Photo was taken last evening at Altamount, Millstreet, Co.Cork (Irl)

Today is the September equinox with equal daylight and darkness.

Thought on Sunday – September – 21/09/2014

‘We are all equal in the fact that we are all different. We are all the same in the fact that we will never be the same. We are united by the reality that all colours and all cultures are distinct and individual. We are harmonious in the reality that we are all held to this earth by the same gravity. We don’t share blood, but we share the air that keeps us alive.’ ~C Joybell

Today (Sep 21st) is the feast of St Matthew. He was a tax collector and as a result people hated and despised him. As a result of his lifestyle he was an outcast but yet Jesus saw beyond his role as a tax collector and knew that he had so much to give his expanding team. As a tax collector, his life was in darkness. His life was lonely, empty, dull, lacking meaning and direction. Matthew’s life can speak for us too. We all at times have felt empty and where our lives lacked direction. Maybe right now this is where we are. Matthew’s life completely changed when he met Jesus who believed in him and gave him a reason to rekindle his human spirit. The same possibility is extended to us today as well.

His feast day also coincides with the autumn equinox, of equal light and darkness. Matthew himself was the writer of the first of the four gospels and his gospel highlights the equality that Jesus brought to everyone he met. For Matthew every person was to be valued and respected for who they were. Today’s feast day also challenges us in how we treat others and encourages us to treat others equally and fairly.

Thought For The Week

‘I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.’ ~Jimmy Carter


There is a story told about Phidias who was one of the greatest sculptors in ancient Greece. Legend tells us that he was extremely careful when applying the finishing touches to the beautiful statue of Diana which was to adorn the Acropolis in Athens. As he applied his chisel to the back of Diana’s head, he shaped each strand of hair with great patience, giving his full attention to the tiniest detail. An observer reminded Phidias that the statue would stand one hundred feet high with its back to a huge marble wall. “Why waste your time on those finishing touches which will never be seen?” he asked. “Who will ever know of such detailed work on the back of her head?” Phidias swiftly replied, “I will know!”

There is a vast amount of small moments of love, done and shared each and every day. Sometimes they are so small they can go unnoticed and they often do. But these moments of love make such a difference, they are never a waste and they are real treasures. Sometimes we doubt what we do or we might even add “why bother”. But today and across the weekend, the message is simple: your many small moments of love are valued, treasured and so precious. They are God’s loving energy flowing in so many directions. Keep them flowing!

Thought For The Week is updated each Monday