24 th June, 2007

The Birth of St. John the Baptist - Year C

S: Good morning - this weekend we celebrate the feast of St John the Baptist and isn’t it funny that when we think of John the Baptist we think immediately of his beheading rather than his birth.

B: Our word of life for today comes from Luke’s Gospel, “the time came for Elizabeth to have her child & she said ‘he is to be called John”. If you remember from the scriptures there was a bit of a fuss made because he wasn’t called after his father Zechariah, as was the custom. Instead he was called John - a name which means ‘God’s gift’

S: John was an intensely Spiritual person who if you like acted as a signpost – the one who introduces and then goes quietly away. John signposts us towards Jesus and in that sense he is truly a gift from God and today we give thanks for all those who have signposted our way towards God, they are God’s gifts to us.

B: In this morning’s reflection, we thank God for his many gift’s to us and we hear of the practical benefit of positive thinking as we grow old! It’s called I'm Fine Thank You

S: There is nothing the matter with me
I'm as healthy as can be.
I have arthritis in both my knees
And when I talk, I talk with a wheeze,
My pulse is weak and my blood is thin,
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.

B: Arch supports I have for my feet,
Or I wouldn't be able to go on the street.
Sleep is denied me night after night,
But every morning I find I'm all right,
My memory is failing, my head's in a spin
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.

S: The moral is this - as my tale I unfold,
That for you and me who are growing old,
It's better to say, "I'm fine" with a grin,
Than to let folks know the shape we're in.

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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