Photo was taken yesterday at Tooreenbawn, Millstreet, Co.Cork (Irl)

A walk in a local forest yesterday was another reminder just how violent the big storm was last Wednesday. The huge tree in our photo just snapped with the sheer force of the wind.
Those on Facebook can see more pictures by clicking on the Facebook link on the side of this page.

Thought on Sunday – February – 16/02/2014

The following reflection is by Triona Doherty called ‘Toeing The Line’

Be honest – are there times when you approach Mass with a niggling feeling that something is not quite right? Perhaps you’ve fallen out with someone, or been less than fair in your dealings with a friend or colleague. Then there are times when we happily go along to Sunday Mass without so much as a thought to how we have lived that week. Jesus has some strong words for us all in today’s Gospel. We must first reconcile with our brothers and sisters and even be on good terms with our opponents before we approach the altar. How can we be in communion with God if we are not in communion with our neighbours?

If we believe that all that is expected of us is to go to Mass on Sunday and ‘follow the rules’, we have missed something important along the way. Jesus does not want us to merely follow the letter of the law. Where is the joy or the challenge in that? There is more to living out our Christian life than obeying the rules. This is what Jesus challenges us to see in today’s Gospel.

I read a comment recently about Pope Francis: ‘He seems to have read the book’. His actions are speaking just as loud as his words, and even his words are challenging us to look at how we live and how we treat others. The Gospels are not a rule book; they are a blueprint for a radical way of life.