BCL Newsletter Week 39

If there was one phrase that I could delete from the English language it would be: “s/he is different, s/he is not one of us.” This tribal notion has underpinned so many wars, disputes and disagreements through the centuries. If you look at many of the conflict zones throughout the world today, this segregation still appears to play a major role in these conflicts – whether this is on a racial, colour or creed basis. Even as I speak, we can see this phenomenon at work and raising its ugly head in Afghanistan where the various Taliban tribes are in conflict with each other as they squabble for power. This is nothing new; we see it displayed so many times in our world today in what we call the ‘lollypop syndrome’ – the power yielded by traffic warden who holds the lollipop aloft and dares you not to stop, and we see it also in today’s gospel where the disciples felt that they and they alone had the right and the authority to act in the name of Jesus. May the same Jesus deliver us from ever believing that we, and we alone, possess the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

When will we come to appreciate that it’s not what we call ourselves that matters, that it matters little whether or not we are paid-up, card carrying members of the Church founded on the teachings of Jesus. What does matter, what makes all the difference is that our lives be living examples of Jesus’s teachings. If I were to start coughing, had a high temperature and complained of a loss of smell and taste - while professing that I just had a heavy cold - which would you catch, the heavy cold that I said I had or the COVID-19 that I actually had? Jesus told us time and again, it wasn’t the person who said: “Lord, Lord” who would enter the kingdom but “the one who does the will of my Father.” Yes, it’s by the fruit that we bear that we’ll be known and judged. I don’t expect to get an A in Botany if I go to a tree and, seeing apples growing on it, declare that it is an apple tree or see pears growing on another and declare that it’s a pear tree. Likewise, if I encounter a person who is living his/her life according to the values that Christ taught; I don’t expect a degree in theology for recognising them as a Christian – even though some of these very people might even resent having the term or the label ‘Christian’ attributed to them! We must never forget that the gospel is a person and that I’m the only gospel that some people will ever read. 

As St Francis reminds us, the only way to preach the gospel is by living it. People don’t really care about how much you know until the first know how much you care! This caring can be as simple as giving “a cup of cold water” and it can be as profound as taking the time to hold another’s hands as you really listen to their pain. When will be come to appreciate that the calling that we have received is a call to take up the basin and towel, a call spend our days in the service of others? Whoever said that Jesus came to give us a simple message of love almost two thousand year ago and that we have spent the intervening years complicating it was right. Yes, "you shall love the Lord you God with all of your heart and soul and your neighbour as yourself.” (Mt 22:37) it takes a lifetime to become a follower of Jesus. He is the way and we follow him by taking one step at a time. 

We’re told that each marathon is begun by taking the first step and so is the following of Jesus. We follow Him by taking one step at a time, where each step leads us into service of the Jesus who lives in others. Today is a new day with a new invitation. It is God’s gift to us and what we make of it will become our gift to Him. Let us spend it by committing ourselves to serve each person we will have the privilege of meeting. Let us strive to leave each of these people a little bit the better for having encountered the love of Jesus through us. 

Cathedral Draw beginning this coming

Wednesday evening 29th September

for twelve monthly draws.

Tickets available - €10 per month:

Dooley’s Garage, Georges Tree,

John McGrath, News and Chews,

Ms. Sheila Walshe and Sr. Mary Freeman

As you are aware, the St. Mary’s Cathedral Restoration Fund Draw has for the past number of years been a most welcome support of the Cathedral and a great aid in works undertaken therein. As I have noted before, I am taken by its beauty each time I come to celebrate Mass in your fine Cathedral. I want to thank the generosity of all of you in the parishes who do so much each year to support and encourage the draw. This draw in these past six years raised nearly €600,000. If you are in a position to support the draw this year beginning with the first of twelve draws on Wednesday 29^th September 2021. Your support, as always, is much appreciated.

Bishop Denis Nulty, Apostolic Administrator, Ossory.