People came to Jesus from everywhere (Mark 1:45)

We are searching – searching for wholeness, searching for truth. As Augustine said: ‘Our hearts are restless until they rest in you’. Compassion and integrity are attractive. They speak to us on a very deep level: ‘you have the words of eternal life’ (John 6:68). They resonate with us. You can be yourself, know you’re accepted and that there are no hidden agendas. When you find some answers, some truth, you continue to pray and/or marry that person and/or put down roots in that community.

‘I am the way, the truth and the life’ (John 14:6). The young people in our care are beginning their journey, their search for truth and for life. Our role is to be witnesses to the truth of the Gospel. May our young people find some compassion and integrity in you and in me. In our flawed fashion may we direct them to the source of all wholeness and holiness – God.

Have a great week!

Patrick

Horizontal drapes

Of delicate clouds

In slivery white

Through to grey

Sky awash with blues

Through to oranges and apricots.

Miraculous, shimmering tableau

And salve

Largely ignored

By those travelling home

From their work.

And so the veil is drawn

On another day.

In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

We begin another term with varying degrees of feeling refreshed after the break. There will be one (or more) incident that brings us ‘back to earth’. We are then forced back to our ‘why’. Why do we work with young people? Every other reason melts away in time (like impurities in a furnace?) until we are left with our faith. Yet our faith is not just individual. We are saved in and by community. Our community sustains us in good and bad times. Just as we go out in faith and service to others.

For young and old there can be so many distractions, so much ‘white noise’ that we can lose our way; lose sight of what truly matters. Our trials, our difficulties do us the service of helping us to grasp what truly matters – our faith.

Have a great week!

Patrick

Warm day

With time

I have the immense joy of being a [human being], a member of a race in which God became incarnate. As if the sorrows and stupidities of the human condition could overwhelm me, now I realize what we all are. And if only everybody could realize this! But it cannot be explained. There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun. —Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (Image Books: 1968), 157.

As the calendar turns to Easter, we have a choice. Will we focus on the momentary euphoria of the day OR are our lives set on the path to joy? Joy comes from a life seeking justice through right relationships lived in self-sacrificing love. It is indeed a journey – sometimes two steps forward, one step back OR maybe the other way around! This is the truth of the way of the disciples of Jesus – the only true way forward is through the cross. The difficulties and the successes are shared as we live our lives in the image of our God – in community.

Jesus said, ‘Remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’ (Mark 14:36)

When all is going well, it is easy to be good and/or to have faith. The Gospel accounts of Jesus’ passion give us an insight into how difficult this time must have been. Pushed to the limit, it’s far easier to walk away: ‘live to fight another day’. Jesus turns that logic on its head while still exhibiting his humanity. He doesn’t want to go to the cross but realises that his faith and integrity require that of him.

These are vital life lessons to share with our young people. Will I stand up for what I believe in? Will I walk away when the going gets tough? Will I be a person of integrity? Will I have faith in God in the tough times and believe in the reflection: ‘it was then that I carried you’? Our answers to such questions can lead us to the full Easter life.

Wishing you a great week!

Patrick

Walk out my door

Into the early morning dark

And as my eyes adjust

I look up

Into the inky sky

And am dazzled

By the stars.

They make me

Catch my breath

And utter ‘thanks’

For this gift.

Plan

Ordinary

Wondrous

For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10)

Read in its context, this verse continues one of the themes of Luke’s gospel – caring for those ‘on the outside’. It is vital that as a church we continue that ministry today so that we can help make the body of Christ whole. Those who are lost have much to teach those whose lives are safe and comfortable – both about humility and faith.

As much as we need to go out to others in need, we also should extend compassion to those parts of ourselves that are ‘lost’. Whether it is due to a death, changed life circumstances, addiction or the like, we can each feel ‘lost’. Such compassion towards ourselves will guide us towards wholeness… and holiness.

Have a great week!

Patrick

During a beautiful celebration

At the cathedral

Where community was tangible

I realised that

I am held

In the arms

Of so many different people

That love and support me

Primarily, my darling wife,

Soul mate

My everything.

Also, my sons,

My mother,

My siblings,

And extended family

Including my in-laws

The list includes

My friends

Some of whom I’m lucky

To have had in my life

For many years

My colleagues

And former colleagues

Students

And former students

Around and under and over

All

Is our faith.

God IS our relationships

And so much more

As our finite words

Cannot describe the infinite.

This community of support is

The body of Christ

Which brings me

To eternal life.

Salvation is now