Sunday 15th November 2015 ~ Mk 13:24-32

Next week we come to the end of the Church’s liturgical year and therefore on this Sunday the readings traditionally speak about the end of the world and the final coming of Jesus. There is a lot of symbolic language in today’s Gospel, some of it which may distress us. The opening verses tell us of great destruction of things that we know we cannot survive without – the sun, the moon. The Gospel goes on to speak about the gathering of a great community. People in Jesus’s time believed that the end would come in their life-time. Jesus says that no one will know when this is to happen and that it is not for us to worry about. What we should be concerned about is how to live every day in God’s love and service.

Today, we might recall times where we thought our worlds had ended because we lost something so important to us or we were suffering in some way. During that time it may have seemed like nothing would be the same again, but it was temporary; a new or different way of life was opened up to us as a result. The parable of the fig tree in the middle of this Gospel speaks to us about life and hope. In the midst of winter a small sign of hope was there even though we may not have seen it. 

‘When you see these things taking place, you know that he is near.’ (Mark 13:29)

Sunday November 8th 2015 ~ The Widow's Mite

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is courageously speaking out against the hypocrisy of the so-called ‘religious’ of his time. This passage is encouraging all his followers to engage in a reality check. The hypocrisy of the scribes is in total contrast to the humility and generosity of the widow in the second part of the Gospel. She gives not of what she has to spare, but everything she has. She is free. We don’t have to restrict this example to money either.  

At the end of this month, a vitally important meeting is taking place in Paris called COP21. World leaders will gather to try to settle on a universal agreement on climate change action. It is a hugely difficult task, one that has not been achieved before. We are asked to pray and to continue to put pressure on our governments to take real action on climate change. The widow gave her all in the Gospel today and we are challenged to model her behaviour rather than the behaviour of the ‘elite’ of the opening verses. 

You can join the march on November 29th @ 2pm @ The Custom's House, Dublin, to make your voice heard on climate justice. Encourage our leaders to make a strong stand at COP21 in Paris this Nov/Dec.





“The idea of infinite or unlimited growth... is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth's goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry at every limit. Yet all is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start." (Pope Francis ~ Laudato Si)

All Saints Day ~ Matthew 5:1-12.

Today we celebrate All Saint’s Day and to celebrate this feast the Gospel we read is The Beatitudes. It is an interesting passage to spend time with. Jesus is not moralising in this text, he is not telling us what to do. He is stating facts and we are invited into each Beatitude and given space to draw our own conclusions. The Beatitudes may shock us, but they force us to think and to ponder the paradox in each statement. There is much human experience within each one and as you read them you may recognise your local or ‘urban saints’.

This week can you spend time with each beatitude? There are seven so one per day is totally doable. Who are the peacemakers around you? Who are those who are persecuted? Who is mourning? The beatitudes call us to live life more fully, to see all as connected. Saints are all around us, pointing the way for us, teaching us something about God through their lives. They persevere in all they do for their families and communities, especially those on the margins. They are the blessed ones.

“Saints make our hypocrisy so apparent that we want to change our lives – not because of guilt but because we want to be alive, we want to be more like Jesus…[they] leave us the scent of God, the aroma of Christ. In God’s flirting with humanity, God occasionally drops a handkerchief – and these handkerchiefs are called saints” (Shane Claiborne). 

Sunday 27th September 2015 ~ Remove the Stumbling Blocks

Earlier in the Gospel of Mark the disciples were arguing about who amongst them was the greatest; in any group there is bound to be the occasional dispute! Today they are complaining that people, who are not part of the gang, are performing works in Jesus’s name. The disciples are eager to pass judgement, yet Jesus is asking them not to focus so much on how other people are a stumbling block to the Gospel, but to look inwards and ask themselves how are they doing? What stumbling blocks do they put in their way or in the way of others?

On 4 October we will celebrate the feast of St Francis of Assisi, bringing ‘Creation Time’ to a close. Some parishes have a blessing of animals; others have ‘Eco-Sunday’ and some have achieved the ‘Eco-Parish’ award from Eco-Congregation Ireland. (If your parish is not on the list, maybe you can gather people together to start the process: http://ecocongregationireland.com/eco-tips.)

