In Ireland we have had beautiful spring weather over the past few days. Honeybees were out gathering pollen and bringing it back to the beehives. It is a wonderful source of protein for the bees themselves, but also for young bees too. Pollen comes many different colours depending on the flower itself. But the sight of bees collecting pollen and also nectar at this time of year is a lovely sign that spring is here. Yes cold weather may still come, but nothing can stop the energy of spring unfolding and the bees know this too.
Quote For Today
“Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.” ~Saint Augustine
My latest video🎥
This is my new video below and it is called ‘A Spring Prayer in Lent’.
A Prayer for Lent by Pope Francis
With Lent having begun yesterday (March 5th) – this video underneath that I put together last year still has a very relevant message
This one is called ‘Lent and the Three Legged Stool’!
If you would like to see a selection of my other videos on YouTube you are welcome to have a look at some of them here: https://www.youtube.com/@JamesMcSweeneyFr/videos
Spiritual Thought For The Week
The Rugby game against France was disappointing on Saturday especially from an Irish point of view.
We were completely outclassed and pushed to one side. The French came with a simple plan to win the game with tactics, might and strength. And we just could not respond.
Sometimes our best plans come to shreds too. We have our day worked out and then it suddenly goes upside down. Or life is going well and then it suddenly goes upside down.
Our Gospel on Sunday about the temptations of Jesus is always used in the first Sunday of Lent. It represents the struggles and difficulties that Jesus went through. Sometimes we think Jesus was somone who was in a bubble and shielded from the knocks and difficulties of life. But he went through them like all of us. Our Gospel reminds us that in the middle of the wilderness he found inner strength, courage and hope, to dig deeper, to keep going and to start again.
When it was easier to quit and give up, Jesus dug deeper and found what he needed to get going again. It’s a message for all of us too as we journey through Lent. We are invited to look at our own lives. Sometimes plans do not go well. Sometimes we are thrown off course. But spiritually we are reminded that we will always find inner strength from somewhere. We will find hope and courage like Jesus did – to dig deeper and to keep going.
One of the shortest prayers we have and probably the most beautiful is : “O Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.”It can be said anytime and anywhere. It can also be said in those moments when we really need hope. I also feel it’s a calming prayer too: “O Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.” It can be our prayer too this Lent.
Finally I hope your journey through Lent is a good one. I hope it goes well for you. And I share this lovely one line prayer with you again. It’s like a master key, that will help you unlock many doors: ‘O Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you.’
The Thought For The Week is updated each Monday
