Word in the Hand

Gospel Matthew 5:38-48 J esus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said:  Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.  But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.   ‘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; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your...

I have only been to Assisi twice; but somehow - as often is the case with sacred places- a part of me has always been there.  A part of me, I hope, still remains so if I never get there again in person then I can be there in spirit. Particularly for the second visit which seemed like a comedy of errors including driving (for the first time ever on the 'wrong' side of the road) across Italy, by myself, without a map having been diverted off the autoroute by roadworks and then, having arrived in one piece, finding my credit card deactivated - it's amazing how far 50 euros can go when that's all there is. Francis continuing to teach through example :) Assisi Undeniably, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Medieval buildings of pink granite, turned golden in the sun. Hot red geraniums, bold against the dark blue of a Northern Italian sky: the scent of olive groves, rosemary and lavender, and good coffee.  Magical, an inspired setting, worthy o...

The Hermitage - Assisi Who knows how long a walk? Wrong shoes, no directions, no water in the middle of the day- the faith of a fool. But there is an intent for this walk - a journey towards a leaving behind. The ego, the little I,  the needy needing to be needed;  and for what? To prove that I am ‘good for something’; that I have a right to exist? God’s been doing the hard work again –waiting - waiting for me to recognise myself in Him. To realise that I may be an outsider but I am not outcast – not from God’s Love; not from Christ’s Body. To know that being ‘useless’ means being available to the Spirit’s desire. To understand that I can only be ‘useful’ to God by being empty,  by being vulnerable. And. Lord, seeing this, knowing this, does not make it easy.  Not for a Martha like me. But in this sacred space filled with the humility and devotion of Francis  I may find my own place at your table. So I thank you, Lord, fo...

"Totally love Him, Who gave Himself totally for your love." Assisi Undeniably, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Medieval buildings of pink granite, turned golden in the sun. Hot red geraniums, bold against the dark blue of a Northern Italian sky: the scent of olive groves, rosemary and lavender, and good coffee. Magical, an inspired setting for the romance of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. And if you had only a passing awareness of Saints Francis and Chiara you would well imagine a romantic union between them; two young noble people in love. And they were; but not with each other; or rather, yes, with each other, but with the vision of Christ that they saw in each other’s eyes. A love for a Christ who is both Romeo and Juliet. Whose love is so all-consuming that he would sacrifice his life rather than live without us. A love for a Christ whose love is undeniable and eternal. Chiara and Francis, lovesick in their desire to live in the shadow of that love. St Chiara died 800 hun...