CUT IT OFF

PRAYER PAUSE

Thursday 19 May 2016   

CUT IT OFF

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off.” (Mark 9:41-50)  

Reflection. This is not a comfortable gospel. It reminds us of what happens even now under Sharia law. But clearly it was a way of speaking, in no way to be meant literally. Mark is insistent on the urgency of the coming of God’s reign. In chapter one, the phrase “at once” occurs seven times. So, any choice of phrase that can shake his hearers into action is used by Jesus. It was a time of decision. They had to choose. Were they with him of against him? And so it is today. The media constantly uses the word “urgent” for climate change, migration, ISIS and so forth. And the agents of the media are right. And the urgency that underlies all is the urgency of welcoming the kingdom of the Father.    

Prayer. Lord, our time is short; help us top welcome your coming with all our energy. Amen.

IS FOR US

PRAYER PAUSE

Wednesday 18 May 2016   

IS FOR US

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Anyone who is not against us if for us.” (Mark 9:38-49)  

Reflection. John the disciple was indignant that someone, who was not “one of us,” was casting out devils in Jesus’ name. And Jesus gives his inclusive reply: “no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me.” The only “them and us” that should exist is the “them and us” of evil and good. The only division that should exist in the world is between those who are intent on evil and those struggling to do good and follow their conscience. 90% of migrants, we were told some days ago, at one time or another on their journey, have had to pass through the hands of unscrupulous trafficers who make millions out of their misery.

Prayer. Lord, may we always appreciate those who are trying to do good. Amen.

DESIRES FIGHTING INSIDE YOU

PRAYER PAUSE

Tuesday 17 May 2016   

DESIRES FIGHTING INSIDE YOU

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Where do these wars and battles between you first start? Isn’t it precisely in the desires fighting within your own selves?” (James 4:1-10)  

Reflection. Wars that bring havoc and cause migrants to become refugees start within a person. They cannot deal with their anger, frustration, ambition, jealousy, and so forth, and so they project it outwards into violence against others. Then there is war. We know so well what goes on in our own heart and how easily our feelings prompt us to words and actions we later regret. Life in the spirit in every tradition calls for self-control or self-denial – whatever word you want to put on the ability to hold ourselves in as a rider grips the reins of their horse which is rearing to go

Prayer. Lord, teach us that self-control that enables us to be at peace even with those with whom we struggle. Amen.

NEVER COVER UP THE TRUTH WITH LIES

PRAYER PAUSE

Monday 16 May 2016   

NEVER COVER UP THE TRUTH WITH LIES

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or a self-seeking ambition, never make any claims for yourself or cover up the truth with lies.” (James 3:13-18)  

Reflection. It is easily said – “never cover up the truth” – but what if you are netted by the police in a swoop and, though innocent, beaten until you admit you are guilty? This happened to a man I met yesterday. The truth cannot live and breathe in a context of lies unless a person has great courage, confidence and faith. We are so governed by fear that any words that will help us survive are preferable to the consequences of speaking the truth. Yet we know we have to build another context, one where courage can breathe and is not utterly crushed as soon as we try to speak the truth.

Prayer. Lord, as we celebrate Pentecost, may we allow ourselves to let the Spirit breathe in our lives and make us witnesses of the truth to ourselves and others! Amen.

THE GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING

In 1665, Johannes Vermeer painted A Girl with a Pearl Earring. The girl looks over her left shoulder towards you and the pearl in her ear shimmers. Her coat is a bluey yellow and she has a blue head band with streamers in the same mixed colours. Apart from the perspective and photographic accuracy of every detail, what strikes the viewer is the light coming from the left bathing the whole scene with life in a way a photograph can never do. The girl speaks to us over the centuries and seems to say, “I know.” But what does she know? She is filled with light. It is natural light yet it takes us to the threshold of mystery.

There is a Christian feast twelve days after Christmas called the Epiphany, or the “showing of” the Saviour of the world to the gentiles. Teilhard de Chardin, a French Jesuit, who died in 1955, suggested the name should be changed to the “Diaphany”, meaning the “showing through.” God is not only revealed in Jesus but through all he has created. God shines through all things. The world is alive because God has shed his light on it.

But it is incomplete. Jesus opens the way for men and women to complete God’s work and he started by giving this task to a small group gathered in an upper room. They had come to know him as coming “from Nazareth” and had witnessed his teaching, his signs, his rejection, death, resurrection and ascension. Now they came to know him as coming “from heaven.” Now he is completing his work by sending them his Spirit. “God is ours,” Karl Rahner says of the gift of the Spirit. The work we do is our work but it is permeated by God. Rahner continues, “the strength of God vitalises our weakness.” His presence shines through our lives. We use our intelligence, our skill and our strength, but we allow room for the Spirit to give life to all three. There is to be a harmony, a resonance, between our initiative and that of the Spirit.

How do we shift these thoughts out of our heads into our lived reality? How do we interpret our experience of life so that, “we perceive over and over again with trembling joy that he is there, that he is with us: the Spirit of Faith in darkness, the spirit of freedom in obedience, the Spirit of joy in tears, the Spirit of eternal life in the midst of death?” (Rahner). Our world becomes lit up with this gentle light, as Vermeer lights up the young girl from Delft.

15 May 2016                                       Pentecost

Acts 2:1-11                                         1 Cor. 12:3…12                                  John 14:15…28

THEY NOMINATED JOSEPH

PRAYER PAUSE

Saturday 14 May 2016, Matthias   

THEY NOMINATED JOSEPH

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “They nominated Joseph … but the lot fell to Matthias.” (Acts 1:15-26)  

Reflection. We end Eastertide with the account of filling the vacancy in the number of the apostles left by Judas. The link with the twelve tribes of Israel and the choice of the twelve by Jesus is remembered one more time and then disappears for ever. There is no more mention of “twelve.” They nominated Joseph and Matthias to fill the gap and Joseph “lost.” But, if I am not wrong, Joseph reappears in Acts in other roles and it reminds me that no one is a loser in the Lord’s service. Maybe Joseph had lots of gifts that Matthias didn’t have. Maybe he played a key role here and there and so it is today.

Prayer. Lord, help us to rejoice in the work of everyone, from the “greatest” to the “least”, in the Church and in the world. Amen.

MORE THAN THESE

PRAYER PAUSE

Friday 13 May 2016   

MORE THAN THESE

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” (John 21:15-19)  

Reflection. This is an uncomfortable question implying, as it seems to do, some kind of grading or favouritism. It is clear from the overall context of the gospels that this is not the point. To me it implies something like St Ignatius’ “offering of greater value” (Spir Exx #97), a call to greater generosity and love. Once more we see that the Church today should be preoccupied with love, rather than status or maintenance, a love that reaches out to those in greatest need: the poor, the migrant, the trafficked, the abused. Perhaps the Church is like a marathon now: the large crowds have fallen back and we are left with front runners whose ranks we can all join.

Prayer. Lord, help us to make our offering one of greater value, reaching out to the poorest of our brothers and sisters Amen.