Lent is a time of prayer, alms giving and fasting and in doing this it also gives us the opportunity to take stock. Life has a funny way of teaching us what truly matters at the end of the day. As time goes by, I grow in deeper awareness that each and every day is a gift. Alas, we often take our life and all those who journey with us for granted but once something barges in and thwarts what we consider normality, somehow the mists that surround our consciousness from appreciating each moment begin to lift and then we start to see life in all its stark beauty; beauty so fragile, so precious and so unique. Rather than heading to the depressing news headlines every single day reminding us of our world’s brokenness, of humanity’s greed and of the hold money has on many to the detriment of many others, let us opt to have our own daily positive headlines by outlining wonderful events which occur throughout our humdrum mundane days brimming with little divine tokens of goodness strewn along our life’s path which require our attentiveness to perceive them.
Gratitude is indeed a wonderful approach to our existence here on earth. We are here but once and hence it is indeed worth it to truly savour and enjoy the journey despite the hurdles, the heartaches, the betrayals, the hard work, the difficulties, the doubts, the lack of acknowledgement and the fears which will undoubtedly hamper us as we trudge along.
With gratitude we can choose to see beyond these apparent stumbling blocks on our way and rather decide to see them as opportunities to help us grow through what we go through making us more resilient and strong.
That is the secret before then allowing us to move forward, never getting stuck in a ‘what if?’ or ‘why me?’ attitude as that would drug us into a slippery slope leading to the treacherous vicious vortex of self-pity and self-doubt which suck the beauty out of life.
Life is God’s gift to us. What we make out of it, is our gift back to Him. Hence what sort of gift are we giving back to our Creator God who has loved us into being right from the moment of our conception, continues to love us as we gradually become what He dreams that we grow into and will forever love us beyond our last breath? The choice is in our hands and in the attitude we choose to live our life by – are we overcome by busyness or are we overwhelmed by the divine grace that surrounds us if we have eyes to see it daily? Opt wisely so that when the time comes for us to leave this earth, we would have truly lived life and not merely fleeting existed.
It seems as though we are in an in- between place between Lockdown and some further loosening of the Covid restrictions. Vaccination programmes are progressing. The Covid figures in the UK are steadily lower. It is likely more restrictions will be lifted on May 17th, and June 21, which may or may not make your life less restrictive. We may be able to come out of our houses and see people and places we haven’t seen for a long time. For some it will be a release. For others it might seem quite an anxious time. Walking out of the door, seeing other people – whether friends or strangers, sharing a pavement or shop or cafe space may seem a little daunting if we have been confined to home, garden or local spaces.
The period between Easter and Pentecost seems an interim, in-between period for us and the followers of Jesus in the Scriptures.
Living in 2021, we read the New Testament unfolding, knowing that although Jesus died, he was then resurrected and ascended to heaven. Then the Holy Spirit, the great Enabler, Inspirer and Courage-Maker came at Pentecost. The Apostles (or Disciples, in Fr Nicholas King’s translation notes, which includes a greater number of unnamed women and men who had followed Jesus), were inspired and emboldened to speak out, some to work miracles, preach, travel and build up small Christian communities, despite Roman occupation and fear of the Jewish authorities and of diseases like leprosy, one of the plagues of the time.
During the in- between period before the Ascension and Pentecost, there were a number of sightings of Jesus, but Jesus’ appearance had somehow changed so he was not usually immediately recognised. Once recognised, people could see he bore the signs of the cross and ate fish – so was not a ghost.
He could still teach and encourage them. Initially, Mary Magdalene had literally tried to hold onto him. He had discouraged that as he was no longer physically and constantly going to be in their lives: living and working with them, in the same way as before… They were going to have to continue the work and proclaim the Good News without his human presence alongside them. They huddled together inside an Upper Room before Pentecost as they were uncertain and afraid about what would happen next.
Jesus’ relationship with his Disciples changed to a deeper, spiritual one, at Pentecost and they began to face the outside world with confidence, hope and less anxiety.
I sometimes wonder how often they regretted not really understanding so many things he was trying to tell them about God before the Crucifixion, about the Eucharist, the meaning of his parables and so many other things. How frequently did Christ say he would “die” and about his plans for them and others and they didn’t understand him? This in- between time was a time when they could recognise him, regret what they hadn’t understood, be forgiven, reflect, regroup and recover before Pentecost.
Like the Disciples in this in- between time between Easter and, Pentecost and for us the hoped for further easing of Covid restrictions in May and June, some of us may be traumatised by recent events, bereaved, isolated and anxious about the future. We may also be relieved and hopeful for the further unlocking of Covid restrictions.
We may each feel all kinds of emotions which can vary depending on our experience, outlook and what has happened to us, our families and friends.
