Second Sunday of Lent: Transfiguration

Can you recall a time when you had an ‘aha moment’? One of those moments when something suddenly makes perfect sense to you. It may have been a long time coming, a combination of various pieces of a jigsaw fitting together or it may be an insight you receive from prayer or spiritual practice. These are really special moments. We are never quite the same afterwards, something changes, even a small thing, but something in us changes. These ‘aha’ moments even move us outside of ourselves or beyond ourselves in some way. They are moments of transfiguration. This is what is happening to the disciples in today’s Gospel: a very deep and significant ‘aha moment’. Peter is desperate to stay on the mountain in that blissful moment with Jesus, so much so that he offers to build tents. One can understand Peter’s request, after such an occurrence of course he would want to stay there. 

What moments of encounter in your own life do you recall? An encounter that you simply did not want to end? It may be something very deep and meaningful which gave you a glimpse of God or a moment of complete contentment? As with all blissful moments, the disciples must come down from the mountaintop. Jesus’ way involves walking a very different path, a path that will not be so easy. Jesus’ way is different to what Peter may have had in mind. No doubt these moments of Transfiguration strengthen us all for walking the more difficult paths.

Third Sunday of Lent 2016 ~ Luke 13:1-9 “Bear Fruit”

The people in the Gospel today are wondering if the Galileans who were killed by Pilate had died because they deserved to. We can empathise with them as we know too well of accidents and tragedies of all kinds where we might ask the same question. Jesus insists that they have not done anything wrong. Their sudden death challenges those still alive to live to the full and to bear much fruit because life can end suddenly, life is fragile, no one is indestructible. 

Climate Change affects us all. Climate injustice occurs when people who have done little or nothing to cause climate change are suffering the most from its effects. It is the greatest injustice of our time as it is the world’s poorest countries who suffer the most from the changes in our weather systems. In Ireland we recall the devastating storms of 2013 which caused so much destruction along our West Coast. We have the resources to cope, for now. In countries like Kenya and Malawi, these resources are simply not there and the effects of storms and droughts are catastrophic. Let us pray today that we hear the call of the Gospel to bear fruit, not to be inactive, not to be complacent when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint. The Galileans died because of Pilate, but the greater ‘sin’ here becomes inactivity.

“Common destiny beckons us to seek a new beginning… Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace”. (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 207). 

First Sunday of Lent 2016

14^th February 2016 ~ Luke 4:1-13 “Trust the wilderness”

The temptations are not just an embarrassing episode in the life of Jesus but are an integral part of his mission. Jesus is tempted to eat when he is not supposed to eat, to take the easy route of power through exploitation, when that is not His way. Ultimately, God is in control here; this wilderness is ‘Spirit’ led. And so it is for us. When it comes down to it, each of the temptations are about the same thing, our ability to trust in God. This should not direct us towards complacency but to listening.

We listen to God’s Word and this year’s Trocaire campaign is urging us to listen to what God is saying through the Book of Creation; to trust in those signals and signs. Listening to the story of Teresina this year, we hear of an effect of climate change that is often overlooked: a family forced apart because of dry land. This past year we have seen large movements of refugees around the world. We know that the next generation of refugees will be climate refugees. It does not have to be this way. As we enter the ‘wilderness’ of Lent, let us spend time with the temptations in the Gospel today and hear the call to ‘trust’. Trust what God is trying to tell us through the Book of Creation. It is in the wasteland that we find the signs of God’s renewal.

‘I urgently appeal for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all’. Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 1, 14

February 7th Reflection 2016

7^th February Luke 5:1-11 “Put out into the deep”

Jesus is preaching at Lake Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee) in today’s Gospel. This is Luke’s account of the calling of the First Disciples which takes place in the context of a miraculous catch of fish. Jesus is using Simon’s boat as a sort of platform from which to address the crowds who had gathered around him. Already Jesus is gaining popularity and the crowds are ‘pressing’ near to him. Clearly they see something in Jesus that is attractive and fulfilling.

Simon is most likely being polite when he agrees to try again for a catch, possibly thinking that Jesus should leave the fishing to the professionals. Simon obeys, takes the risk, lets go of his pride, and the result is an overwhelming catch of fish. It can be hard to trust others at times; it can be difficult to let go of what is familiar to us. We are constantly being challenged to do this. The big challenge is to trust that God knows what God is doing and is constantly urging us to pull away from the shore.

