10 th Sunday – Year A

5 th June 2005

S: Good morning today we’re on about how God loves everyone regardless of their faults and failings, and how we need to be very careful about making judgements about anybody.

B: Our word of life for today comes from Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus says, “ it is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick”. That reminds me of a phrase I heard recently – The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints”.

S: Isn’t that a very good phrase, because often in the past it was thought that you had to be perfect to go to Church and though I’m sure that nobody was ever told that they weren’t welcome in church – I’m also sure that many have felt unwelcome – I have spoken to them, people who feel that Church isn’t the place for them. This is sad, and I also feel that we can never do enough to let people know that they are always welcome in Church. In fact Bishop Murray in his recent Pastoral on the Eucharist called “Thirsting for God” brings up this very topic – he says that the early Church understood hospitality as a fundamental Christian virtue.

B: And, I guess it’s sad that people can feel someway judged – and maybe they have good reason to feel that way. But we all need to remind ourselves never to judge anyone – in fact we cannot judge anyone unless we’ve walked in their shoes, and I guess if we were more willing to do that – we’d be more understanding. We also need to be more forgiving of ourselves because I guess that’s what helps us in forgiving others and in living in harmony with each other.

S: Our reflection this morning is called “The Healing Prayer”

Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, go back into my memory.

Every hurt that has ever been done to me … Heal that hurt.

Every hurt that I have ever caused to another person … Heal that hurt.

All the relationships that have been damaged

In my whole life that I am not aware of … Heal those relationships.

But Lord, if there is anything that I need to do … if I need to

Go to a person because he or she is still suffering from my hand,

Bring to my awareness that person.

I choose to forgive, and I ask to be forgiven.

Remove whatever bitterness may be in my heart, Lord,

And fill the empty spaces with your love.

B: Just before we go we’d like to ask your prayers and good wishes for Chris O’ Donnell who will be ordained this afternoon in Adare. It’s a great day for Adare and the O’ Donnell family. We hope that you all have a great day, and that Chris has a long and happy ministry in the Priesthood here in Limerick.

Also we would like to wish all the students beginning the Junior and Leaving Certificate exams on Wednesday the very best of luck. We are thinking of you.

S: You’ve been listening to "Just a thought" with Seamus Madigan...

B: and Brenda Cribbin. We can be contacted by e-mail on smadigan@limerickdiocese.org. If you would like your own copy of this reflection you can download it by clicking on www.limerickdiocese.org

S: We look forward to your company again next week, in the meantime, take care.

S & B: BYEEE

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