by Vincent | Feb 15, 2016 | Reflections, Lent 2016
Just in from Mass. Matthew’s account of the final judgement. Sheep on the right and goats on the left. Reward and punishment. Consequences.
Sometimes I say a prayer at Mass, I think it’s part of a prayer I heard used by the Redemptorists years ago at a Parish Mission. It includes words along these lines:
“When night time comes, may I look back on this day with no bitterness or regret in my heart because of anything I’ve said or done”
Consequences! Choices! “Choose life then and live”. In the choices made, may we allow others to live better.
by Vincent | Feb 14, 2016 | Reflections, Lent 2016
Today we celebrate St Valentine’s Day. Celebrations may take the form of sharing gifts, cards, going out for meals to name but a few. For some it will just be an excuse to show how much they love another. For others, it might be an opportunity to take the first steps towards showing feelings for another. For all it is an opportunity to show gratitude for the trust shown by another in his or her love. For all too, it is a timely reminder of how much we need one another in life.
Many of the images used will be of young fun-loving couples in air-brushed photos that show no sign of the wear and tear that is truly part of love. For Valentine’s Day Love is found in Nursing Homes too, where an old man or woman sits by the side of an ailing partner. It is the home, where mothers and fathers do so much for their families and not just children but their adult families who may have long since moved out of home. It is the man or woman who maybe had love for a while and somehow it got away. In other words, the love celebrated this weekend, is as much about long term commitment as social media fun.
“Will you still love me”, he asked, “when I’m old and fat?” “I do!”, she replied 🙂
by Vincent | Feb 13, 2016 | Reflections, Lent 2016
Four days at this! Not sure it’s reaching out but maybe it’s reaching in! Chances are that’s what we need to do during Lent – reach in so that we can more effectively reach out.
Why do we do the things we do? Is it for recognition? Possibly at times. Vanity? Alas, equally probable. Should that be the case and the only reality, in truth we should stop. I should stop …. I’m hoping it’s not the only reality.
I like to think these words go somewhere. The hope is they might have a meaning when strung together that allows a little room for thought. Neil Diamond has a nice tune that goes “Leave a little room for God, as you’re going through your day, leave a little room for God, you know he won’t get in your way”. Maybe that’s what these words are about. Leaving a little room …
Room for what? Room for whom? Space for you and me. If we’re doing something sort of worthwhile, and hurting nobody in the doing, then chances are we’re on the right road.
So, the thought for this Lenten Saturday. Don’t lose heart! Keep doing what you believe in and the rest will fall into place.
by Vincent | Feb 12, 2016 | Reflections, Lent 2016
“What about us?”, they said, “we left everything and followed you?” An old priest I know said he often thinks Jesus must have laughed when they said this and thought to himself, “what had you only two bad boats?”
Maybe at times we exaggerate how much we’ve given up for the Lord or indeed how much he asks of us. It’s not overly demanding to ask people to love. Not always easy, admittedly, but not a huge demand either.
What a difference it would make if today we could even replace a little bit of our frustration, anger, resentment with a bit of love. Love of and for God. Love of and for the neighbour.
There’s a lot to be gained – much more than the loss of two bad boats!
by Vincent | Feb 11, 2016 | Reflections, Lent 2016
“You’ve great heart”, I said to him.
Truth told, I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. He’s in his early twenties and has been in hospital since the summer of 2015 with a serious illness. His eyes were so bright as we spoke, he looked at me in a way that was, at once, humbling and frightening. Humbling because I knew I’d find it very difficult to be in his position and frightening because I feared he’d be angry and vent that anger.
“And faith”, he replied!
And faith! I wasn’t quite ready for that. “Did you ever lose it?”, I asked. “Never”, came the instant and deeply lived reply. “It’s just that I was talking to a parent yesterday and we were talking about teenagers maybe losing their faith for a while. Just wondered if that ever happened you or have you always had faith?” “Always”, again his reply was from a place within.
“And”, he continued, “I don’t know why people would blame God for this. It’s not God’s fault. Just one of those things that happens.”
Silence followed. It was needed – perhaps more for me than him.
“Is there anything you’d like – anything I could get for you?”, I heard myself say.
“Pears”, he replied. “I like pears”.
On this day of World Prayer for the Sick, I pray for him and for all who are sick – pears and prayers- reward and healing.
Miracles do happen.
by Vincent | Feb 10, 2016 | Reflections, Lent 2016
Last night was very cold and miserable. I went down to the church around 9pm for a few minutes and passed the astroturf pitch beside my house. There was a game in progress. Oblivious to the unpleasant weather, young men from the locality played a game of football as intense as any. Oblivious too, to their sole observer, I was in awe of their dedication and enthusiasm. Far from the corporate box, I stood alone on the road, rain falling around me and watched and listened as they urged each other to victory, rejoiced in the scored goal, lamented the one that just went wide of the post or questioned the one that went over the side line “our ball”! I left them to it.
A few months ago, shortly after the pitch came into use, I met a man from the parish. I’d say he’s well into his thirties now. He asked me what I thought of the pitch and I said I liked it very much and that I was happy to see it being used so much. I knew he was one of the ones that used it. Indeed he was one of the “stars” last night. “There’s only one thing wrong with it”, he said. I couldn’t imagine what that might be so I asked. “I wish I was fifteen again”, he smiled! I knew what he meant. He’d love to have had that facility in the parish during his teenage years.
That’s where I think we start Lent 2016. Is there a place or time we need to go back to? A time we might wish for when things were different, perhaps even better? That’s where we go today, in the quietness of heart and with Spirit renewed to reclaim what we might have lost and live again the fullness of our Faith potential.
The ashes will fade but the mark and promise of the Cross remains.
