Rev Michael Cavanagh +353 (0)858 533 173
Praying Together 27th August 2023

Praying Together 27th August 2023

by | Aug 27, 2023 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

A tree growing on a rock

Collect for Trinity 12

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray and to give more than either we desire or deserve: Pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask save through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

Romans 12: 1-8

Matthew 16: 13-20

The spectacular landscape of South West Kerry is framed by the way that rock, over many hundreds of thousands of years, has been eroded by water, moved by earthquake, smoothed by slow-moving glaciers and weakened by weather. We pick up a tiny pebble, and tell our children stories of how it used to be a huge boulder. The mountains are moving still, and the skyline changes constantly.

The rock on which Christ’s Church is built, however, is changeless. It weathers all the storms that the world sets against it, and will always stand firm. How? Through us. The rock on which the church was to be founded was Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah. His faith, and the strength of the Spirit, began an unstoppable witness to the Gospel. Over the years, there have been many assaults upon it – some intentional, some insidious, some selfish, some merely through apathy. But still it stands, preserved by the light of burning martyrs through the ages.

And today, our faith and our openness to the Spirit’s guidance echo Peter’s confession. We are part of the rock, and generations yet unborn will know peace and freedom through our witness. The gates of Hell stand no chance, no matter with what weapons Satan uses to defend them.

We pray together:

Heavenly Father – we can only imagine Peter’s reaction when Jesus asks Him the question. There will have been a silence – the disciples are looking at each other, willing someone else to answer. They know that this is the pivotal moment of their lives. Deep in their heart, they do believe – but to say the word out loud means commitment to accepting the consequence, whatever that may be, whatever dangers will be faced. In the end, it is Peter, once again, who takes the step that faith demands. Thousands since that day have proclaimed the same. And so do I. Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ. I pray that my faith will be as strong as rock, and upon that stone, may your church continue being built. Amen.

Previous Posts

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Praying Together 20th August 2023

Praying Together 20th August 2023

by | Aug 20, 2023 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

a wooden ship on a stormy sea

Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32

Matthew 15: 21 – 28

This has to be one of the most puzzling stories in the Gospels. At first glance, you would be forgiven for feeling that Jesus is being both rude and misogynistic, possibly even racist – “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” – calling a woman in desperate need a ‘dog’.

But that’s not the Jesus I know, the Jesus who is at ease with sinners, occupying troops, lepers and even women, sharing meals and healing them despite the ‘religious’ rules forbidding Him to do so.

So we have to delve a bit further into the significance of what is happening – and when we do, there seem to be two possible interpretations, both of which demand that the passage is contextualised by an awareness of its background.

One possibility is that throughout the Gospels, Jesus is continuously learning about the breadth of His mission. The woman challenges Him to consider whether His ministry is exclusive – for the Jews only – or universal – even to the ‘dogs’, if they accept Him and place their trust in Him. “Great is your faith – let it be as you wish”. Remember that this event takes place before the Transfiguration, when God proclaims Jesus as the Son in who He is well pleased, to be followed by the journey to Jerusalem which results in the fulfilment of Jesus destiny. Everything that has gone before incrementally prepares Him for the cross.

The other explanation is that Jesus knows exactly what He is doing. In front of the Pharisees and scribes, who have taken great offence at Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 15:12) Jesus offers a practical demonstration that, though God has chosen salvation to come from Israel, it is not just for Israel, but the whole of creation. The Messiah they want would reject the dogs (the Gentiles, the unclean, the women). That’s not what they get.

There are arguments for either interpretation. Food for thought.

But whichever, there is no argument that the woman is healed. As are we all, whoever we may be – Jew, Greek, slave, free, man, woman. One in Jesus, the Christ. That’s the important bit.

Previous Posts

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Praying Together 13th August 2023

Praying Together 13th August 2023

by | Aug 13, 2023 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

a wooden ship on a stormy sea

Collect for Trinity 10

Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 10: 5-15

Matthew 14: 22 – 33

The boat is in a storm, fighting a headwind, going nowhere. Once again, it is Peter’s heart that rules his head, and he is the one who dares to do what Jesus tells him – ‘Come’. Another story in which we see an example of Peter’s personality, and in his humanity recognise part of ourselves. He means well. He trusts. He gets out of the boat and starts walking on the water. But then he looks down, realises what he is doing in faith, but can’t sustain it when that appears to be something that the rules and regulations of the world say is impossible. Fortunately, for the good of the church and the ‘rock’ on which it is to be built, Jesus reaches out a hand and saves him.

All too often, we are in the same situation. We travel through the sea of life with the wind against us. Even though we know we ought to trust and obey, we choose to stay in the deceptive safety of the boat rather than take the risk. To step out would be asking too much of our faith, and deep down, however strong our desire to put our belief into practice, we cannot ignore the feeling that we might sink. But once in a while, once in a very Blue Moon, we might close our earthly eyes and leap over the side. When we do, there is nothing that Jesus asks us that we can’t achieve. Yes, perhaps our faith will fail us halfway through, and Jesus will have to reach out to us to rescue us – and He always will. Sometimes, though, just sometimes, we dismiss the rationality of this physical world, and accept the alternative reality of living in the Kingdom. And instead of walking, we fly.

