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Praying Together 19th January 2025

Praying Together 19th January 2025

by | Jan 19, 2025 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

wedding-guests-from-above

Meditation for Epiphany 2

Collect

Almighty God,
in Christ you make all things new:
Transform the poverty of our nature
by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
make known your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ag an bpósadh a bhí i gCána bhí Rí na nGrást ann i bpearsain,
É fhéin is Muire a Mháthair, is nárbh álainn í an bhainis,
Bhí cuideachta os cionn cláir ann agus fíon orthu in easnamh,
Is an t-uisce a bhí sna hárthaibh, nárbh álainn é a bhlaiseadh.
A Dhia ghil, a Íosa is a Rí ghil na cruinne,
’D’iompair an choróin spíne agus íobairt na croise,
Dhá stolladh is dhá straoilleadh i measc daoine gan chumann,
Na glasa do scaoilis in éadan ár gcoinnibh.
Is róbhreá an stór atá ag Rí na Glóire dúinn i dtaisce,
A chuid fola is feola mar lón dos na peacaigh,
Ná cuiríg’ bhur ndóchas in ór bhuí ná i rachmas
Mar is bréagán mar cheo é seachas glóire na bhflaitheas.

English

At the wedding which was in Cana, the God of Graces was there in person,
Himself and Mary His Mother, and wasn’t the marriage beautiful?
Companies were laid out there, and in want of wine;
But the water in the vessels, wasn’t it beautiful to taste?
O bright God, O Jesus, O bright King of the earth,
Who bore the crown of thorns and the sacrifice of the cross,
Torn and flogged among those without friends,
You broke the locks which were against us.
Too fine is the treasure the Lord of Glory has in store for us,
His own blood and body as food for the sinners.
Don’t place your hope in gold or in wealth,
Because it is a falsehood like mist, compared to the glory of heaven.

Paolo Veronese The wedding at Cana 1562 – 1563

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him

On the third day…

At the time, Jewish weddings typically could last for a week or so. Why does John specifically mention ‘The Third Day’? Did Jesus only arrive halfway through the celebration, having met Philip and Nathaniel in Bethsaida? Or was it because the wedding party had already drunk all the wine? Or does the ‘Third Day’ refer to the Day of Resurrection, when all things change?

…there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

Well, some of them had – but given that Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathaniel and at least one unnamed other had only just met Jesus, they would be welcomed with Him, but they probably wouldn’t have been on the original guest list.

When the wine gave out,

Perhaps these additional guests helped with emptying the wine vessels earlier than planned?

the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’

Clearly, the wedding was that of a relative, probably a close relative of Mary – why else would she have been so concerned about the disastrous social consequence of the wine running out?

And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman,

The slightly dismissal term ‘Woman’ does not have the same patronising tone that it has today – ‘Dear Mother’ would be a rather better translation

what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’

It’s almost as if Jesus is deep in another conversation when Mary speaks to Him, and doesn’t yet fully appreciate the potential disgrace to the groom’s family

His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’

Mary doesn’t actually reply to Jesus – not in words, anyway – but I have the image in my mind of her giving Jesus an unmissable mother-to-son look. He doesn’t argue.

You don’t when you get one of those.

Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim.

The servants don’t argue either – His instruction is obeyed, strengthening the impression that Jesus is a close relative.

He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’
So they took it.

They trust His command – and a miracle happens.

When the steward tasted the water that had become wine…

Question: Does the whole jarful of water become wine, or does the water change to wine as it is drunk from the cup?

…and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew),

They were afraid that no-one would believe them or that they would look foolish, so they didn’t say anything

the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’

‘What’s going on?’ said the steward. ‘Search me’, said the bridegroom. But Mary knew.

Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee,

It won’t be the last

and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Jesus has demonstrated His authority and power. He takes something ordinary, and it becomes extraordinary. He turns water to wine. He heals the past and offers a new future. He changes his followers from sinner to saint.

For those who have seen Him, there is no turning back.

You call us,
Wanderer of seashores and sidewalks,
inviting us to sail out of our smug harbours
into the uncharted waters of faith
to wander off from our predictable paths to follow You
into the unpredictable footsteps of the kingdom;
to leave the comfort of our homes and accompany
You into the uncomfortable neighbourhoods we usually avoid.

