Memory
Blessing
…and curse
Its tendrils
Are coaxed
By a smell
Or a cast of light
A time of year
Or a ritual.
Without warning
You’re there
And then

Christmas with loved ones
And
The pain of separation.
Patterson’s poetry
Read with passion
I can feel
Almost 50 years later.
Travelling overseas.
Waling at night
In summer
Growing up.

But don’t get stuck.
Savour
This moment
Whether it is
The warmth of the sun
A laugh with a friend
Or a hug
From your special someone.
To know
You’re home
Here and now

Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. (Exodus 34:29)

One way of describing prayer is ’talking to God’. Few of us can claim to have done so in the immanent way that Moses did. One way of seeing this passage is that being closely connected to God means that all is right with us – and it shows. In what is essentially a reflection on John 10:10, St Irenaeus said that ‘the glory of God is the human being fully alive’. There are many ways in which we can shine as God intends.

Owning and using the goodness that is in each of us is a significant way that we become fully alive and appreciating other’s giftedness also builds community. Realising God’s closeness in prayer is a primary way to be whole. As contemplatives like Richard Rohr (www.cac.org) teach us, it is about seeing our continuous connection with God and others. This wondrous river of Love holds us, supports us and feeds us if we have the eyes to see. My glimpses leave me thirsting for more…

Have a great week!
Patrick

Bathed
In
Golden sunshine
At 6.15am
Is a
Wondrous gift
To start my day
It beats the heck
Out of the
Cold and dark
And ensuing
Existential questions

Summer is almost
Upon us
With its promise
Of sunshine
And warmth
May my heart
Remain open

always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. (2 Cor 4:10)

Standing up for those in need, for integrity, for truth, can be a hazardous business. We have seen this in people such as Oscar Romero and Dorothy Day. In smaller ways in our own lives we know that there can be a physical, emotional and psychological cost for being true to our faith. Also, it is more than what I endure, the body also refers to the Christian and Catholic community. ’The life of Jesus’ is one of faith, hope, healing compassion and love. Such a life builds community.

This is not easy to live. There are strong societal forces that emphasise the individual as well as personal freedom. Freedom like happiness can be misconstrued. Those societal forces can define freedom in terms of being free to consume. Rather ’the life of Jesus’ promotes community and happiness for the individual as they contribute to ’something bigger than themselves’.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Discern
Weigh up
Words and actions

It comes back
To integrity
Without it
There’s just more
White noise
With it
A person’s truth
Shines
Rings true

But there are
So many distractions
Attractions
Fears
Addictions

The world is blessed
By those who
Stay the course
Of integrity

Sitting in a shopping centre

Whiling away some time

I saw something

Small

Something so

Everyday

That would pass

Without notice

Without comment

But the love that lay

Underneath that gesture

Floored me

Siblings in strollers

Side by side

One pushed by mum

The other by dad

While the siblings held hands

Looking at each other, eyes shining

Love is to be expressed

But true love

Can be so plain

As to go unnoticed

Love shines every day

May we have the eyes to see it

And appreciate its beauty

Wherever it is

the only thing that counts is faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6)

As humans we want to know ‘how to do it’ – how to live a life of faith. However, it is easy to be caught up in form or process: ‘am I doing it right?’ Paul clarifies matters for us: ‘faith working through love’. This is simple and clear but it seems to me that it requires us to pay attention to the motives behind our actions. Is this action motivated by faith and done in a self-sacrificing way? Or am I acting to ease my own discomfort? Or am I being controlling?

As they approach their adult lives, young people naturally want to ‘get it right’. Paul’s prescription simplifies matters for them. They need to learn to discern their actions – leaving control and manipulation behind. Such close discernment tells us ‘how to do it’ – in a way that is best for others and ourselves, bringing God’s reign closer.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight. (Proverbs 3:5)

If I trust in the LORD with all my heart then I live believing in my unique giftedness, as well as the goodness and giftedness of those around me. Whether they believe in themselves is another matter! Life raises difficulties of all sorts. The extent to which we can trust in the LORD rather than rely on our own insight will determine how much those difficulties ‘knock us off course’.

The Gospel message is not complicated – but our world, including the world of our young people, has so many competing messages. For better or worse, the ‘quick fix’ is prized. One thing I have learned is that the Gospel message requires much practice to live well. Another thing I have learned is that if I rely on my own insight ’there lies madness’.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Teaching Year 12

Is a privilege

It can also be stressful

Making sure you’re giving

the right advice

knowing when to encourage

and when to push.

It takes a different perspective

When you’re teaching

About religion

Am I doing it right?

Is this true to the tradition?

Does it make sense?

How can I help them get it

Without seeming

Like I’m pushing it down their throat?

Especially

Since this is not just

An academic exercise for me.

I believe to the core

Of my being

That faith gives life.

Self-sacrificing love

Means we don’t focus on ourselves

And when we each do this

Wondrous things occur.

We are made by love

For love

Wishing them peace and all good

Always

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven (Matt 5:44-45)

Does it get any harder or more real than this? This passage goes against what is called ‘human nature’ – we want to strike back against those who have hurt us or ‘our own’. What this passage does is remind us about our real nature. We are made from and for love – since we are all children of God who is love. However, saying it and doing it are separate matters!

The only real way that we will guide the young people in our care on this matter is by our example. When they see us act in a way that includes everyone, that ignores human-made divisions and treats everyone as one, then any words we utter on the subject might have some effect. When we pray for those who only see division, it comes from a place of love: what we say and what we do and what we pray are as one.

Have a great week!
Patrick