Facing the shadow side of myself… “I encourage you to discover anew the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to avail yourselves more frequently of the transforming power of its grace.” Pope Benedict XVI.
Well how is your Advent journey going? We’re over half way there! We lit the third candle on our Advent Wreath this weekend, the …
Jesus affirms that it was John of whom it was said, “He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah.” Jesus also affirms that he himself will suffer, as John did.
Jesus readiness to suffer to accomplish his Father’s will on earth invites me to explore my own readiness to suffer [...]
Jesus said; “When John came, he fasted and drank no wine, and everyone said, “He has a demon in him.” When the Son of Man came, he ate and drank, and everyone said, “Look at this man, he is a glutton and a drunkard!”
A Peanuts cartoon shows Lucy looking at the sky and saying, “Sometimes [...]
Microphones make the softest voice louder than the world’s loudest voice. Cars make the slowest person faster than the world’s fastest runner. Likewise, belonging to God’s Kingdom makes the least person greater than John the Baptist. But membership in God’s Kingdom carries with it responsibility to work for the completion of God’s Kingdom on earth [...]
“Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.” What did Jesus mean by this? Surely it must be his compassion. Another word for compassion is love. So in other words if we take on the Lord’s compassion and love it will lighten our burdens. Is this true? Would love and compassion really solve our [...]
The Jesuit priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a Red Cross “medic” during World War I. Confronted with the terrible carnage, he asked himself one day what Jesus would think of the terrible fighting if he were there. With that question in his heart and mind, he happened to pass a church in a village [...]
When banks are trying to get us to open accounts with them they use very expensive advertising campaigns, which normally comprise of very attractive offers put forward and explained by very friendly people. This is a way of drawing us into their business. However there is normally a sting in the tail of the advertisement [...]
Many years ago, a man was shocked to read his own obituary in the morning paper. His death was mistakenly reported. But what shocked him most was how the obituary described him; as someone who had devoted his life to the making of weapons of war. From that morning on he resolved to turn his [...]
The first week of Advent is over. It’s a good day to ask myself how I’m doing in this season of preparation to meet Jesus at Christmas and at the end of my life. Perhaps I made no special effort, perhaps i did? Perhaps I could commit myself to some task for the weeks ahead?
Prayer [...]
Being called in to be told that your job is gone has, unfortunately, become a familiar scene for many a person. It’s not a nice experience. It’s difficult even to tell your family and friends. And it’s difficult to face the inevitable pressure of lack of money, lack of hope, and lack of self esteem. [...]
During the celtic tiger years many people were so busy that they had neither time for family, time for themselves or time for God. Unfortunately, some have too much time on their hands now, because they cannot find a job. Where ever we find ourselves, may we appreciate time spent with others. Time to think, to laugh, [...]
The bright beautiful Autumn sunshine that we have had has lifted many a heart. Every day is a gift. All of nature is a gift. A line from the hymn ‘How Great Thou Art’ sums it up. ‘O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder the works thy hands have made’
Prayer for Today
Thank you Lord for the [...]
Many people tell the story of when sickness, death or trouble came to their door, that the support from neighbours and friends kept them going. And it gives me heart, because, even though our country is financially in the doldrums, I am reminded that as ordinary Irish people we are good at caring for each other. [...]
I remember as a child a holy picture that hung on the wall of my parents bedroom. It was a picture of Jesus knocking on a door. It was many years later when I noticed that the door had no handle and could only be opened from the inside. I think of that image this Advent [...]
It’s amazing how easy it is to get stuck in a rut. We fall into a regular routine: we get up at the same time, eat the same breakfast, do household tasks according to a particular schedule; watch the same soaps; observe the same bedtime rituals. Sometimes it’s almost like we are functioning on automatic [...]
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