18 th March, 2007

Fourth Sunday of Lent - Year C

S: Good morning - and a very happy Mothers Day to all the mothers listening this morning. Today we thank God for our mothers and the lucky among us can express our gratitude and appreciation in person today.

B: And, of course a very Happy St. Patrick’s weekend. Hope that you enjoyed the festivities yesterday and that you will continue to enjoy the weekend. Now back to Mother’s Day, while some may be lucky to express their gratitude and appreciation in person today, others might send cards, flowers or make a phone call, while the lot of others may be a graveside prayer or a happy memory triggered by today.

S: Our word of life for today comes from Luke’s Gospel and the story of the prodigal Son - "My son you are with me always and all I have is yours". This gospel story has been sometimes called the best story in the world’s literature. Its appeal is really universal - that God’s love and forgiveness is there for all, be it from an image of God as father or as mother.

B: Mothers day does bring us in touch with the wonder of being alive we can be thankful today for the gift of life and in particular for the qualities of our personalities, which we got from God through our mother - so thanks to all the mums and this reflection called a Mothers Love by Helen Steiner Rice is especially for you

S: A Mother's love is something that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining, it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle we cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence of God's tender guiding hand.

B: You’ve been listening to “Just a thought” with Brenda Cribbin

S: and Seamus Madigan. We can be contacted through the Limerick Diocesan Offices at Henry Street. You can also download your own copy of this reflection by clicking on limerickdiocese.org

B: We look forward to your company again next week, so take care...

S & B: Bye !!!!!!!

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