“A boat is safe in the harbour; but this is not the purpose of a boat” ~ Paulo Coelho

Palm Sunday 2015

Today we read Mark’s account of Jesus’ Passion; yes it is the long Gospel but we should not miss out on the journey that this account offers us. A good question to ask is “Where do I stand” in this Gospel? Are you looking on as a bystander, are you in the group of disciples, are you closer to the Roman Soldier who confesses Jesus’s identity after his death ~ an unlikely hero? Perhaps it is a more difficult journey as you relate to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, a Jesus who is ‘distressed’ and ‘agitated’ because of many things: isolation, the disappointment he must feel because of the abandonment of his closest friends, betrayal, loneliness, mocking, torture? Mark has Jesus die in total isolation.

The cry of abandonment on the cross has to be one of the most frightening aspects of this account: “Eloi, Eloi Lema Sabbachtani?” My God, my God, why have you deserted me?  At the crucial moment, even God is silent. This is not an easy journey. We know the story does not end there, but for this week we enter into the rawness of Mark’s cross. We can remember those today who stand for justice, who fight for human rights, those who are counter-cultural, who stand against oppressive systems even though the path is dangerous and lonely. And we can continue to ask ourselves: “Where do I stand?”

Fifth Sunday in Lent: John 12:20-33 “Now the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”

There is a very short parable in today’s Gospel describing a seed which has fallen on the ground and eventually dies. It may remain a single seed or it may yield a rich harvest. This concept of losing what one has to give way to something new and life giving is frightening for some. We get so attached and lifestyle changes are tough.

In this passage Jesus knows that his hour has come; this is his crisis moment. But Jesus’ time of anguish moves from a cry of ‘save me’ to one of glorifying God ‘let it be as You not I would have it’. We are at an ‘hour’ in terms of climate justice. This is the time where big decisions and commitments must be made and there is no other option but to opt for life; to listen to God’s will, not ours. The priorities of wealthy nations must change, must turn outward and take risks if we are all to experience peace and security.

We remember the horrendous storms which battered Ireland last year and which will continue to do so as our climates change. We are called to be stewards of the earth, ‘everything has been entrusted to our protection, and all of us are responsible for it’ (Pope Francis). 

For us to be true stewards means campaigning for legislation at national level and different choices at a personal level. 

“I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.” Pope Francis.

Lent ~ Transform Your World

Our first stop on this Lenten journey is the ‘wilderness’. Why? We need to remove ourselves from our hectic lives in order to BE STILL, to STOP, to BREATHE. It’s a bit like a stock take. What’s here? What’s here that shouldn’t be? What’s missing? And so we journey today with Jesus into the ‘wilderness’. We should not be afraid of this. It is a ‘Spirit led’ wilderness; God is in control here. Lent calls each of us to transform our lives and our relationships with those we love and cherish; our relationship with the planet; with the global community; our relationship with God.

This Lent we are asked to think especially about water. How we use water; what we waste; how we can live in solidarity with those who have no access to clean water. This is an urgent call. The wars of the future will be fought over water and it is hard for us to imagine. This coming week, as we journey more deeply into the wilderness, focus on how you use water. How many times a day? How much? What is wasted? What is shared? What do you use water for? Where water is concerned how can you serve God more fully? You can calculate your water usage here: www.taptips.ie/water-usage-calculator.htm There are also helpful tips for conserving water in the home and garden.
Lent has begun! We won’t automatically wake up on Easter morning transformed. But we are building, transforming; working in solidarity with our sisters and brothers who thirst for justice in so many parts of the world.

Choose Luke this Lent

In today’s Gospel we hear Luke’s account of the Temptations of Jesus as he is led, by the Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days. As this is the first Sunday of Lent, we too are being invited into the desert. Wilderness is a great thing. I’m sure all of us cherish any time we can get going for walks in quiet areas, some peaceful part of the day, some timeout for ourselves or whatever it may be. Because let’s face it, our lives are full of noise, distractions, busyness, stress and noise, noise, noise, noise. That’s why I love lent. It is a real gift of a season because it gives each of us a chance to be still, to STOP, to BREATHE, to be still and to have a sort of spring clean. It is an opportunity to ask ourselves “How am I doing?” “Are there areas in my life which need a bit of attention?” Today’s Gospel speaks to us about letting God lead us into the quiet and about God giving us the opportunity to make right choices, to choose God, to choose life.





