about him? He’s mighty fun. In fairness he might have preferred if I was a boy. He imagined us having all sorts of adventures around the house, playing in old cars and hiding things in places nobody would find. Things like Jammy Dodger biscuits, cap guns, spanners … He’s a live wire for sure. Was he ready for another sister? I know now that he was. To be honest, I’d have loved to play around the house with him and I love cars, even the Vectra that was sprayed Green and Red last September! The games around the house, the hidden biscuits, the endless laughter and wondering what he’d do next! … You’re the best Seán.
It’s great to have the four grandparents. I know that many children don’t. I know that they are sad for mammy and daddy but I hope not too sad. All I wanted was to make them happy. I’m glad they’re here now and I know they’ll be a great help. Thanks for loving me too. I’ll always love ye.
These last few days have been strange for us all. None of us expected this. I hate to see you all so sad, my parents, brother and sister, my uncles, aunts, grandparents and all of you here today. I know there are other mammys and daddys here who know what this feels like. I’m sorry you are sad. Like all of you, I wish it were different. None of us saw this coming but we’re here now, it’s an hour we have to go through. Jesus told me he had an hour like this too, in a garden when he didn’t know what was happening. He said his best friends fell asleep while he worried. He put his hand on my head and said, “Your friends didn’t sleep Sarah …. they’re all awake with you” – I knew what he meant.
You’ve all done your best for me. I love the names you gave me. Sarah! What a mighty woman? She was kind and giving and had such a hearty laugh. She believed in God even when it was hard to believe. God never forgot about her and sent a little baby to her when she was very old. God doesn’t forget about anyone. I know He is with us all today and always will be. Ann? I love that name too. She was Mary’s mother and helped Mary so much. Mary is kind. She doesn’t say a lot but she notices everything. She was one of the first to hold me. She told me I’d be fine but I knew she felt sorry for all of you too so I told her how much you did for me.
I told her about the Butterfly people who’d made little clothes for me. I told her about the photographs you have of me. My footprints, handprints and the teddys Seán and Amy gave me. She noticed the little Rosary Beads too and I told her it was mammy’s. She cried a little, as if she knew what sadness means but then she smiled when I told her about Amy’s black dress with the red flowers … She laughed out loud when I showed her the red flowers … “Sarah”, she said “did you take those from your sister?” “No Mary, she cut them off herself and gave them to me. I think that means ….. “
… and before I could finish Mary said, “Yes, it does Sarah Ann, it means she loves you …… they all love you”,
I felt happy then because I know how much you all love me. That will never change. I love you too.
The link between Old Testament and Gospel is particularly obvious in today’s Scripture Passages at Mass. Jonah making his three day trek across Nineveh, calling on all people to repent. The message reaches the King, who upon hearing it, gets up from the throne, removes his royal attire and puts on sackcloth and sits in ashes. He then calls on all people to do likewise. He believes God is truly speaking to the the people and that the call to and need for repentance is very real.
In the Gospel passage Jesus reminds people of this and says that the generation has become fickle. All they want are signs and wonders. The “only sign” he tells them is the sign of Jonah. He reminds his listeners that people reacted in a powerful and humble way to Jonah’s message and that somehow the people of his day (and ours too) does not seem to hear the message in its entirety.
Leadership is on the tongues of many now, as they seek our votes to elect a new Government. Leaders too, need to be aware of God’s call and message. Irrespective of where they worship or whether or not they worship, there’s a need to realise “there’s something greater than Jonah here”. Leaders too need, like the King in Nineveh, to have a deeply rooted awareness that there’s a story before them and a Power above them. We pray for good, effective leaders who inspire us and remain open to inspiration.
The “buzz word” of the present campaign is “economy” but there’s more to an ecomony than the “sign”, the “at-times dangerous sign” of money. It’s about the best in, for and through people.
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Imelda May taps into this two-fold existence of pride and humility in her lovely song “Proud and Humble”. Enjoy!
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
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