Photo was taken last night in BCS (Ballincollig Community School), Co.Cork (Irl)
Some of the 6th years in BCS were in great form last night after their Graduation Mass.
Thought on Friday – May – 21/05/2010
The following reflection was used during the Graduation Mass
The Spirit of God and the Spirit of the World….
The spirit of the world says that externals are all important including looks, property, possessions. You are what you have. The spirit of God says that your looks and appearance can be very deceptive. You must look into your heart, into the depth of your life to see who you really are.
The spirit of the world says that life is a test and success is everything. It hates failure and disappointment. The spirit of God says that failure can be more important than success. We can learn even from the sad and difficult times.
The spirit of the world says that the great problems of the world like unemployment and violence have nothing to do with me. I’ve just got to mind my own patch. The spirit of God says that my vision must always be outward not inward and this will always include others.
The spirit of the world says that love is about things going well in accord with my plans. The spirit of God says that love is about giving of myself even when I feel that I cannot.
The spirit of the world says that there is no such thing as forgiveness because there is no such thing as sin. The spirit of God says that forgiveness is the greatest reality that we know. We sin, we fail, yet we can be freed to go on.
The spirit of the world says that honesty and commitment are impossible and don’t really exist. The spirit of God says that honesty and commitment are the only things that matter in the end.
The spirit of the world says that the sick and the disabled are not really alive. Sickness and disability are disastrous. The spirit of God says that the sick and disabled are often those who are most alive for they know their dependence, they know that life is not in their control.
The spirit of the world says that death is the end of life and proves that life is futile. The spirit of God says that death is not the end of life as the great spirit present in us is not extinguished but transformed.