Friday, 16 March 2018

SO THAT HIS NAME MAY BE QUICKLY FORGOTTEN


PRAYER PAUSE  


Saturday 17 March 2018, St Patrick


SO THAT HIS NAME MAY BE QUICKLY FORGOTTEN


Enter into the stillness of God within.


Reading: “Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten.” (Jeremiah 11:18-20)



Reflection. They tried to destroy the influence of Jeremiah.  They tried to do the same with Jesus. Their hostility was physical and powerful but in the end Jeremiah is remembered by all subsequent generations. And Jesus, through the Paschal Mystery, is the Lord of life for all.  Our gospel today (John 7:40-52) describes rock-like hostility but the undercurrent is burgeoning victory.  Irish people – and all those who wish to be Irish for a day – celebrate Patrick whose name has never been forgotten. He too suffered from hostility and the constant threat to his life.  But today his name stirs emotions of pride and gratitude in many hearts.  Yet I noticed, at the reception at the Irish Embassy here, that – while the achievements of the Irish were mentioned and the good relations celebrated – there wasn’t a word about what Patrick actually set out to do: to proclaim faith in Jesus. It is as though faith is now a taboo.


Prayer. Lord, thank you for the gift of Patrick.  May his courage and perseverance continue to inspire us at a time when our faith seems to flicker in the winds of our current culture.. Amen   

































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