It is easy to point the finger at major corporations and poor leadership and think that there is nothing we can do about climate injustice. As this season of ‘Creation Time’ draws to a close, let us really celebrate by committing to small actions as parish communities, being part of the solution and not a stumbling block.

‘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, and the joyful celebration of life’.

Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 207.

"Who is the greatest?" ~ Sunday 20th September 2015

In Pope Francis’s recent encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, he acknowledged that for so long human beings have treated the planet as if it were there solely for our use and exploitation, as if we were the greatest. He urges us to see the deep connectedness that exists with nature. ‘Nature cannot be regarded as something separate from ourselves or as a mere setting in which we live. We are part of nature, included in it and thus in constant interaction with it.’ (139). Pope Francis refreshingly speaks of an ‘integral ecology’; that dealing with climate change involves an approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded and at the same time protecting nature. We can no longer treat any of these in isolation.

We are all an integral part of nature and are called to respect nature not simply because of its use for us, but because of the countless relationships that exist between the environment and ourselves. The earth is calling to us to act. We can make a real difference to people’s lives through the small choices we make: the promise to live more simply and more sustainably. It is up to us and we can choose to be part of the solution rather than the problem. Like the disciples in today’s Gospel, we are called to examine how we relate to one another, and that includes our relationship with nature. We must start listening to what the earth is saying to us, and like the child in today’s Gospel, respond with humility.

Sunday September 13th 2015 ~

According to the ‘World Giving Index’ Ireland is listed as the fourth most generous country in the world. There is no denying the generosity of the people of this country, especially in times of crisis and in spite of tough economic situations. The injustice currently threatening our world will not be solved by charity giving alone. During this special season of ‘Creation Time’ we are being asked to reflect deeply on how we can come together as local communities to tackle climate change. We are being asked to reflect on how we can live more sustainable lives and encourage others to do the same.

In the Second Reading today St James encourages us to look at our attitudes and actions and how they can affect those around us: ‘I, by my works, shall show you my faith’. We have a responsibility to be a positive influence in the world.

 Can we as parish communities reflect together on these important issues? Do we recycle; do we support local produce and therefore local communities; is our parish FairTrade and if not, how can we get started? How is our use of green spaces in our parish? These small actions can be a prophetic example to others, where we can say to our communities:

‘We require a new and universal solidarity… All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own cultures, experience, involvements and talents.’

Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 14

Sunday 6th September "Creation Time"

'EPHPHATHA’ (Mark 7:31-37)

Between 1 September and 4 October (the feast of St Francis of Assisi) Christian churches celebrate the season of ‘Creation Time’. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on the gift of our world and to look at our relationship with the planet. There is no better time for us as individuals and as parish communities to consider our responsibilities to act on climate change, especially in light of Pope Francis’ recent encyclical Laudato Si. 

In the Gospel today, as Jesus opens the ears of a deaf man, he says ‘Ephphatha – Be Opened’. May our ears be opened to the cries of the earth and to the poor who suffer the most because of climate injustice. What a wonderful and prophetic action it would be in celebration of ‘Creation Time’ if each parish community committed to beginning a JPiC (Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation) group? Or perhaps thinking ahead to the feast of St Francis, ask ourselves how can we as parish communities celebrate the gift of creation? Great things can happen when small groups of people come together and act locally. How will your parish celebrate ‘Creation Time’? (For more info: http://ecocongregationireland.com/)

‘I wish to address every person living on this planet… 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

May 17th: Ascension, Mark 16: 15-20

And the Lord worked with them…

The fear experienced by the women and the disciples at the end of Mark’s Gospel shows us that even when we have profound spiritual experiences, fear can often force us into silence. The account of the ascension in Mark which we read today urges us not to be afraid but to go out. Mark’s Gospel is a Gospel for hard times, for those who are struggling. This ending aims to empower us and give us courage even when the world around us tells us otherwise. It urges us to “Go” and tell.

