Photo wastaken at Tooreenbawn, Millstreet, Co.Cork (Irl)

A young calf snuggles up close to its Mum and on that note Happy Mother’s Day to all Mums today. On the 4th Sunday of Lent Mother’s Day is celebrated and we thank God today for everything they have done and are doing for us. If your Mum is deceased we remember her with love in a special way too today

Thought on Sunday – March – 14/03/2021

Thought For Today is by Triona Doherty called Out into the light

Today, the ‘middle’ Sunday of Lent, is known as ‘Laetare Sunday’. Laetare means ‘Rejoice!’ We tend not to think of Lent as a time to rejoice, but signs of joy are central at Mass today, such as the use of flowers on the altar and rose-coloured vestments for the priest instead of the usual Lenten purple. The shadow of the cross still looms large, but we look forward with hope to Easter, when light will conquer the darkness.

We are offered an opportunity today to pause and reflect on our Lenten journey. In our gospel we hear that ‘the [person] who lives by the truth comes out into the light’. On the other hand, Jesus says that those who ‘prefer darkness to the light’ live in fear that their actions will be exposed.

We hear a lot of talk these days about transparency. We have seen the damage caused by those whose private actions gravely contradict the message they proclaim in the public sphere. Some questions we might ask ourselves this Lent are: Am I living a truthful life ‘in the light’? Am I honest in my dealings with others, trying always to choose what is right and just, or are there things I do in secret that are unkind or dishonest? Am I attentive to the needs of others or am I more inclined to think of myself? Lent offers us the opportunity to step out into the light, to allow the light of Jesus to sweep away any darkness or destructive habits and to begin again.