Word in the Hand

Gospel Matthew 5:13-16  Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.   ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’ Chinese New Year this week, celebrated with firecrackers, liondog dances and the flavour filled dishes of Asian food. When we visit our Chinatown district for the New Year we end up in one of the ethnic supermarkets buying the authentic ingredients and spices that make up our favourite recipes and, for a few months or so, we fore-go the local takeaway and ready meals taking great pride and deli...

First reading Amos 7:12-15  Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, said to Amos, ‘Go away, seer;’ get back to the land of Judah; earn your bread there, do your prophesying there. We want no more prophesying in Bethel; this is the royal sanctuary, the national temple.’ ‘I was no prophet, neither did I belong to any of the brotherhoods of prophets,’ Amos replied to Amaziah ‘I was a shepherd, and looked after sycamores: but it was the Lord who took me from herding the flock, and the Lord who said, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” ― John Muir I don't often reflect on the Old Testament part of the Sunday readings but I have a soft spot for Amos ever since I first noticed this reading and spent the rest of the Mass imagining him as a shepherd in a Tolkien-esque landscape where trees were like Ents and needed to be shepherded to stop them going over cliffs and getting lost in the wastela...

Gospel Matthew 14:22-33  Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ...

Every month I visit my Spiritual Director and, every month, he says to me - I asked you to think about doing less and you come back doing more! You have to start saying 'no'. To reinforce it this month he has given me an elastic band to wear on my wrist and every time I get asked to do something or, more likely I see a 'something' that needs doing, I have to 'ping' it. The idea being that it will make me realise what I am taking on and give me the chance to change my mind. I remember the 80's, the 'end of society' as Margaret Thatcher called it; the end of normal family lives; Sabbath Sundays and shops closing at 5.00pm. It was all about ambition 'no matter what', particularly for women, who had to become 'superwoman'. Saying 'yes' to financial and career success meant learning to say 'no' to incidentals. We even had courses on it - prioritise what's important to you and dispose of what is left. I used to find m...

Depending on where you are in the world you will have celebrated this feastday yesterday or today - so whichever - happy feast day. Peter and Paul - the brains and the brawn of the church, and they would probably say that themselves. Two people who were so very sure of themselves and who they were until Jesus came along, threw one out of his boat and another into a ditch. Only then did they find out who they really were. They may have been as opposite in culture, status and religious attitude as it was possible to be; as dogmatic within their own beliefs as many are even today but once Christ caught their eye, they came together in love. Not that they ever personally got on; chalk and cheese, as I say. But both in love with the same person; our Saviour, our Lord. It is astonishing how God works with people. Peter and Paul are just two examples of turning your life around but the Gospels are full of people who do it; and no two are the same. Every person, made by God - therefore unique...

Opening Prayer Here I am Lord, Listening Speak to me within my heart and soul. I am listening. John 20:15-16 (The Message) Jesus spoke to her, "Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?" She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, "Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him." Jesus said, "Mary." Reflection Why was I weeping? It seems ridiculous. A person like me, supposedly adult, seemingly sensible, seemingly ‘together’, crying like a love-sick teenager. But that’s what it felt like Lord; Love-sickness; sick of being in love with an image; an ideal; a vision of a God who is supposed to love me too. But it never seemed like you were there; not really there. Who says that love is a two-way thing? Sometimes it isn’t – sometimes it’s sitting on the stairs at parties waiting for ‘the one’ to walk by, sometimes it’s pretending to be interested in football or music so that you can join in the conversation; sometimes it’s ...