The disciples ‘went out’; bringing ‘good news’ everywhere. We too are called to be Easter People because we live with an assurance that pain, death and grief will not have the last word and we dare to shine the light of hope and wholeness into the empty tomb. Where have you encountered Easter People in your own life? How do you communicate this risen Jesus to others? How can we be Easter People to others? This is the challenge of the Gospel today. To bring Christ’s love and assurance to all we meet.

‘God has given us the power to create beauty, to make another smile, to be a healing presence in someone’s sorrow, to bring justice to the oppressed, to console those in difficulty, to bring peace and joy to others, to help those in need, to laugh and enjoy life, to do good and turn from evil, to forgive those who have hurt us, and, most of all, to love’ (Iris Perez)

May 10th: John 15:9-17

Fruit that will last

Friendship is a beautiful thing, where people share their dreams and hopes, their desires, plans and worries. It is an intimate relationship.  What does it mean for you today to hear that Jesus is calling you his friend? That you are loved by him? These are questions worth thinking about. He is telling us these things so that we may also go and love others and share this joy with them. To abide in Jesus we are called to live out the love that he has taught us, the love that he shares with the Father, the love that he has shared with us. This love brings great joy and demands that we share it with others.

This love that he speaks about is no ordinary love, it is agape love, that is, unconditional love, regardless of who you are, where you are from or what your circumstances might be. It is the love we, as Christian communities, are called to share. It is the greatest commandment of all. If the world is wondering what God is like, our Christian communities are called to be witnesses to that love. It should be so recognisable from the ‘outside’ that people should be able to say, look at them Christians loving everyone. It is a radical love, one that does not judge or condemn, a love that is inclusive of all. Is it recognisable in our own Christian communities? 

May 3rd: John 15:1-8

What does it mean to be a branch?

As with all good vine growers, God cares for His crop, nurturing it, pruning it, giving it all it needs so that it can grow and reach its full potential. We are no doubt the branches. What does it mean to be a branch? Branches must be connected to the vine or they bear no fruit. Even those branches that do bear fruit, they need pruning so that they can grow and bear even more fruit. As we are all too well aware, productivity seems to be the measure of success in the world today, in our education systems, in the workplace, in economics; we are measured by what we produce. Is Jesus really adding on the pressure in this Gospel passage by telling us that he wants to see results or else!?

Perhaps we can read this passage in terms of connectivity. Think of your most intimate friendships and relationships. You don’t measure their weight in terms of produce do you? But you do want to stay connected right? It is this closeness, this intimacy that Jesus calls us to: “abide in me”. Are you connected or disconnected? If the connection is strong, then fruit bearing comes naturally and people will see the Gospel in our lives and in the way we respond to the world. If we are connected, all manner of things are possible for us.

“People see the Gospel in our lives; let them read our lives” Pope Francis

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.

Zeal for your house will consume me ~ Third Sunday of Lent (John 2:13-25)

You can understand why Jesus is angry with those selling goods in the market place. The goods sold in the Temple markets were used in sacrifices so that people could  meet the requirements to be ‘closer’ to God. This model needed challenging. They have turned what should be a place of sacredness into a place where what is important is monetary value and exclusion.  Jesus is ‘overcome’ with fierce love and passion because of the injustice he sees before him. 

What temples have we turned into market places today? Our world is driven by consumerism and profit at the expense of our environment and at the expense of the resources of the world’s poorest people. The Book of Creation is now speaking to us to stop making this house a market place. We don’t have to look too far to see how climate change is having adverse affects on our weather systems here in Ireland and in the poorest regions of the world.

Let us pray this Sunday that ‘zeal for Your house will consume’ us and that we will take the necessary steps to ensure a more sustainable world for all. World leaders are working towards a global treaty on climate change but they are not agreed on how to cut emissions to sufficient levels in order to reduce global temperatures. They need encouragement. 

