Photo was taken yesterday in St.Patrick’s Church, Millstreet, Co.Cork

Baby D√°ithi Anthony Creedon takes some time out after his Christening, with some lovely September sunshine making his snooze all the more comfortable!

Thought on Sunday – September – 25/09/2011

The following reflection is by Triona Doherty

Which is better (or worse): to make a promise to do something and not keep it, or to say no but then change your mind and do as you were asked? What point is Jesus making here? After all, both sons start out saying one thing and end up doing the opposite. At first glance neither of them come across as the most reliable of characters; I doubt many employers would hire them on the basis of this performance. One clue is to note who is Jesus is talking to – his parables are always intriguing when the chief priests and the elders are in the audience. He seems to delight in upsetting the complacency of the religious people Imagine telling the chief priests that the tax collectors and prostitutes, considered the greatest sinners of the time, would get to heaven before them. Would our own religious leaders like to be told such a thing? Would you? Outwardly the religious authorities of Jesus’ time had all the appearances of being ‘good’ – they were pious and dutiful and were quite confident of their standing before God. They are like the first son who says the right thing and makes grand promises, putting on a good outward show. But their actions did not always match. Jesus is very good at turning preconceptions upside down. It is the sinner who truly repents, rather than the outwardly pious person whose actions do not match their declarations, who will be the first to make their way into the kingdom of God. Jesus wants us to follow through with our promises. Discipleship is not about lip service. As with many other areas of life, actions speak louder than words.