In this church year, we read from St. Luke’s gospel each Sunday and I want to extend an invitation to you today to explore this gospel in a little more detail. Two years ago 250,000 copies of the Gospel of Luke were distributed across all the parishes in the diocese and we still have hundreds of copies of this Gospel to be distributed over this weekend. Why the focus on Luke’s Gospel this year? There is a lot of talk these days about renewal in the Church in Ireland and it is important to remember that this renewal involves being true to the heart of Jesus’ message. How do we know what that message is? Jesus’ message has been preserved for us in the gospels and therefore we need to explore the Gospel. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin is always asking people whenever he gives a talk anywhere: “Do you really know Jesus?” And it is a good question to ask. We can get to know the person of Jesus through spending time with the gospel texts. So, if we are serious about renewal in our Church, we need to go back to the source of the message.
We might have many questions about the Bible and the gospels within it which we would like to ask but may not have had the opportunity before. For example, who was Luke, where did he get his information? It is thought that Luke wrote his gospel around 80 AD, more than 40 years after Jesus’ death. This fact alone brings questions for us. We may also want to ask, why are there differences in the gospels? Why were some gospels not included in the Bible? People get very excited about all of these questions and the various theories that are out there hoping that they can teach us something new about our faith.

Luke was a skilled writer and it is likely that he came from Syria. He is said to have accompanied St. Paul for some time on his missionary journeys around the Christian communities in the Mediterranean. Luke’s Gospel is one that focuses on the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem, the lives he touched along the way, the prayer life of Jesus and the action of the Holy Spirit. In Luke, there is an emphasis on seeing people, Jesus sees people who have been pushed aside, Jesus sees the marginalised, women, the sick, the outcast, people whom nobody else sees. It is from Luke that we received the great parables such as the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan. Luke also emphasises the role of women in Jesus’ ministry more than any other gospel, especially the role of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Mary is the first disciple. It is from Luke that we get prayers such as the Magnificat and Hail Mary. Luke is concerned with a reversal of fortune between those who have and who have not, between religious hierarchy and God on the streets, a gospel cantered on justice and equality.


So I invite you to look at ways that we can understand more about this gospel text and ways we can pray with the gospel. Can this be one of your Lenten promises – to read St. Luke’s Gospel? And for those of you who fancy doing a bit more than that I invite you to join us on Wednesday night at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre (starting on February 20th) where we will begin to break open this text.
Our Ministers of the Word will distribute these Gospels after mass, please take one home with you, please take one for family or friends if you wish. The season of Lent is a transforming season. We want to arrive at Easter, a little bit changed, a little bit more nourished, a little bit closer to understanding what is at the heart of Jesus’ message for us. Spread the Word.

Something Different for Lent 2

Second Sunday of Lent ~ 4th March 2012
“Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone.” (Mark 9:2)

Welcome to week 2 of our Lenten Retreat. How are you doing? Did you manage to create a sacred space for yourself last week? If not, don’t worry, you can still do it with some candles, symbols, the colour purple for Lent!

This week’s task is to find space and time each day to be quiet and reflective. It is only when you stand back from the daily business that you can see things more clearly. Jesus is calling us to do that this week ~ to join him on the mountain. Decide what is best for you – ten minutes in the morning or evening? While out walking? Jesus takes the disciples up a mountain this week ~ if you have time to do that one day this week, great!

Prayer Suggestions for this week:
1. Breathing exercise: Be still. Take three deep slow breaths. Then, focus on your normal breathing. Do this for as long as you like. This is the breath of life. Thank God for this gift of breath and life. Repeat the following: “Lord, you are closer to me than my own breathing” (St. Teresa).

2. Gospel reflection ~ Read Mark 9:2-10 ‘The Transfiguration’ two-three times. Consider the following:
• The transfiguration experience was one that clarified Jesus’ relationship with his Father. What have been the experiences, the moments of insight that have clarified your relationship with God?
• The clear vision of Jesus with Moses and Elijah was followed by a frightening experience of being in a cloud and it was in the midst of the cloud that the disciples were instructed: “This is my Son, whom I love! Listen to him”. Have you had the experience of learning the truth about life and about your relationship with God from moments of confusion as well as from times of special joy?
• After their special experience the disciples came down the mountain again. Peter wanted to stay there, make tents there. But this is not the way it works. We cannot live each day at this level of special spiritual experiences. There is work to be done on the ground. However, these experiences can strengthen us in difficult times. What memories/experiences encourage you in time of trouble?

Suggestions for the week:
When you wake up in the morning:
Stay in the silence of that moment without radio, mobile phone or T.V. Become aware of your breathing. Be still. Take three deep, slow breaths, and then focus on your normal breathing. Tune in to the sounds in your house; listen to the ‘dawn chorus’ of the birds.
"I thank you, God, for the gift of life and creation. What can I do this Lent to show that I am a steward of God’s creation? Do I recycle? Could I walk/cycle instead of drive sometimes?"

When travelling on your own in the car, on the road, or on your bicycle: Open yourself to your environment and other pilgrims on the way; Look out for spring flowers; notice the colour and shape of buildings; observe the people around you.
I thank you, God, for your presence in every person, moment and place.