“May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor”. (Franciscan Blessing) 

Coming down the mountain ~ Second Sunday of Lent (Mark 9:2-10)

We journey to the mountain top in the Gospel this Sunday as Jesus invites Peter, James and John to join him and be witnesses to his transfiguration; to seeing Jesus for who he really is. The people of Sebeya in Ethiopia once lived in a region where mountain tops were green and covered in vegetation. Today, the people of Sebeya are confused as to why their rains have stopped and why a land once full of vegetation is now dry. The people of Sebeya live a simple life and have played no part in causing their weather systems to change. They are experiencing the effects of climate change, the cause of which lies with the lifestyles of rich nations thousands of miles away. This is a great injustice.

When we read today’s Gospel we can see Peter who is desperate to stay on the mountain in that blissful moment with Jesus, so much so that he offers to build tents. But Jesus’ way is different to what Peter may have had in mind at the time. The mountain is far more comfortable whereas Jesus’ way involves coming down from the mountain and walking a very different path. We hear the call to act on climate justice everywhere but now we need to really listen and to take urgent action. Yes it involves making changes to our lifestyles, yes it involves campaigning our governments who are slow to act. The damage caused by countries in the Global North will soon become irreversible. We start with ourselves, with small acts in the hope that the Kings’ and Presidents of the world will follow.

“Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude.” Pope Francis

First Sunday of Lent ~ Mark 1: 9-15 "Urgent Wilderness"

The Gospel today sends us out into the ‘wilderness’. It may be a daunting concept with the ‘wild beasts’ but we need not worry. This short passage from Mark is clear about who is in charge; it is the Spirit who sends. Very often we need some ‘wilderness’ to help us stop and reflect on our lives and where we are going. In this sense Lent can be a very special season for many people and the Gospel texts offer a particular richness that invite us to transformation and real change. Each Lent we are invited to choose life; to choose the things that are life giving for us and to clear out the blocks that stand in our way.

This year we are asked to engage with the urgent issue of Climate Justice as Trocaire’s Lenten Campaign brings us to the ‘cradle of humanity’: Ethiopia. When we picture this amazing country we probably think of images of famine or hunger. This biased image does not do justice to what is a vibrant country with a reputation for amazing landscapes, an ancient culture, a diversity of languages and food; its unique Christian churches and saints. 

We are invited into this beautiful land this Lent, to listen to people’s stories, to hear their struggles and to think deeply about the kind of world we want for generations to come. Climate Change is having disastrous effects for people all over the world and we are having a direct impact with Ireland the second highest polluter per capita  in the EU. If we do anything this Lent, please let us think about how we can live more sustainable lives. There is a lot to reflect on as we enter the wilderness. 

“I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is ‘Who in the world am I?’ Ah, that’s the great puzzle!” ( Lewis Carrol)

The Holy Family (Luke 2:22-40)

Simeon and Anna have been waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled. They represent all that has happened in Israel’s history before this moment. What kind of Messiah were they expecting? Simeon had been assured that he would not die before this moment came and he is there to welcome this family who must have seemed ‘ordinary’ and poor. Simeon can see that this child will be ‘a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of your people Israel’. Already there is a note of reversal; of boundaries being stretched. Mary is told that this child ‘is destined for the fall and the rising of many’. There will be trouble ahead; there will be challenges for many. Simeon knows that many thoughts will be exposed, what people really think will be revealed, who they welcome and who they exclude will be challenged; for God’s invitation and welcome has no boundaries. Anna rejoices for all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. In this statement she knows that this child will overturn systems of oppression and exclusion.

Luke is interested in how humanity responds to the Gospel. If Jesus’ message is really good news, then this requires a shakeup; a shakeup which challenges comfortable assumptions about the way God works. God’s abundant invitation to all may not sit comfortably with many. While Anna prays and fasts for a change of heart in the way Jerusalem operates, Simeon warns Mary that this will not be an easy road.

