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

The ivy is the last flower the honeybee works before winter kicks in. It was hard to believe that yesterday was one of the last days of October with warm sunshine and a warm breeze blowing. The bees made the most of the day!

Thought on Sunday – October – 30/10/2011

The following reflection is by Jane Mellett called ‘Let your actions talk’

Putting on a special dress for prayer can emphasise the importance of the prayer. But Jesus is reminding people here that if the prayer is not already in their hearts and minds, then you can wear what you like, but it won’t make much difference. Matthew values the importance of leadership in his community but he is reminding them that the source of this authority lies with God. True witnesses to Jesus must put aside any ideas of grandeur and this message is of course not limited to the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time but to all people of faith. Jesus believes in the ‘ordinary’ people and he reassures them in today’s Gospel that they should not let themselves be awed by those in authority who do not practice what they preach.

We should also remember that when we are in awe of people because of their education or their jobs or their way of living that Jesus liberates us from this. We eventually come to see that we are all human beings, that comparisons are ridiculous and that those we put on a pedestal are just as flawed and just as wonderful as any other human being.

I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.’ ~Dorothy Day