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Sunday |
Dec-22 |
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The following reflection is by Triona Doherty
We're almost there! The run-up to Christmas can sometimes feel like exactly that - a run, or even a marathon. No matter how much we try every year to pay attention to Advent and focus on the important things in our Christmas preparation, the last few days can pass in a bit of a blur. We want our Christmas dinner to be just right. We like to put a lot of thought and preparation into our gifts for loved ones. Many of us are on the move over these few days, perhaps visiting friends with cards and gifts and Christmas wishes, or preparing to return home to our families. There are parties, concerts and carol services.
This fourth Sunday of Advent is the perfect time for a time out.
Today we find ourselves at the heart of the Christmas story. 'This how Jesus Christ came to be born,' the Gospel tells us. In the midst of the festive frenzy, it can be easy to lose sight of how our Advent preparation is going. Why not take the time for some quiet prayer today? Spend a few moments in silence reflecting on today's readings, get away from it all with a walk in the great outdoors, or take the younger members of the family to your local church to visit the crib. A pre-Christmas break can help focus your heart and mind. Perhaps it is a good time to remember the wise words of Max Ehrmann's Desiderata: 'Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.' |
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Monday |
Dec-16 |
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Another angle on Christmas...
In his book 'Christmas Spoken Here', John Killinger describes how one day he was staring through the window of a beautiful little Christmas shop. It was packed with Christmas items. There were elves, a colourful Santa, sleighs, reindeers, bells, trees and music boxes. There were candles, electric lights, angels, wise men, drummer boys, stars, snowmen and so much more. The little shop was bursting with Christmas. It was infectious. Down in the corner of the front door, where no one could miss it, was the neatest touch of all. It was a small sign that said: "Christmas Spoken Here". In the final run in to Christmas it could be easy to loose sight of what it's all about. But whenever we speak the language of "Christmas Spoken Here" we are in touch with the heart of it all. It is the language of love, a language that speaks about God who became a little child, born into our world, born into our darkness, our fears, our heartaches. Because of this child, we have a sense of purpose, hope, direction and meaning to all of life's complexities. May the language of "Christmas Spoken Here" be yours too in the coming days. |
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Sunday |
Dec-15 |
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'The following reflection is by Triona Doherty
Las Posadas, from the Spanish word meaning 'shelter'or 'lodging', is an Advent tradition in parts of Central America. It starts tomorrow, December 16, and takes place over nine days until Christmas Eve. During the days, which symbolise the nine months of Mary's pregnancy, Mary and Joseph's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem is re-enacted. Participants process from house to house, being turned away by 'innkeeper' - before finally being welcomed in for a celebration and feast.
A special song is sung outside each house, the final verse of which includes the (translated) lyrics:
'Enter holy pilgrims'
Tonight is for joy,
for pleasure and rejoicing
for tonight we will give lodging
to the Mother of God the Son.'
The custom really captures the drama and the joy of the Christmas story.
Today is known as Gaudete Sunday or 'Rejoice Sunday'. In our churches, the rose coloured candle is lit on the Advent wreath to symbolise joy. Today's readings bring out this sense of joyful anticipation of the Lord's coming. The people of Jesus' time would have been familiar with Isaiah 's talk of 'everlasting joy'. And Jesus tells us: 'Happy is the one who does not lose faith in me'. We have reason to be happy. Let us make this Gaudete Sunday a real celebration. |
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Saturday |
Dec-14 |
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'I dream of a church that is a mother and shepherdess.' ~Pope Francis
Time Magazine has selected Pope Francis as its Person of the Year for 2013. They have said he has put a huge focus on compassion and also his role as a new voice of conscience has made him stand out. The managing editor of Time Magazine, Nancy Gibbs said: "What makes this Pope so important is the speed with which he has captured the imaginations of millions who had given up on hoping for the church at all. In his nine months in office, he has placed himself at the very centre of the central conversations of our time: about wealth and poverty, fairness and justice, transparency, modernity, globalisation, the role of women, the nature of marriage, the temptations of power. The world is getting smaller; individual voices are getting louder; technology is turning virtue viral, so his pulpit is visible to the ends of the earth. When he kisses the face of a disfigured man or washes the feet of a Muslim woman, the image resonates far beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church. And yet in less than a year, he has done something remarkable: he has not changed the words, but he's changed the music."
It is clear that Pope Francis certainly is one of the good news stories of 2013. He has reenergised a static, tired and stale church. It is astounding the difference a good leader can make. We will soon be beginning a new year and I have no doubt that new shoots will continue to appear thanks to his influence. So we pray for Pope Francis this Christmas and we ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire, encourage and direct him as leader of our Church. |
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Thursday |
Dec-12 |
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The following reflection was read during the 1st year Christmas Carol Service at Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig yesterday
'Jesus Is'
This Christmas Jesus is in every face, he is in every laugh, he is in every tear.
Jesus is in every heart, he is at every Mass, he is present for every celebration.
Jesus is in every person, he is in the eyes of every young child, he is in he hurt and those who are lonely.
Jesus is in every mind, he is in a new born baby and also with those who are dying.