Let us go now to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-14)

If you were to put together a guest list for the birth of the Messiah 2000 years ago, many would find it completely unbelievable and shocking that the shepherds would be included. Shepherding was a disreputable trade; shepherds were outcasts, considered ‘unclean’ because of their profession. People instead would have expected political leaders like Caesar Augustus, religious leaders such as the Chief Priests and the Pharisees and so on. Yet for Luke, the shepherds are the first to hear the Gospel of Jesus and they are the first ‘preachers’ of the Good News. At first they were terrified, but the angels reassured them: ‘do not be afraid’. The response of the shepherds was immediate: ‘let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing which has taken place’.

Jesus did not find hospitality in his own city, yet he will be the one who will show the abundance of God’s hospitality. The poor, the marginalised, the outcast will be the first to experience it and the shepherds come in their name. We are told that people were amazed by the shepherds and their words. Their journey didn’t end in Bethlehem, for them it was perhaps only the beginning as they returned ‘glorifying and praising God’. We are invited to Bethlehem today, to open up our hearts to the One who has come to bring hope and joy. And we return, like the shepherds ‘glorifying and praising God for all they have seen and heard’. Shalom.

Fourth Sunday of Advent (Luke 1:26-38)

We sometimes distance ourselves from the real encounter in today's Gospel. As Margaret Silf notes, we sometimes “put Mary into a glass case, surround her with flowers, and avoid the personal consequences of this moment”. And there could have been very severe consequences for Mary, even death by stoning. Mary’s yes is an example of completely surrendering to God’s will. She surrenders her motherhood, her entire life to God.

We can think today of those who mother against the odds in our world. In places where there is no food, no clean water, the threat of disease, of torture; those who watch their children suffer from addiction or violence. And we remember those who are the angel Gabriel’s of the world, bringing good news and hope that ‘nothing is impossible’.

“Hail Mary, woman of Nazareth, home maker, cleaner, preparer of food, fetcher of water, God is with you in your everyday excursions in this ordinary town. Blessed are you among women and blessed indeed are women in their everyday lives, in the confines of family life, in the ambivalence of decision making, in the silences and blessed are the fruits of all our labours”. Janet Lees

‘A witness to speak for the light' ~ Third Sunday of Advent 2014

There is so much darkness around us: in the church, in the troubled parts of the world, in our own families and even in our own hearts. It is easy to become cynical. The Gospel today tells us that John the Baptist was someone who was ‘a witness to speak for the light.’ He gave hope to people. We can think of many people in society today who witness to the light. One that comes to mind is Malala Yousafzai. Malala was shot by the Taliban on her way to school in Pakistan. She was targeted for speaking out on the rights of women to education. She has said: “We realise the importance of our voices only when we are silenced. I was shot on a Tuesday at lunchtime, one bullet, one gunshot heard around the world.” Malala was in her chemistry class when she heard she was to be the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. She celebrated by going on to a physics class.

Look around your families and communities and you will see many who witness to the light. We each have the capacity to do the same, however dark the situation may be. The Gospel challenge is to bring hope and good news. We should take example from the Malala’s of the world.
“They bear witness to the rest of us that somewhere in the dark a light always shines, a light that darkness cannot overpower, and therefore we can all believe again.” Michel de Verteuil.

Advent 2 (Mark 1:1-8) "Prepare a way"

John the Baptist is an interesting character. He was not someone who kept up with the latest fashion. We are told he wore strange clothes, ate insects and lived in the desert. And yet John was very popular as we hear that ‘all of Judea’ came to him. There was obviously something very attractive about John. People could see something in him; something that inspired them; something that gave them hope. John is clear that he is not the one they are looking for; rather he is someone who is pointing to the one they are looking for. John shows the way for people, he is a signpost to God.

The world says to God, ‘we no longer need you, we know what is best’. And then we look at the wilderness of our modern world and hear the voice of one crying, “Prepare a way”. How do we prepare for welcoming God’s love into our hearts? God is crying out for us to welcome him again and again. It is us who are blocked; we put so many things in the way. John is urging us to clear the path, to let go of all the things that are preventing us from experiencing God’s love. John is calling people out from despair into hopefulness.