I took this photo yesterday morning at 8a.m about 10km from Millstreet, Co.Cork in a place known locally as the Top of Togher on the side of Mushera mountain. A snow shower added some lovely colour to the photo.
On This Day
On February 23rd 2019 Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi scored the 50th hat-trick of his career, as Barcelona beat Sevilla
On February 23rd 2021 Tiger Woods the wold famous golfer, was involved in a serious car crash driving south of Los Angeles
Birthday’s Today
Carlos Casimiro (Football Player with Real Madrid) is 31
Emily Blunt (Actress) is 40
Saint For Today:
Saint Polycarp. St Polycarp. He was martyred on February 23rd of the year 155 at the age of 86 and is one of the Christian authors who lived between the 1st and 2nd centuries and who had close ties with the Apostles.
Significance Of Today
Today is the real start of Lent! It is easy to be enthusiastic on Ash Wednesday but today the journey begins in earnest. Everyone is invited to embrace the Lenten journey in their own unique way. It is often the small things that make the biggest difference.
Interesting Quote for Today
“You have succeeded in life – when all you really want is only what you really need.” ~Vernon Howard
Did You Know
Elephants are the only mammal that cannot jump
Video For Today
This video I have called ‘It is good to be back’.
Thought For The Week
“You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” ~ Matthew 5:40
Thomas Edison was one of our finest scientists. Every light bulb in your home is thanks to the endless work he put into improving electrical light. He had over a thousand different patents on scientific inventions. Edison’s world came crashing down when his scientific laboratories were destroyed by fire in 1914. But Edison never gave up. He famously said after the fire that there was great value in the disaster, as all his mistakes were also destroyed. He was determined to restart his life again and with the help of others rebuilt his world of inventions again.
Jesus was also someone who encouraged so many to rebuild their lives again, learn from the mistakes and always embrace new beginnings. His sermon on the mount was revolutionary in its thinking and massively challenging. When someone wrongs us, it is our instinct to want to get our own back. Turning the other cheek is not something natural for us.
Jesus asks us not to return evil for evil. He hated violence and especially where the beautiful dignity of a person was harmed by evil and violence. Jesus wanted our world to be safe for everyone but not by creating more violence. Gandhi was so moved by the teaching of Jesus that he lived his message of peace and asked others to do the same.
Our world is filled with evil and violence. Next Friday February 24th will be the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. It is dreadfully sad to see the horror that this war is causing. Its effects are worldwide. At every Mass we continue to pray for peace in Ukraine. The pessimist will say what a waste of time, what difference will it make?
But Jesus says yes it will make a difference. We are encouraged to be a person of love, a person of kindness and a person of peace. It is the only response to evil and hatred. It is easy to get disheartened, to give up and to lose hope. We continue to pray for peace and to be a person of peace even if it feels we are brushing water uphill. But the top of every hill can be reached. It is at the heart of what we believe in.
The Thought For The Week is updated each Monday
