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“Every Christian is called to experience God’s unconditional love working itself in everyday events. For the young mother, for the fellow afraid of changing careers, for all of us, it’s never a question of “prayer life” versus “real life”. Saints don’t lead two lives but one.”

Albert Holtz

A common mistake we make with regard to matters spiritual is to separate our spirituality from our daily lives. Of course that never works because both are intimately connected – God is to be found everywhere. Our Celtic ancestors knew that very well; for them everything was like a breath of God.

In Patrick’s Confessio, he describes in detail how profoundly his daily work, hardship and surroundings were a perfect setting for his relationship with God. This integration was particularly evident during his life as a slave when his prayer was constant.

Later on, as a bishop and missionary, he incorporated everyday elements – most famously the shamrock – to explain complex theological concepts like the Trinity.

Over the years, we began to separate spirituality from our everyday lives. There was a tendency to confine God to a particular place and time.

As we look at Patrick’s life, we see that he never led two separate lives. As we celebrate his feast day this year, the invitation is to know that God’s love for us is to be found in everyday life – right down to what we consider trivial and unimportant.

The Spirit of God

In the singing of the birds is the sound of God

In the swimming of fish is the power of God

In the moving of beasts is the will of God

In the heart of humankind is the dwelling-place of God

In my heart and my head, in my hands and feet

God’s Spirit within me shall move and speak.

A Reflection from the Diocese of Limerick

B. O’S

Lent is an invitation to strip away all pretense and be our true selves; the goal is authenticity; it is not about being sinless or perfect, but about being self-aware and integrated. Jesus had no problem with the failures of life; indeed it was with the hypocrites that He lost His patience.

So, a few questions surface as we embark on the Season of Truth:

• “how much reality” about myself can I tolerate?
• are my motives ambiguous?
• Is my ego in charge?

Frankly, I often find myself going through life without visiting those dark areas. Avoidance is inauthentic and superficial.

So, we take up the Lenten challenge this year to examine the integrity of our innermost heart. As W.B. Yeats wrote:” forging the smithy of my soul is hard work” but by God’s grace, we are able to hold the paradoxes of our lives within us as Jesus did.

                                                                                                          B. O’S

“The Worst Loneliness Is Not To Be Comfortable With Yourself” Mark Twain

Let’s be honest today and reflect on the question of loneliness in our lives, whether we are the life and soul of the party, or quiet bystanders, because the reality is that loneliness affects us all.

A key question for me is why there is such stigma attached to loneliness. Why are we ashamed to admit that we are lonely from time to time?  Is loneliness not simply part of the human condition?

According to a recent survey, over 25 million people in the U.K. reported that they are often lonely.  In the U.S., loneliness affects one in three Americans and has become a public health emergency.  The campaigns, commissions and advocacy groups that address loneliness are many and varied.

Loneliness is a very deep need we all have and that is the need to be known by another; we need people who will listen to us, care for us, understand  and love us  at our deepest core. Simply being popular or surrounded by people does not meet this need, because the ”popular“ person may  not truly reveal what is inside to  anyone.

But perhaps, loneliness is not about being alone, but is much more about being fully awake to ourselves and others.

Loneliness is a call to be our true selves; it is a call to be more present, to reach out more, to not always wait for an invitation, but to be the one that invites and is inclusive.

Of course, the   real answer to loneliness is the intimate presence of God in our lives; that Presence brings peace, joy, love, intimacy,  integrity……….And as we deepen our awareness of that Presence,  we will grow into the people we are really  called to be – our true selves.

B.O’S OSU

In one of my favourite Christmas carols O Little Town Of Bethlehem we sing ‘in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light’ and I am always inspired to look up into the darkness of the winter sky and on a clear night gaze at the multitude of stars shining down from the heavens.  Today many of cities and towns are devoid of total darkness and so miss this wonderful sight of starlight – it is overtaken by the powerful street lighting and the ever glaring lights of shops, offices, cars and lorries.

This week we celebrate Epiphany – the story of one star that led the way for the Magi – they looked up and saw this new star rising in the darkness of the sky, it inspired them to make their journey to Bethlehem.  It was here in this small town that the Light of the World was born in the midst of the darkness, light came into the world.  This is the everlasting light of our Christmas Carol – the light of Christ born among us.  I am sure many of you placed a lighted candle in your window this Christmas to light the way for the Holy Family and to welcome the stranger in your midst – to welcome Jesus, the Light of the World to your home.

So as winter darkness continues for us in this part of the world this year let us look up once again and see the stars shining for us – wonder again at the Light of the World, Emmanuel, born for us anew.

In the words of the prophet Daniel “Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.”

Karen OSU

This phrase, an echo of the words of the prophet Isaiah who says “See, I am doing a new thing” (Is:43:19) come to life in the infancy narratives of the synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. 

In these gospel narratives as we prepare for the birth of the promised Saviour we meet John the Baptist, born to elderly couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah who had not expected to be blessed with a child as Elizabeth was barren.  Change to the traditional ways of the time did not end there – when this child is born he is to be given the name John, not the name of his father as was the custom.  This break with the expected saw much discussion and chat among family, friends and neighbours of the family. 

In the infancy narrative of Luke we meet the Angel Gabriel who comes to bring news of another birth – the birth of Emmanuel to a young woman named Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph.  Despite her hesitation and questioning of Gabriel, Mary says Yes to the invitation to become the mother of Jesus.  Joseph was surprised by the news from Mary, and he made his own plans to divorce her quietly and to go their separate ways – but, again God steps in to his dream and tells Joseph to take Mary home as his wife. Being an honourable God-fearing man Joseph does as the angel has asked him and takes Mary to his home.  Though we are not told what the local peoples reaction was, one can imagine that similar gossip spread among them of this anticipated birth.  On the night of his birth the first visitors are not family and friends but shepherds who are tending their sheep on hills outside the town – who hear the angels sing and are invited to go to Bethlehem to see the new born with his parents in the stable of the inn-keeper in the town.

Matthew tells of the Magi from the east following the star to visit the new king – they stop on the way expecting the new king to be born in the palace, but again tradition, expectation and custom are changed. The new king is not born in a palace but in a stable in the town of Bethlehem.  It is there the star comes to rest and they find the new born with Mary and Joseph and offer him their gifts.

And so the story of the Nativity is all about the new things God is doing in the world of the time – traditions and customs are left behind, change is the area.  Perhaps we too are invited to look around us this Christmas season – to look for the new, for the change to our expectations as we welcome Emmanuel, God-with-us.

Karen OSU