11 th March, 2007

Third Sunday of Lent - Year C

S: Good morning, today is the third Sunday of Lent and of course we’re conscious that next Saturday we have St. Patrick’s Day – or should we say St. Patrick’s weekend. However don’t forget that Mother’s Day is also next weekend, on Sunday!

B: Now that we’re in the middle of Lent it might be a good time to pay attention to the signposts and warning signs of life’s journey. The St. Patrick’s Day parade could symbolise for us our own journey through life – certainly the good parts of it, and it gives us the opportunity to ask the question, “Where are we heading? Who is leading our parade? And is there a fear that we might follow someone else’s parade? Is it time to stop the parade, the show, and ask where do we want to go and what kind of Ireland do we want to leave behind us?

S: That reminds me Brenda of some of the thoughts expressed by Bishop Murray in his Lenten Pastoral for 2007 called “NEVER ALONE”. What kind of Ireland do we live in, do we want to leave behind us. Spokespeople for the tourist industry report that our traditional warmth has in some way died down - that service is now ‘without a smile” and it reminded me of an incident recently where young people were asked to name places where their voice isn’t heard, and I was surprised to hear one of the young people say “shops” - where there a couple of people serving and they just keep talking to each other and never acknowledge the customer with a smile or a thank you. I guess that we’ve all had the experience of this one small change that has happened in our society - and which could be reverted quite easily Just by bringing the smile back into service.

B: Our reflection today is based on the words of St Patrick;

Christ be with us, Christ within us,

Christ behind us, Christ before us.

In the path we take, Christ walk with us,

On the road we tread, Christ go before us.

Be a lamp for our steps, and a beacon for our eyes,

that we may know through change and growth

the presence of the One who has said,

I am with you always. Amen.

S: You’ve been listening to “Just a thought” with Seamus Madigan

B: and Brenda Cribbin. 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

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

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

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