We celebrated St Joseph’s Day today. A good man, described in today’s gospel as being a “man of honour”. A lovely title to have and something worth aspiring towards.
Also, struck by the fact that Joseph seemed to get a lot of messages in dreams – while asleep, including not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, since the child she carried was of God’s making.
Being that man of honour, being a man not afraid to dream, he woke up to the truth that he had to do his best.
LENTEN THOUGHT: Let us be afraid not of our dreams.
Okay, hands-up I’m tired and going to close down soon. Took a look at some older posts and this one came up “on the screen”. It was an attempt I made a few years ago to deliver the Ten Commandments in a more up to date format! Already it has dated but the tune is still good. Have a look.
LENTEN THOUGHT: Kindness is the key! We should all “try it” more often.
I spoke earlier at Masses about the fire of faith St Patrick brought to Ireland. Legend says he set flame to the fire on the Hill Of Tara – a call to recognise the Light of Christ and an invitation to draw closer to the Redeemer.
We all know the value of a good fire in the home. It draws us is, warms us and leads to conversation in the family. When a visitor arrives, a chair is pulled in and the circle widens but the fire remains central and essential. A house where the fire has gone out can, all too easily, become a ruin or, at best, a poor reflection of what it could be.
I remember reading Nineteen Acres by John Healy. There was an account that I can’t say I remember vividly but enough, nonetheless, to share a thought. He was talking about a family emigrating and of the neighbours gathering in the family’s home the night before they left. This was sometimes called “The American Wake” since there was a strong possibility that those leaving might not return. Stories were shared and songs too. Dances and memories long into the night. When it came time to go home, one of the neighbours took a lighted piece of turf (coal maybe) from the fire and brought it home to add it to their own fire. The imagery was around keeping the fire burning for this family until such time as they’d be able to come home and start afresh. The first fire they’d light would be taken from the neigbhour’s fire – the neighbour who carried the turf in the hope that one day it would make the return journey and be a continued fire for the family.
I liked the idea and maybe that’s where we are today – on St Patrick’s Day – wondering how best we can keep the flame of faith alive for those who might have “gone away” from church and faith. The hope remains that we will do all in our power to keep the fire burning for them until that time when, with God’s help, they might face homewards and be united in Faith.
As an aside and as a LENTEN THOUGHT on this our National Feastday, I would like to share a video I posted on YouTube many years ago – after the inauguration of President Michael D. Higgins. I litreally recorded it from the images displayed on the television and hope that I have not infringed copyright. I recorded solely because I loved the piece and the sincerity of voice and music. It is based on St Patrick’s Breastplate and is performed by Rita Connolly. It turned out to be the most viewed video I ever uploaded! Rita is the reason for that – not the quality of the video. Anyway, take a few minutes and listen to “The Deer’s Cry”.
Ireland has been called the land of “Saints and Scholars”. I suppose it came from a realisation that through the generations, our country produced many people who gained renown in the literary and scientific fields – indeed all disciplines – and that also we had punched above our weight in terms of faith.
Missionaries from Ireland found themselves scattered and effective in practically every part of the world. Our legends and stories were steeped in Saints, Holy Wells, Abbeys and Monastic Settlements.
Today, we are still regarded as a very well educated race and our education system is regarded as holding its place with the best of them.
No shortage of scholars then! Saints may well be more difficult to find.
LENTEN THOUGHT: That we might strive always to be faithful and ever anxious to progress and profess our Faith story.
This is an image from the Altar in Castlefin Church. I took it last week and have, since then, used it as the desktop image on my computer. There’s something inviting in it. I’m not sure but I think it’s the light above it – seems to draw you in and, in that drawing, invites you to come closer to Jesus.
There seems to be a fair bit of confusion around the table. People looking in different directions; some looking toward Jesus and more towards one another. It’s as if answers are needed – direction maybe.
I think I took this photograph the same day Mary McAleese was speaking in Rome. I still haven’t heard all her words from that day but it’s my intention to listen. Hurt and frustration are difficult travelling companions and anger sometimes not the best starting point but I have no doubt she speaks to the truth. My regret is that anger and soundbytes took a more prominent role than I believe they might have done on a different day.
I remember the difference Mary McAleese made when she visited my home parish in 1998, following the tragic drownings of three local teenagers. Her presence meant so much. I recall hearing her speak one time that I happened to be in Rome and in the Irish College. She spoke movingly of the channels for good that priests had been in Ireland and beyond. Countless acts of kindness, miles travelled and words of hope shared leave us in no doubt about her sincerity and goodness.
I have no reason to believe she is not still that woman and I am convinced she has a place and a voice in our church. In many ways, I believe she can be that woman of influence she so clearly seeks in her words – that voice of leadership.
I’m happy to say I had to Google the word misogyny (to be sure I had the correct spelling) – yes I know what it means but I never see it as a companion on the road I travel. I believe in people – men and women, lay and religious, young and old. I believe that like the ones carved on the front of Castlefinn’s Altar, we are all, in one way or another, seeking answers. Sometimes we have enough faith to look to Christ, sometimes to one another but that light … yes, that light, shines on Christ and calls us closer. If there was confusion around the table in the Upper and Borrowed Room, surely that must give us some hope that we are travelling a road that has borne the imprint of many feet – including those of Christ.
We’re in this together … called to be companions not controllers ….
LENTEN THOUGHT: That we are open to hear the truth even when it’s not the most comfortable room in the house.
On this, the first anniversary of the loss of the crew of Rescue 116, I thought I might include again lines I wrote last year. May those who lost their lives that night, rest in the peace they so surely brought to others during the course of their work. We remember their families at this time and pray they have found some solace in knowing their loved ones died doing the work they wanted to do – work that needed to be done.
IN MEMORY OF RESCUE 116
On Monday last I heard your sound you in sky and me on ground, on the phone, chatting with a friend wondered where your journey’s end?
Someone somewhere was in need prayed you’d reach them with due speed and from the sky you’d hover low to help the stricken ones below
The sound was loud as you crossed Mayo I prayed God’s blessing as you’d go a fleeting wish that you’d be blest and to ones troubled you’d bring rest
An hour later I went to bed your journey then had left my head a few hours later the story broke as to a new day I awoke
Helicopter missing near Black Sod; Could it be them? I asked my God is that the one that passed last night to ease another’s troubled plight?
And yes it was or so it seems in a world shattered by broken dreams In lives laid down, you gave your all in answer to another’s call Your photos now before our gaze friends and family offer tear-filled praise and the loss they feel is ours too for as a nation we mourn you How could you as crew have known the destiny to which you’d flown but know this now and for evermore your memories in our hearts we store To Dara, Paul, Ciarán and Mark who flew that night into the dark know this day, you gave your best in God’s hands we leave the rest.
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