Previous Posts

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Praying Together 6th August 2023

Praying Together 6th August 2023

by | Aug 6, 2023 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

a pair of hands palms up against a bokeh background

Collect for Trinity 9

Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church: Open our hearts to the riches of his grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Peter 1: 13-22

Luke 9: 28-36

Peter has had quite a week. After seeing a few loaves and a couple of fish feed a meal to thousands, he and the other disciples are directly challenged by Jesus – ‘And you – who do you say I am?’. As you would expect, Peter is the one who confesses Jesus as Messiah, and is told he is going to be the rock on which the church is built and given the keys of the Kingdom.

He hadn’t even time to take it in, before he is being rebuked after trying to deny the prophecy that Jesus would be put to death – ‘out of my sight, Satan; you are a stumbling block to me!’

As they say in the movies, six day s later…

Six days later, up a high mountain, with Peter probably still smarting at his telling off, Peter, James and John are given a sight that must have been even harder to understand.

While Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. Again Peter blurts out something about building three sheds, but is interrupted by a voice from a bright cloud: ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’

The ’Transfiguration’ passage marks one of the five significant moments of Jesus’ life on earth; and yet we do tend to concentrate more on the others – His Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension, and that’s a pity. In His story,

Transfiguration marks the point at which His life in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Earth are seen as a whole rather than two separate realms.

It took Peter some time, (and after a few more hiccups) but he gets the point in the end. Now, when challenged, he simply reminds people what he saw with his own eyes. It isn’t just Jesus who is transformed. Peter, too, is a changed man; from fisherman to unshakeable rock. The prophecy is fulfilled, the light has come, the day will dawn and the morning star will rise in our hearts. Hallelujah.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

Go in peace, to love and praise the Lord and all His creation, giving thanks for the blessings of tomorrow – and the day after, then the day after that, and all your days. In the name of Christ. Amen

Previous Posts

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Praying Together 30th July 2023

Praying Together 30th July 2023

by | Jul 30, 2023 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

a mighty oak at sunrise

Collect for Trinity 8

Blessed are you, O Lord, and blessed are those who observe and keep your law: Help us to seek you with our whole heart, to delight in your commandments and to walk in the glorious liberty given us by your Son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 8: 26-39

Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-45

A gardener. A cook. A ‘Detectorist’. A merchant. Stories (parables) that help our understanding of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is using real world examples and, though at first we would think that objects in the story are unrelated to each other, they are not. The common element is that small things – acting out our belief in our small corner – lead to great things. We are told about the mustard seed, and learn that no matter how small our actions, when we offer ourselves as servants, bringing comfort to the poor, the lonely, the ill, the oppressed, sufferers of injustice, people who are different, we are one step further to the Kingdom, come.

We are to be yeast – very small amounts needed, and invisible in the bread, but without that yeast the bread won’t rise. A small act of kindness in Jesus’ name, brings a ray of light in an angry world.

The treasure is there – it just needs to be found. We search for truth, and realise that Jesus is the truth; the way; and the life. But we don’t find God – He finds us, and we simply have to welcome Him. And when we do, we joyously leave our old life and its values behind, and become the new creation He offers.

A sermon might end there with a challenge: however small, being a seed; however unrewarded or unrecognised, being yeast; to accept Jesus into our lives forsaking the world, in the knowledge that from tiny acorns, a great oak grows. Essentially, to love as we are commanded.

But we also need to realise that to ignore our call to act is not just indifference, but actually dangerous. The Covid-19 virus was small, but killed hundreds of thousands. To fail to love, even in small ways, is to allow evil to flourish

Let us pray

Jesus said ‘Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me’. (Revelation 3:20)

As we turn to you O Lord, let our worship be a new beginning – cleanse us with your mercy – draw us deeper into your love and accept our offering of praise and prayer. We offer our prayers on behalf of a troubled world. Through your son, our brother and our Saviour. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Loving Father, help us when burdens weigh heavily – renew us with your streams of living water, so that we might serve you with our whole hearts. In the strength of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

We give thanks for your goodness – for our lives so rich in your blessings; for the beauty of the earth and the changing seasons, for the wonders of nature that remind us of your majesty. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We thank you for the gift of life – every day providing so many opportunities to serve you -to shine as light in the darkness and to follow the example, set by Jesus, of obedience in our service to others. Forgive us when we let you down, when we are thoughtless or selfish and when we forget to love and serve others.

Help us when we need direction or when we face difficult choices and decisions. Thank you for our families and friends and help us serve others in the communities we represent.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

A prayer of St Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in you. Grant us purity of heart and strength of purpose, that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will, and no weakness hinder us from doing it; but that in your light we may see light and in your service find our perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Go in peace, to love and praise the Lord and all His creation, giving thanks for the blessings of tomorrow – and the day after, then the day after that, and all your days. In the name of Christ. Amen

Previous Posts

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.