As we wait,
in our simple, sometimes crazy,
constantly uncertain lives,
speak to us, Spirit of Grace:
of that hope which is our anchor;
of that peace which is our rock;
of that grace which is our refuge.

Rev. Bob Gibson, United Church of Canada.

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Meditations 5th January 2025

Meditations 5th January 2025

by | Jan 4, 2025 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

light of the world

Meditations for Epiphany

Collect

Almighty God,
in the birth of your Son
you have poured on us the new light of your incarnate Word,
and shown us the fullness of your love:
Help us to walk in this light and dwell in his love
that we may know the fullness of his joy;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

The hymn ‘Brightest and best’ is traditionally sung on the 12th day of Christmas, in celebration of the Epiphany. The word itself defines a moment when you feel that you understand, or suddenly become conscious of, something that is personally very important or meaningful to you. For Christians, it is the moment when the baby Jesus – the Messiah – is revealed, not through the religious structures that were expected, but to all the world; both Jew and Gentile as represented in the persons of the Magi.

The words are quite beautiful and evocative – it’s not hard to imagine the scene when the Magi first recognised that the light of the world has come – described in the book of Job (Job 38:3) as the day of creation ‘when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy’ in anticipation of the birth of Christ the firstborn son, the infant Redeemer. The gifts they bring are symbolic – gold for a tribute  to a King, Frankincense to worship God, and Myrrh for anointing. But none of these are as important as a simple act of love and devotion.

Read the words and imagine the scene the Magi saw

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us your aid.
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining;
low lies his head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him in slumber reclining,
maker and monarch and Savior of all.

Shall we yield him in costly devotion
rarest of fragrances, tribute divine,
gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
vainly with gifts would his favour secure.
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us your aid.
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Isaiah 60: 1-3

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

 John 1:1-9

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

*****

There are many memorable images in John’s Gospel. One is when Jesus describes the reward of life in Him as being like streams of living water from the heart: another is when Jesus is revealed as the light of the world. Perhaps the latter is the more resonant in Ireland. We’re rarely short of water, but we treasure the light! Both images are present in a Baptism service: the candle lightens the way to the living water that washes away our sin. Even on the darkest night, a single candle can be seen from many miles away.

But even that light can dim unless it is trimmed, just as our faith can become obscured by everyday life pressures and concerns. Sometimes we need a new Epiphany. In the week before Christmas, I had a cataract operation. The result is truly remarkable. I can see, unaided, things I couldn’t see clearly even with glasses as my eyesight insidiously deteriorated with age – perhaps never before.

The Epiphany feast allows the same correction. With the same eyes as the Magi, we look into the manger, see the light of the world – be it for the first time, after a dark time, or in our daily devotions – and every time we see something new.

This song, ‘I speak Jesus’ is the choice for the New Year of David McClay, Bishop of Down & Dromore. It couldn’t be more relevant in the present state of the world.

An Epiphany Quote from Mary Olver’s poem ‘Sometimes’

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.

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Meditations 29th December 2024

Meditations 29th December 2024

by | Dec 28, 2024 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

innocent child

Meditations for a New Year

Collect
Heavenly Father, whose children suffered at the hands of Herod: by your great might, frustrate all evil designs and establish your reign of justice, love and peace: teach us your ways of gentleness and peace that the world may acknowledge the Kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. In his name we pray.

Matthew 2:13-18

The Escape to Egypt

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was enraged, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
‘A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’
*****

Sermon preparation is never easy: What context of the passage do we have to be aware of to understand it fully? What is the relevance of the message today? What does it challenge us to do? Will it bring comfort to those in need?

Some, however, are more difficult than others – Trinity Sunday is a good example. But for me – and for many others – by far the most challenging is preaching on the ‘Feast’ Day of the Holy Innocents, ‘celebrated’ on December 28th or 29th.

We spent Advent in excited preparation, Christmas is full of the joy of Incarnation, the New Year beckons with all its hopes and dreams – but in the midst of ‘The most Wonderful time of the Year’, Matthew tells us about a paranoid self-centred despot ordering a massacre of children.

If we want to read about that sort of stuff, we only have to pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV – surely we don’t need the Bible making it worse. It’s supposed to be Merry Christmas, after all!

Well, actually, we do. It would be great(?) if the Gospel story just described the Christmas Card scene, with its snow, shepherds and stable, the baby in an ox’s stall, beautiful angelic descants. But we live in the real world. A world of hatred, injustice, cruelty and raw, naked violence. A world that demands a Saviour, because it can’t save itself.

