It’s Thursdy evening and we have a celebration of enrolment for the boys and girls from the parish who are to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday next. I was just looking for a reflection I might use at the celebration this evening and my eye was caught by two I had saved – won’t use either tonight but thought I might share them here …
One is a reflection on time
Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course! Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the “tomorrow”. You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today.
The second is a piece I wrote in the Ballaghaderreen Parish Bulletin for Vocations Sunday 2002
SO, WHY DID YOU BECOME A PRIEST?
(A personal response on Vocations Sunday)
I became a priest because I believe God called me to it. When? Where? How? I can’t honestly say. There was no magic moment or bright light. The silence of the night wasn’t broken with a thunderous voice, no angels arrived and I heard no strumming harps!
I admired the priests I knew – at home and later in St. Nathy’s. They seemed to be
good people, interested in others and they were there at the important times in
life. They seemed happy in themselves and willing to share that happiness with others. God seemed to be there in them, whispering through their lives. Somehow the breeze must have carried God’s whisper.
I thought I’d like to do the same. I’d like to be a good person. Happy and willing to share happiness. I felt I could be there at the important times in people’s lives too and I hoped that God would whisper through me.
I grew up wanting to be a priest. My family supported me. Priest friends encouraged me. People prayed for me. I know, from Maynooth days and
talks, that some had a tougher time making up their minds. Sometimes I’d envy them, wishing there had been more drama for me! No two are the
same, nor for that matter, should they be the same!
It’s a good life, not without challenge, the occasional disappointment, misunderstanding personal mistakes and pain. I believe I am needed as priest and that priests are needed. I am glad I was ordained. I still think God whispers in
me. I pray that if he needs to shout, I’ll have the lungs!
(V.S. – Vocations Sunday 2002)
unday 2002
(V.S. – Vocations Sunday 2002)
unday 2002