Word in the Hand

There was a man named Lazarus who lived in the village of Bethany with the two sisters, Mary and Martha, and he was ill. – It was the same Mary, the sister of the sick man Lazarus, who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. The sisters sent this message to Jesus, ‘Lord, the man you love is ill.’ On receiving the message, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will end not in death but in God’s glory, and through it the Son of God will be glorified.’   Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, yet when he heard that Lazarus was ill he stayed where he was for two more days before saying to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judaea.’ The disciples said, ‘Rabbi, it is not long since the Jews wanted to stone you; are you going back again?’  Jesus replied: ‘Are there not twelve hours in the day? A man can walk in the daytime without stumbling because he has the light of this world to see by; but if he walks at night he stumbles, ...

Gospel Luke 2:16-21  The shepherds hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told.   When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception. Pope Francis is forever reminding us to keep close to Mary because she is a 'Mamma' and she knows the way. In Matthew we have so little clues, we have to rely on Luke's fondness for her to see the 'Mamma' beneath the title, Mother of God. At the start of the New Year, another Mary, Mary Oliver, is oft quoted as an inspiration for the year ...

Sunday Gospel - John 11:1-45 There was a man named Lazarus who lived in the village of Bethany with the two sisters, Mary and Martha, and he was ill. – It was the same Mary, the sister of the sick man Lazarus, who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. The sisters sent this message to Jesus, ‘Lord, the man you love is ill.’ On receiving the message, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will end not in death but in God’s glory, and through it the Son of God will be glorified.’   Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, yet when he heard that Lazarus was ill he stayed where he was for two more days before saying to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judaea.’ The disciples said, ‘Rabbi, it is not long since the Jews wanted to stone you; are you going back again?’ Jesus replied: ‘Are there not twelve hours in the day? A man can walk in the daytime without stumbling because he has the light of this world to see...

Sunday Gospel Luke 2:22-40  When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.   Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said: ‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you...

The Feast of the Assumption  My soul magnifies the Lord And my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid; For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; Because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; And his mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of his mercy Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever. The Assumption is one of Mary’s great feasts and celebrates the love and continuing faith of the family that she was asked to care for. Through prayer, the Early Church decided that, on her death, Mary, a woman they had known as mother, dis...

Sunday Gospel - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Luke 1:39-44  Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’ There is something about being barren; even if healing eventually comes. Twenty-odd years ago 'barren' was a word that described me for some time until medical intervention and a visit to Fatima brought the miracle of conception.  I hadn't told anyone, friends or family, I hadn't wanted the pit...

Reflection on the Magnificat My soul proclaims its nearness to the Lord delighted and fulfilled. But my heart aches broken by the accusation of my own people shattered by stones of mistrust and judgment No angel's promise of comfort - rather  Life's pathway set out in shards of flint. A flinty gaze fills my eyes and they widen, seeking the future road staring into dark shadows; welcoming the desert heat that burns away the tears of hesitation before they fall -  They fall, regardless Each breath a tightening  a measured in and out  words said and unsaid considered, found wanting But not 'yes' Never 'yes'. For always - 'yes'. My heart aches with Love. With Love too much to be contained yet unrecognised. With Love that will lie in my arms bloody and helpless more than once. With Love that will live within me  and without me for more than Abraham; Forever. w...

The calling of Mary Magdalen ‘Mary’ I know that sound A stranger’s name Do you not see? Goodness gone Devoured Nameless ‘Go now’ Speaking – not to me. Eyes flash Claws bury into flesh Adamant A surge of rage And then, Gone. ‘Will you come?’ Foolish question. The light is not for me Dark space Unknowing, unknown A leper’s curse upon it I know my place. ‘I have called you’ A silhouette stands Against my soul’s daybreak Shadows scoured by sunlight ‘Did you not hear me, Mary? I have called you by your name You are mine.’ The 'Why' of Mary Magdalen She awoke from a curse of sleep; uncertain that she was truly awake or  dreaming of a 'might have been' the demons had denied her. Keeping her eyes closed she waited for the shudder of reality and the shrill laughter that meant she was still forsaken. The world remained but still she did not open her eyes - she had become used to the dark - casting her...