24 th September, 2006

25 th Sunday - Year B

S: Good morning - we hear a lot of stories about competitiveness in sport and how sometimes this can turn so nasty. I think it stems from people wanting to be the best and the greatest at any cost and maybe this is in our nature but the message of Jesus is different.

B: Today’s word of life comes from Marks Gospel where we see the disciples arguing about which of them is the greatest, and Jesus chooses a little child - someone not thought of very highly in society at that time - and he says “Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.”

Jesus knew that there is something within us all that is competitive:

what children got the best results,

who has the most important job,

who had the most tiring day,

everything can become competitive in our lives all in a vain attempt at being No. 1

S: In our word of life, Jesus reminds us that to be great means to serve and so we pray for a humble heart, and that we would approach people, as people on an equal footing to ourselves.

B: Our reflection this morning comes from a Wedding booklet – it’s a different version of the prayer of the newly married couple and if anything, it draws out the great respect we must have for one another.

Help us never to hurt and never to grieve one another.

Help us to share all our work, all our hopes

all our dreams, all our successes and all our failures,

all our sorrows and all your joys.

Help us to have no secrets from one another,

so that we may be truly one.

Keep us always true to one another,

and grant that all the years ahead may draw

us closer to one another.

Grant that nothing may ever come between us

and nothing may ever make us drift apart.

This we ask for your love’s sake,

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

S: Before we go, we would just like to let you know that the autumn edition of “Eolas” from the Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre is available. It contains details of a variety of programmes from: Personal Faith Development to Liturgy, from Youth Ministry to Parish Development and Family Ministry. For a copy of the Eolas booklet you can contract the Pastoral Centre at 061 400133 or check your Church notice boards for more details.

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

© Copyright Diocese of Limerick 1991-2007 - Disclaimer