Like Mary Magdalene’s initial reaction, we may want to hold on to life as before. We may need to touch the reality of the new situation like Thomas who needed to experience seeing Jesus and touch the new reality for himself. Or, like Peter be given the chance to make amends and seek forgiveness for denying Jesus three times. He was now allowed to say he loved Jesus three times. We may have been left with betrayals, regrets, unkind words and deeds and other unfinished business that we have been unable to resolve because of Covid restrictions. We too are given another chance!
We too are given Pentecost strength and inspiration to go out and build up our and other people’s lives in whatever way we can.
We all have gifts that we can share by phone or card even if we remain restricted by our circumstances….
Transition times can be lonely, anxious and periods of struggle and self -reflection. They can also be powerful places to prepare for new possibilities, spiritual gifts and joy.
Some parts of our past life may have changed because of Covid, and we may be grieving for what we have lost and suffered. Other parts of the world are suffering deeply now. We all try to believe that this new reality as we move forward, through, and hopefully, come safely out of the Covid restrictions, may become a time of settling down, recovery and some hope for us all.
As part of our Eastertide service on 24th April 2021 we put together this 3 minute reflection which takes words from a Lavinia Byrne piece and pairs them with beautiful inspiring artwork by Elizabeth Wang (Radiant Light).
TIP: Watch on full screen (or on Youtube) for best effect.
Here is the full text of the Lavinia Byrne piece for your perusal:
‘Resurrection Love – look at my hands and my feet’ by Lavinia Byrne
Taken from ‘Just One Year, Prayer and Worship through the Christian Year’ edited by Timothy Radcliffe.
On Easter Sunday, Jesus offers us the gift of presence and the gift of peace.
We are to know him in the breaking of the bread. Jesus does not want to be insubstantial; he does not want to be a ghost.
Instead, he comes to us and invites us to touch him. He offers himself to us in ways that are intended to nourish and nurture us. He promises companionship.
So where are we to touch him in today’s world? Where are we to walk with him. Where are we to find his hands and feet? Where are we to offer him a piece of broiled fish and eat and drink in his presence?
Christianity is an embodied religion. It does not live in the pages of a book. Rather it invites us to engage with our world.
So are we to recognise the presence of Jesus whenever there are wounded hands and feet that turn to us for healing and wherever there is a road that we can walk down in his company?
The gift lies in recognising him when he presents himself in unexpected ways. We need to believe that we can touch him in our everyday lives. We need to understand that we can walk with him.
Our task is to seek out people who are needy and to turn our faces towards them rather than away from them. This is not difficult to do, for there are many wounded hands and feet that clamour for our attention. There are many hungry people who would love a bowl of fish, let alone a loaf of bread.
If Jesus is risen from the dead, then we need proof and we need evidence. How can we secure this in today’s world?
The Gospel seems to suggest that the way forward is to open our hearts in love. No one is to be excluded, no situation is beyond the reach of grace. By believing this and putting it into practice, we can become witnesses and carry the echo of his saving mission forwards into our world.
Christian faith is not a personal possession. It is always for sharing. So everything comes full circle. We can be his witnesses.
At our recent online Eastertide service on Saturday 24th April 2021, over twenty of us enjoyed reflecting together on the meaning of the Resurrection for each of us in our everyday lives, with the help of inspiring and thought-provoking readings, prayers, hymns and artwork.
Rather than publish the video of the Zoom screens (due to confidentiality issues) we have managed to compile a video matching the audio recording with the slides of the readings and reflections.
Why not watch this video (30 minutes) below for your own reflections.
(We apologise for occasional sticking in the Zoom audio segments -apparently this can be an issue with Zoom recordings):
It was great to share with around 50 people at our short reflective Advent Service on Saturday 12th December at 4pm via Zoom.
We considered the theme of ‘He Comes, He is Revealed’, as part of this time of Advent preparing for the coming of our Lord.
Opening with a reflection brought to us from the the Chapel at The Briery Retreat Centre (Ilkley), the service included various contributions from members of the committee and recordings of our excellent Diocesan choirs kindly supplied by the Diocese of Leeds Music Service.
One of our readers alerted me to this precious resource and I thought I would share it with you all.
The website says:
‘3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.’
‘Knowing that not everyone prays at the same pace, you have control over the pace of the retreat. After each screen, a Continue button will appear. Click it when you are ready to move on. If you are new to online prayer, the basic timing of the screens will guide you through the experience.’
Each retreat has a lovely picture accompanying it, and you can listen to the music audio if you want. The first screen prepares you by prompting you to pause and breathe.
It is followed on the next screen by a short passage from Scripture and then a brief narrative comment/reflection on the passage. Next come a couple of questions for your own reflection, and lastly a prayer.
