Photo was taken yesterday at Millstreet, Co.Cork (Irl)
A tractor vintage run went through Millstreet yesterday morning and thankfully it stayed dry for the event which was filmed for the RTE television programme ‘Nationwide’
Thought on Sunday – April – 02/04/2017
Thought For Today is by Jane Mellett called ‘Come Forth Lazarus’
In today’s Gospel Jesus is surrounded by a culture of death. The disciples are afraid to go back to Bethany, the Jews want to stone Jesus to death, Mary and Martha are distraught over the death of their brother Lazarus, and Lazarus himself lies bound in the darkness of the tomb. It appears as if there is no hope. Jesus weeps for his friend and for those around him.
Yet, surrounded by a culture of violence and despair, Jesus gives hope, compassion, and resurrection to those in turmoil. It is easy to say that nothing can be done when we are faced with difficult situations in our own lives. Yet Jesus says ‘Lazarus, come out’ and to the people he says ‘Unbind him, let him go.’ It is a message for all of us to come away from a culture of death; to help unbind one another and to also allow ourselves to emerge from the tomb. We are called to take away the stone. Today’s Gospel is a story of liberation. Jesus gives a new insight into the power of faith over death.
‘Hope means to keep living amid desperation and to keep humming in the darkness. Hope is knowing that there is love, it is trust in tomorrow, it is falling asleep and waking to work when the sun rises. In the midst of a gale at sea, it is to discover land. In the eyes of another, it is to see understanding. As long as there is hope, there will also be prayer. And God will be holding you in his loving hands.’
~ Henri Nouwen
Thought 2
‘Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.’ ~William Arthur Ward
Yesterday was April Fools’ Day and is sometimes called All Fools’ Day. Every year it is celebrated on April 1st by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. Newspapers and radio stations go with the flow as well and usually catch people out with some outrageous story. Everyone gets caught at some stage. I was in Lourdes one Easter and it happened to coincide with April 1st. The fact that it was April Fool’s Day had not registered with me at all. The river Gave flows through Lourdes and I was told that every few years tidal surges can suddenly flow up through the river to create spectacular effects at the town weir. I was told that one was expected at lunchtime that day. So of course never to miss a photo opportunity I was in prime position looking across at the weir. Of course the tidal surge never happened and the penny dropped with me when I started asking myself why am I the only one trying to watch this? Yes indeed, everyone gets caught at some stage!
It might have been April Fool’s Day yesterday but there is no fooling about when we say that God’s love for us is uniquely special. As believers it is the hinge on which we rest everything. Every action of love shared or received has the presence of God flowing through it. Everything is connected in some way. One action on its own is never in isolation and is always connected to something very close by. An obvious example is a smile and we know the difference it always makes. Any action done out of love and in love has immediate effect and is such a powerful force in our world. No wonder we hear so many times in scripture how God is love. When we build our lives on this foundation we are always in a good place. So before we jump headlong into whatever needs to be done next, the message is simple: slow down, think carefully about what really matters, avoid the stuff that does not energise you, be gentle with yourself and to know that everything you do matters a lot.
