Photo was taken near Castletownbere, West Cork (Irl)

Recent fine, calm and dry weather over Ireland at the moment is a welcome relief. There are few guarantees when it comes to Irish weather but already they are predicting with confidence that St Patrick’s Day next Thursday is going to be dry!!

Thought on Sunday – March – 13/03/2016

Our reflection today is by Triona Doherty called ‘Open the Doors’


Today marks the third anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. His papacy has been marked by a focus on openness, forgiveness, and mercy – summed up, perhaps, in his oft quoted remark: ‘Who am I to judge?’ So prevalent is his focus on God’s mercy that Pope Francis has declared this a Jubilee Year of Mercy – a special year to receive blessing from God and remission of sins.

Some of us will make a pilgrimage during this year to one of the many holy doors in our cathedrals and churches. Pope Francis has called on Catholics around the world to use the occasion to open wide the doors of their hearts to forgive others and not to exclude them.

‘When we go through that door, it is good to remember that we must also open wide the doors of our heart,’ he said, suggesting that before passing through the Holy Door, people should pray: ‘Lord, help me to open the doors of my heart!’

‘The holy year won’t be very effective if the doors of our heart do not let Christ enter, who pushes us to go towards others, to bring him and his love. Therefore, as the holy door remains open because it is the sign of the welcoming that God himself reserves for us, so also our doors – those of the heart – must always be open to not exclude anyone. Not even those that bother me. No one!’

It is very much in the tradition of today’s Gospel, where we meet a Jesus who is merciful to sinners, and who challenges us all to look at our own attitudes and our tendency to judge others.