This Christmas Jesus is in every smile, in every squeal of joy. He is in the beauty of nature and is present where ever we are. This Christmas Jesus is the reason why.
Jesus is my friend, Jesus is our friend. |
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Wednesday |
Dec-11 |
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'By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The skies seem to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet.' ~Thomas Merton
The scripture readings that have been selected during Advent and Christmas are full of meaning and symbolism. While they were written many years ago they still bring with them a meaning and relevance to the complex world we live in. One of the lines from Psalm 88 used during Advent is "I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord; through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever". The writer doesn't have all the answers but is at least certain that God is love and making a real and lasting difference. Other scripture readings talk about darkness, turmoil, confusion, despair, fear, depression, loneliness, pain, abandonment and uncertainty. But from all of this emerges light, hope, peace, certainty, healing, comfort, energy, new beginnings, relevance and meaning. These scripture readings are not fairytales or make believe stories. They are real and relevant. They also remind us just how important Christmas is on our own spiritual journey. |
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Sunday |
Dec-08 |
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Our reflection today is by Triona Doherty called 'The Simple Life.'
John the Baptist certainly grabs our attention, appearing in the desert in his garment of camel hair, eating locusts and wild honey. His language can be cryptic - he addresses the Pharisees and Sadducees as 'Brood of vipers', and speaks of trees and axes, winnowing fans and wheat. He is a peculiar mixture of signs and messages, even to the people of the time who were on the lookout for prophetic figures. Nowadays, John would cut an even more eccentric figure.
Sometimes a person's lifestyle can offer an even more powerful witness than their words. John's basic diet and dress suggest a lifestyle that is at once simple and radical, one which challenged the norms of the day. It all brings to mind another man who caught our attention with his simple lifestyle earlier this year. As soon as Pope Francis was elected, all the talk was of his modest living quarters as Bishop and his preference for public transport. He has made a point to continue this simple lifestyle as Pope. That a senior clergy man should choose to live a simple and ethical life should hardly come as a shock to the world. Yet there was a powerful witness in his actions.
While we might not be called to the desert life, we are challenged to examine our values and our relationship with material things - an apt message as we enter the most materialistic season of the year. John the Baptist's message can be summed up by the first word he speaks: repent. The Greek word for 'repentance' is metanoia, literally a change of heart. |
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Saturday |
Dec-07 |
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There has been much said and written about Nelson Mandela since yesterday. His life has been an incredible influence on so many. He embodied the power of the human spirit and was living proof that the world can be transformed. He lived and embraced so many Gospel values like peace, love, courage, healing, determination, light, hope, endurance and much more. Rather than repeating much of what has been said about his life I am including some of his quotations that leave plenty food for thought:
"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead."
"I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying."
"Religion is one of the most important forces in the world. Whether you are a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Jew, or a Hindu, religion is a great force, and it can help one have command of one's own morality, one's own behaviour, and one's own attitude."
"Our goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished"
"No one is born hating another person because of the colour of their skin, or their background, or their religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."
"I am the captain of my soul."
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Monday |
Dec-02 |
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There are different versions of this reflection but this one is particularly nice and it is called 'I am Special'
I am special. Nobody has my smile. Nobody has my eyes, my nose, my hands, my voice. I am indeed special. No one can be found who has my handwriting. Nobody anywhere has my taste for food or music or art. No one sees things just as I do. In all my time there has been no one who laughs like me, no one who cries like me, no one who responds to any situation just as I would respond.
I am special. I am the only one in all of creation who has my set of abilities. Through all eternity no one will ever look, talk, walk or think like me.
I am special and I am rare. In all rarity, I am of great rare value. Because of my great rare value, I need not attempt to imitate others. I will accept and yes even celebrate my differences. I am beginning to see that God made me special, for a very special purpose. God must have a job for me, that no one else can do it as I do. Out of all the billions of applicants, only one is qualified. Only one has the right combination of what it takes. That one is me. Why? Because I am special.
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Sunday |
Dec-01 |
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The following reflection is by Triona Doherty
'To you, my God, I lift my soul' - these are the very first words we hear this Advent, in the Entrance Antiphon of today's Mass.
The word Advent comes from the Latin 'adventus', meaning 'coming'. There is a sense of movement and anticipation. The tradition of the Advent calendar is one way to bring this movement to life. The Lord is coming. We are moving towards Christmas. We are lifting our souls towards God. And we are moving always towards the end times and the second coming, as Jesus himself reminds us in today's Gospel.
A couple of questions we could reflect on today: Why do we need this 'lead-in' time to Christmas? What are my hopes and goals for Advent? Where do I want to be in my faith journey, come Christmas day? American baseball legend Yogi Berra once said: 'If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.' If we decide we want to get somewhere, we have to take steps to get there - for example, when we decide on a particular career path we have to undertake the right training and experience. Perhaps this Advent we would like to spend more time in prayer, to be more patient, or to get involved in our local community. What is the point of Advent, if we don't end up somewhere different from where we started?
There is a sense of anticipation in today's readings. Saint Paul tells us 'the night is almost over, it will be daylight soon.' We need to get moving.
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