Thanks are due to the Loyola Press for all their work to help us learn and reflect each day. There are also many other places you can access daily prayers and readings, some of which are mentioned on our page about mass andprayers online.
A friend shares her reflections on the day to day of self isolation in a down to earth way, ending with a poem.
Hopes, fears and thankfulness.
I have been
referring to Corona Virus as CV. It has just occurred to me that CV is also
short for Curriculum Vitae which is what we sometimes have to write when we
apply for a new job.
What might I
add to my imaginary CV CV about this period we are going through? What am I
learning about myself? How am I dealing with the worry and uncertainty? What do
I value in life? How are my family, friends and neighbours? What can I do? Can
I pray more?
Most importantly I need to remind myself this CV time is temporary and will pass.
I am currently having to stay at home like all of us, socially isolating ourselves from others: going outside only once a day maintaining the appropriate distance from other people. I am a younger older person who is usually fit. I am fortunate. I have a part time job which I love. I don’t live alone. I live with my husband. We have enough money to buy food and I thank God that we have our NHS so that any medical treatment we may need is free. We have a TV, computer, radio, books and I am knitting. Jigsaw puzzles are another distraction as are sudokus.
I try to ration the amount of news I listen to as it can get worrying, though at times it is also reassuring. I am so grateful to all NHS workers, supermarket and delivery staff, workers in Care and Nursing Homes, teachers looking after key worker and vulnerable children. The list is long…..
We have five
grandchildren but we haven’t had them in our house recently or gone to see them
or their parents because like everyone else’s families they too are socially
isolated. One granddaughter came to the door to deliver a card and her mother
had to remind her not to come in as she was running to hug us. A sad moment for
all of us but not a permanent situation. We know where our family is. They are
not missing. They are not refugees. They have houses. For some their work has
stopped temporarily or altered. They are well and if they get ill, will have
access to medical care. I worry about my mother who lives alone a hundred miles
away, but she is receiving support and we are in contact at least daily. My
sister sat in her garden with her briefly on Mother’s Day. We know these
restrictions won’t be for ever.
I have recently learnt video calling on my phone! So has my mother. So we can look at each other every day on the phone! I have listened and watched one grandchild practising her reading. I have read stories to another two looking at the pictures I show them and we can chat and sing.
I have been online and watched the Sunday Mass from Leeds Cathedral. I was concerned I might feel too much of a remote spectator and miss the companionship of fellow parishioners. Indeed I did miss them. But there were nearly two thousand of us “taking part” and I knew some of them were “there.” I joined in the hymns printed below the screen. I have long believed and realised that wanting Communion (Spiritual Communion) is as good as physically receiving it. Ability to receive daily Communion has been a privilege but if this is already not so easy with fewer priests, perhaps this is one way of becoming accustomed to it. Masses where we can go and physically participate in our Parishes will return.
One niece
living alone with three children is temporarily feeling overwhelmed with three
different sets of schoolwork coming through online. It is a pressure for
everyone: particularly where there may be alone and with one or no computer in
the house. Two of the family are a nurse and doctor and I worry particularly
for them that they will stay well. I have asked local Retired Sisters to pray
for them along with the long list of requests they have from others!. There are
daily examples of community singing and exercises on balconies in housing
complexes around the world. So many people are saying that in the future there
might be more positive community living appreciating our neighbours. Already on
my daily walk I am noticing passers-by are saying hello. The air seems clearer
as there are fewer cars and I can hear more birds sing! And I am appreciating
what we do have more than I did in the past. I took a lot of it for granted.
And there is more time to pray for those living with poverty, broken
relationships, injustice, war and illness.
One of the things I hope to be able to add to my CV CV is that I will have learned to live more in the present, rather than dwell too much in the past about what might have been or worry excessively about the future. I keep trying to appreciate the “now”, the spring flowers and trees outside, the good news I read about, the acts of kindness, the humorous cartoons and jokes people are sharing. I believe resilience is about holding the painful stuff in our lives alongside the positive in the “now.”
I have reread this week this poem by Helen Mallicoat printed on a weekly website www.NewPilgrimPath.iethat you can subscribe to for free if you wish. It has weekly poetry, music and reflections. You may be familiar with this poem already but I believe its message is particularly significant in CV times.
I AM by Helen Mallicoat
I was regretting the past And fearing the future… Suddenly my Lord was speaking: “MY NAME IS I AM.” He paused.
I waited. He continued, “When you live in the past, with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I was.
“When you live in the future, with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I will be.
“When you live in this moment, it is not hard. I am here.
If you would like to discuss how Growing Old Grace-fully might help support older people in your parish then please visit our contact page here and get in touch.