It’s all very well to enjoy a nice cosy time contemplating the Nativity scene, but the Satan would like us to stay there for ever, ignoring reality. The temptation is insidious, dulling the light that has come to the world – so slowly in fact that we are unaware of its dimming.

The Massacre goes on. The story in Matthew’s Gospel is happening today, and it will be repeated throughout 2025. Every day, across the world, precious, innocent children are slaughtered as a result of evil men and women valuing their own prosperity and power above all. How can they and those who mindlessly follow them live with what they are asked to do? There is only one answer. The disguised power of Evil. Evil that engenders sin, and blinds people from a realisation of that sin. And the inevitable consequence is an incapacity and failure to love.

So we face the New Year, not with a Bible that only describes the comfortable bits (of which there are indeed many), but the uncomfortable ones too. We resolve to walk with the Son of Man to confront those dangers and further His Kingdom. In face of evil, we will not keep silent. We choose love; love in thought, love in prayer, love in action, in the sure and certain hope that the power of the cross will prevail. Therefore choose love.

Psalm 46: 1-3, 6-7, 9

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

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Praying Together 15th December 2024

Praying Together 15th December 2024

by | Dec 15, 2024 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

christmas decorations with a dark starry sky

Meditations for the Third Sunday in Advent

Rejoice, rejoice; Emmanuel shall come to thee, o Israel!

“In the silence of a midwinter dusk, there is a sound so faint that for all you can tell it may be only the sound of the silence itself. You hold your breath to listen. You are aware of the beating of your heart. The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens.

Advent is the name of that moment.”

Frederick Buechner

O come, o come, Emmanuel; and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, o Israel!

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’s tyranny.
From depths of Hell thy people save and give them victory o’er the grave

O come, thou Day-Spring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadows put to flight

Rejoice, rejoice; Emmanuel shall come to thee, o Israel!

This hymn is about 1200 years old and originally contained seven ‘antiphons’ or verses, one to be sung daily from 17th to 23rd of December. They contain a secret code – if you take the first letter of the second (Latin) word in each, it forms the acrostic ‘Ero Cras’ – ‘I shall be present tomorrow’

Take a while in contemplation to listen to the instrumental version below.

I was waiting for my dinner in a hotel restaurant on my way back from the UK last week. I couldn’t help hearing the conversation on the next table although I couldn’t actually seethe debaters without turning round. It was early evening, the office Christmas parties hadn’t yet arrived, so it was relatively quiet despite the inevitable background of a mixture of carols and the ringdingdingaling of the other inescapable seasonal songs. The subject of discussion (well it wasn’t really a discussion, being pretty much one-sided, with a single person doing all the talking) was ‘Christmas’.

‘Of course’, the pleased-with-itselfvoice proclaimed in a somewhat patronising tone ‘Christmas is really a Pagan festival’. I consider it to be a sign of my increasing maturity that I restrained myself from getting involved.

Good job I didn’t – because the person was wrong in one sense, but on reflection (sort of) right in another (not that he realised or intended it). The point he was trying to make was that our ‘Christmas’ celebrations are simply the Pagan winter solstice festival of ‘Yule’. This involved animal sacrifice and twelve days of revels and toasts to theNordic gods, with holly wreaths and mistletoe used as protection from evil spirits and to ensure fertility. These rituals were appropriated and eventually ‘Christianised’ by missionaries in the fifteenth century or so – as were many other Pagan and Celtic traditions and beliefs. Sincere pagans still celebrate Yule today – many thousands attendStonehenge or other ancient sites to watch the dawn break on December 21st. But Mr. Smug was misinformed – Christmas is Christmas, not Yule. The two are altogether different.

But then, I got to thinking, is that really true anymore? Has the process been reversed? Have we become ‘Pagans’ in our December activities? Actually, no. What we have really done is ‘Secularised and Commercialised’ this time of Incarnation, the Advent preparation for the Word becoming flesh. Have the Cards, Cake, Mince pies, Turkey and Ham, Santa,Sprouts, Tinsel, Holly, Chubby Robins in the snow, Glitter, Overindulgence and General Roistering taken over over our true celebration? What does Christmas 2024 mean to us?

