Photo was taken last evening at Coolderrihy, near Kilmichael, West Cork (Irl)

These 80kmh signs were almost hidden by the trees growing up around them!

Thought on Sunday – July – 02/09/2012

The following reflection is by Triona Doherty called ‘What’s on the inside’

‘When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out – because that’s what’s inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside’ ~Wayne Dyer

It’s what’s on the inside that counts. How often do we hear this? Yet how often do we receive contradictory messages. On the one hand we are told it’s what’s on the inside that counts, and on the other hand we are constantly bombarded with messages about how we should look, dress or act, on what is appropriate outward behaviour.

In today’s Gospel Jesus has something to say to us about the tension between outward appearances and what’s on the inside. The religious authorities of the time felt that outer appearances and traditions were important, and rebuked Jesus for allowing his disciples to eat with ‘unclean hands’. However, Jesus explains that it is not outward show that make a person unclean. It is what is on the inside, rather than outward appearances, that indicate the true nature of our hearts. Indeed in today’s Second Reading, St James offers a summary of what we should be focusing on; as well as listening to the word we must also do what it instructs. Our actions must speak louder than words.