When going to sleep at night:
• Begin your preparations for bed earlier than usual and think of all the people you met today;
• Give thanks for all the blessings of the day;
• Let go of all hurts that have accumulated through the day ~ name them and give them to God.
"I thank you, God, for the gift of your companionship this day."

Thought for the Week:
The Sun Never Says (Hafiz)
“Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth,
‘You owe me’. Look what happens with a love like that,
It lights the whole sky."

SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR LENT 2012

First Sunday of Lent ~ 26th February 2012

“The Spirit sent him out into the wilderness”

Welcome to the first week of our Lenten retreat. Each week these reflections will be a guide for you to spend some more time in prayer and throughout Lent. It is also an opportunity to focus in on the Lenten themes each week and to take some ‘time out’ each day.

Our theme for Lent this year is Live Lent. Transform Your World. We begin our Lenten retreat by allowing ourselves to be led into the ‘wilderness’. We need to remove ourselves from our hectic world for a few minutes each day to give ourselves space and time. In the Gospels we are told that Jesus frequently goes away to a quiet place to pray, to escape the crowds, to spend time with God. This is a good place to start.

Tasks for this week:

First you are invited to create a simple sacred space in your home. This could be in the corner of your bedroom or sitting room. It should be somewhere that you can go for some quiet time each day. You may use some symbols in your space – such as a cross, candles, a bible or some significant symbol for you. The colour for Lent is purple so you may like to use that colour in your sacred space. You could even create your own mini-desert using some sand and stones. Be creative, yet keep it simple.

Secondly, some people like to carry something with them during the weeks of Lent, like a stone or pebble. This is a reminder of the things that weigh you down, preventing you from living as freely and as fully as you can. Take your stone out once everyday and hold it in your hand. By the

end of the five weeks you will know every part of it as you will know your inner self. You can place the stone/symbol in the sacred space each night as a symbol of giving those burdens to God.

The following suggestions on these pages are meant as a guide.You can do some of them or all of them. Take your time – you have a full week.

Prayer suggestions for the week:

1. Breathing exercise: Be still. Take three deep slow breaths. Then, focus on your normal breathing. This is the breath of life. Thank God for this gift of breath and life. Repeat the following: “Lord, you are closer to me than my own breathing” (St. Teresa).

2. Read Sunday’s Gospel, two or three times (Mark 1:12-15)
Sit with the text, and pick a word or phrase that stands out to you. Repeat that word or phrase in your mind. Why is that word or phrase relevant to you at this moment? Is it calling you to action? That action might be thanksgiving, a call for prayer, or a more specific action.

Something to think about:

Jesus went to the desert to prepare for his public ministry. How will I prepare for this season of Lent? Where is my ‘wilderness’? Where can I go to reflect/pray/ ‘BE STILL’? I can take up something as well as or instead of giving up something. What will I do this Lent? How will I live in solidarity with those who ‘have not’?
Lord, help me to change on my Lenten journey.

God created me in His own image and likeness. He always sees the good in me. God is always close to me and with me. Do I sometimes priorities other things in life because I am so busy working, caring, cleaning, rushing ~ I move further away from God? This Lent I will try to spend some time in prayer each day, even if only for a few minutes.
Lord, help me to change on my Lenten journey

Thought for the Week:
‘The question is not “How am I to find God?” but
“How am I to let myself be found by Him?”
The question is not “How am I to know God?” but
“How am I to let myself be known by God?”
And finally, the question is not “How am I to love God?” but
“How am I to let myself be loved by God?”
God is looking into the distance for me,
Trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.’
(Henri J. Nouwen)

Embrace the Wilderness, LIVE LENT.

The gospel for the first Sunday of Lent sends us out into the wilderness. And it’s good. The text says that it is the Spirit who drove Jesus (not literally!) out into the wilderness, therefore it is God who is in control here. It may be an uncomfortable situation “with the wild beasts” but wilderness can be a great thing. We often have to remove ourselves from the hum drum of daily life so that we can breathe a little. It’s a bit like a stock take. What’s here? What’s here that shouldn’t be? What’s missing?

Lent calls each of us to transform our lives and our relationships with the world around us. We won’t automatically wake up on Easter morning transformed. It takes time, it takes practice. But we are KINGDOM PEOPLE, building, transforming, and working in solidarity. With so much to do, we must take example from the first Sunday gospel of this transforming season and allow ourselves to be led, like Jesus, “into the wilderness”.

LOVE LIFE; LIVE LENT; TRANSFORM YOUR WORLD