unseen

.................we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient; but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4. 18

smoke screen

One of my weaknesses is to have a cigar last thing at night. I used to smoke heavily but feel pretty good about having given up but I just hang on to one vestige of that past pleasure. A while back I went to Romania. I was staying with a family and I thought it wisest not to smoke in front of anyone. On the last evening I was taken to the station and while we waited for a train I thought I am going to have a smoke. The people seeing me off were young Christians on the evangelical end of the church. They started to give me a hard time quoting the body being the temple of the Holy Spirit. I happened to look behind me on the platform and there was one of the saddest sites. There was a pile of rags encasing a poor human form barely recognisable as human.

As the self righteous diatribe went on I wanted to ask them how they could ignore Jesus in the form of this sad man on this railway platform while ‘straining at gnats’ about my smoking. I don’t think my cigar smoking will keep me out of Heaven but ignoring the poor and hungry will. Matthew 25.35

Slaughter of the Innocents

I saw this card on the notice board in my local Catholic Church. The message comes from a place that might be difficult culturally and theologically for some. I do, however, think abortion is wrong. Yesterday was the memorial day for the Slaughter of the Innocents by Herod.

In my own life I have had long periods of illness which were at times horrendous and I would not wish on anyone. Doubtless you have had your own health struggles. However, if someone had asked me before I came on earth ‘as you are going to suffer badly in your life wouldn’t it be better if you did not live?’ looking back I would be appalled. We all have the option to learn and use our suffering. I know of a girl, born in poverty, who has no arms who was abandoned by her parents. She is a joyous girl, without bitterness, who plans to study psychology to help other children.

Also, if a child is an inconvenience to one set of parents it may not be to another. I am going to pick up a kitten tonight and give it a home. The kittens were unexpected and the owners of the mother cat have no room for two more cats. However, I and someone else will not see these lives as a nuisance but as a blessing.

For thou didst form my inward part, thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139.13

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Batteries

I like to take photographs and I recently had a camera which uses lithium batteries. To be honest I don't like them. I prefer the common or garden double a batteries ( the ones above.) The reason for this is that you can get them anywhere so if your batteries are drained you can just buy some aa ones at any shop or stall. Also you can buy rechargeable batteries which take a few hours to recharge ( as in the photo.)

You can feel a prayer analogy coming on. You are right. You can pray a quick 'crisis prayer' anywhere and God will be there. However, better is to make sure your batteries ie your soul is well charged by regular periods of sustained prayer.

Don't try and do God's work ( or anyone else's ) on empty batteries!!!

Money and misery

I was talking to my neighbour just now about the news story about the man who did not trust banks. He was moving his life savings, £80,000, over 100,000 dollars, and put it on his car roof in plastic bags. Yes, he did, drove off and the money came off and went missing. My neighbour said his best option was to kill himself which I thought was a sad take on the matter. It is terrible that money can mean more than life itself to some people.

Our Lord warns us that money can be stolen. Store your treasure in heaven is the alternative.

I would really like to know how that man now assesses his life now. Does he count his blessings and think he can still smell a rose and can still enjoy a sunset? Who knows?

St John Chrysostom says this, 'Sojourn with the rich and see how plentiful are their sorrows, how bitter their complaints.'

I remember asking another neighbour of mine about the people who lived in the flat above me, what were they like. He said three words, 'money and misery.'

Post restante

The photo may seem a bit mundane. Let me explain. I was in the local priory when I noticed the pile of letters. They were for a priest, Fr Brendan, who died two years ago. He was a dear man and much loved. It was rather poignant but reminded me as a believer, a ‘saint’, he is still with the rest of us saints waiting to take his place in eternity. He is not in some far off place detached from us. He is also still considered as being part of the religious community he served and was a member of. Each year on his year’s mind a photo of him is placed on the altar.

Perhaps amongst the community of the saints death is a rather meaningless dividing line.

St John Chrysostom called the body of believers the faithful throughout the whole world, those who are, and those who have been and those who will be.

A Time To Dance

Though I am wary sometimes of the motives of ‘inter faith dialogue’ there are times when I feel an empathy with other faiths. Yesterday, I went to the HIndu Dawali celebration in Trafalgar Square. A band came on stage and got everyone dancing in a circle. It was an overcast day but the rhythm and music and the sheer enthusiasm of those there to just have a good time was impressive and seemed to link us all momentarily. The MC said that Dawali was about recognising the past and looking forward to the good things of the future. There was nothing liturgical or sectarian and the dancers just embraced the moment. We seemed to be joined by our common humanity. Enjoying music and dance became a common bond.

Sadly on the radio was news of the Catholics in Iraq being killed in their own church.

When in the 17th Century the Portuguese came into contact with the Hindu Indians on the coast, as they opened up trade routes, they thought the Indians had already been converted to Christianity. They thought their gentleness was a result of Christian belief.

Though Hinduism with its very different symbols, an elephant headed god, may seem remote to us our own scripture says there is a time to weep and a time to laugh and a time to mourn and a time to dance. Ecclesiastese 3.4