I’m not saying that these examples of traditional celebration are bad in themselves – certainly not. I love a goodfeed as much as the next man, as my waistline demonstrates. But if we look behind all of the (often artificial) jollity, there is a simple but earthshattering message of God’s love. If that truth is not front and centre, we completely miss the meaning of the feast.

We must never forget: Christmas is Christ Mass, the Eucharistic (Thanksgiving) prayerful remembrance of the birth of our Saviour, Redeemer and friend, Jesus.

Without Him, there is nothing to celebrate.

With Him, the light of the world has come.

p.s. When you get to the point where the whole festivity thing overload gets just too much, do you sometimes wonder – did Scrooge have a point? Answers on a Cracker.

Compliments of the Season from the Reverend Grumpy.

Quote of the week

It’s not what you eat between Christmas and New Year that is the problem. It’s what you eat between New Year and Christmas.

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Praying Together 8th December 2024

Praying Together 8th December 2024

by | Dec 7, 2024 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

dark clouds

Meditations for the second Sunday in Advent

Prepare the way!

Depression comes over me whenever the Lord is preparing a larger blessing for my ministry; the cloud is black before it breaks, and overshadows before it yields its deluge of mercy. Depression has now become to me as a prophet in rough clothing, a John the Baptist, heralding the nearer coming of my Lord’s richer benison

Charles Spurgeon

Luke 3: 1 – 6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” ’

John the Baptist. Hermit. Prophet and Herald of the coming Kingdom of God- some say Elijah himself, returned as promised. Herod’s fascinating political prisoner. Herodias’ hated accuser. Fashion icon – he is, after all, the patron Saint of Tailors… Vegan. (Well possibly – ‘locusts’ could actually be Carob nuts, not insects!). He’s not the archetypal image of a holy man dressed up in fine temple clothes. It’s a wonder that he’s allowed out in public – the sort of person I imagine parents used to scare children and make them behave.

Make way! Make Way! He shouts. The equivalent of motorcycle outriders clearing the path through the crowds for a visiting Head of State. People wonder what on earth he’s talking about, but he has the unique ability to make people listen. The promised one, the Messiah is coming! Get ready. Once he has their attention, he gives them a right royal telling-off. Yes you– you breed of vipers! You’re for the high jump now! Say you’re sorry or else. You’ve a chance to start again, but it begins with you admitting that you need to repent, and then be ready – because your life is going to change forever.

And as for us – how do we respond? John announced the coming of the Messiah – our task is to prepare the way for people to realise that the Messiah has indeed now come, a realisation that starts with us. In our lives, in the things we say, in the things we do, to accept all that Jesus offers, and in following Him proclaim Him King of Kings. Make Way!

A prayer of St Theresa of Avila – take 5 minutes in the midst of the Christmas busyness to read a couple of times, slowly say it aloud, then close your eyes and allow it to speak to your life.

Let nothing disturb you,
let nothing frighten you,
all things will pass away.
God never changes;
patience obtains all things,
whoever has God lacks nothing.
God alone suffices.

Amen.

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An Advent Meditation

An Advent Meditation

by | Nov 30, 2024 | Pray Together, St Patrick's Church Kenmare News

Annunciation-Henry-Ossawa-Tanner

The Annunciation by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-37

On this Advent Sunday, it is good to look both backward and forward – remembering the past year, with its blessings and sadnesses, and in anticipation of those same ups and downs in the year to come. We live in the knowledge that whatever may befall, Jesus will be present to share our joys and comfort our hurt. He is present – ever-present – in many roles, each offering support and hope in all the changing scenes of life.

When she was a girl, I wonder what Mary hoped for? Peaceful home? Kind, loyal husband? Loving, healthy family?

What did the angel promise? A child. Son of the most High. Eternal Kingdom. Throne of his ancestor David. Son of God.

It’s a long way from her expectation – especially since she hasn’t a husband yet. But Mary does a remarkable thing. Instead of questioning the reality or likelihood of the angel’s predictions, she asks a simple question. How can this be? – and is told that the Holy Spirit of God will make this happen.

And she just says yes, ok then.

No ‘what ifs’. No ‘buts’. No discussion, no compromise. She knows that the one true God, her God, holds the future and she is content to walk with Him into the unknown and unexpected. The ultimate example of Faith.

She will indeed have a child, a loving husband, a family. Not quite as she expected, though. Her child will be the one who will be with her always , until the end of the age. As He is always present with Mary, so He is present with me, and with you, too.

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