The Centre Holds

The gospel presents Jesus as the guide in life, the ‘way, truth and life‘. The Christian centre is the person of Christ. Our work for Jesus and our love for people, no matter what our calling in life, flow from this. Mother Teresa was once asked why she did what she did, and she simply said ‘for Jesus’. This centre always holds, it cannot be unhinged. It is a deeply personal relationship: we are led by Jesus ‘one by one’, known by name, not as one of a group. We follow him as one we know, not a stranger.

We study his life and times, getting to know the places and events of his life, we become familiar with the gospels and get to know him in the heart. Prayer is the way of keeping our centre of conviction and motivation strong. Freedom grows and we begin to find him everywhere.

Different types of people/ spiritualities stress different aspects of  Jesus as a sign          

The Eastern approach to Jesus is very much the ‘way’; while the African is the ‘life’.
The European stress is the ‘truth’. In Europe we need to rediscover also the joy and vibrancy of the African and Latin American expressions of faith, and also the presence of God in all life’ s moods and journeys of the Indian and Eastern traditions. We can get so caught up in small or even big truths and doctrines that we miss other centres of faith. All faith needs the balanced approach to Jesus – way, truth and life. Recall people who guided you well in your life. Pray for them.

Jesus, our way – guide me in life;
                    Jesus, our truth –  teach me your meaning of life;
  Jesus, our life – love me always.

Fr Donal Neary, S.J

Follow in Love

The first big moment of vocation is baptism. The anointing of chrism at baptism might be called the anointing for vocation.  The baptismal vocation is for witness, love and service. This is expressed in ways in which people live out their baptism in married life, single life – and within the single life, maybe religious life or priesthood.

Our active witness is to the life and the values of Jesus in our lives. Teaching is not itself a vocation, for example, but the way we teach is a way of living out our vocation. It is the same with many of the helping professions and employments. Being a good neighbour can be a living out of our vocation.

We witness to love in marriage, in family, extended family, and in friendship. Any love is a sharing in the love of God. In the moments of unselfish love in any relationship we are living out our vocation. When we love, we are doing God’s will!

We witness to service in the wider world in our care for the poor and in welcoming the stranger: the widow, the orphan, the immigrant – in fact anybody needy.

In a place of silence, let the words ‘Come, follow me’

echo in your mind and heart.

Lord, be with me as I offer myself in partnership with you

to work in your world

and in whatever capacity you think best for me.

Donal Neary SJ

Hearts uplifted

I have met many people who found this story really helped at times when they were down, when there were disappointments in life, when they encountered illness and many of the crosses of life. They believed in him after he had vanished, having broken bread with them. He had accompanied them in a dark journey of life.

Jesus went to them – he did not await their visit. Somehow he knew that people of his ‘set’ were in darkness and maybe despair. This is the call of the church – to be with us in prayer, community and service always, and especially for what Pope Francis calls ‘the peripheries of life’. Most of us spend some time there, and appreciate the help of love and faith.

Then they went to tell the story of how they were changed. Faith grows through sharing it.  A father said, ‘At my child’s first communion, my faith became stronger’.

They told their story of Jesus in the here and now, sometimes reminiscing on what things were once like in Galilee. Every journey of life can be an Emmaus journey where we meet the Lord. Every altar can be the altar of Emmaus, and indeed every meal can be a time of friendship, care and nourishment for body and for soul.

Notice this week where the Lord is present in love, care, creation, an uplift of joy, prayer and the Eucharist.

Lord, lift my hope and my faith in your presence as the disciples found their hearts burning when they listened to you.

Donal Neary SJ

Thanks, Thomas!

Thomas … thanks!   For bringing honesty into our faith.

He didn’t pretend that he was better than he was. He began by wanting proof and ended by being glad of faith. He is the patron saint of transitions and steps in faith. Faith is a journey. He is the saint of faith in our times. The community was the place he found faith, having lost it when he tried to go it alone. Then he came back to the community of faith and went on a journey of life that took him to martyrdom in India.

He also found Christ in wanting to touch his wounds. We find God when we enter into his wounds in the wounds of our world.

In the faith community of the church we can keep our faith. Our faith grows here too. Thomas looked for faith by wanting to touch the wounds of Jesus. When Jesus invited him to do so, he found he didn’t need to. He found faith in being present with the wounded Christ and discovered there his faith in the glory of Christ.     We can do the same. What was said to Thomas is said to us all: ‘You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

Recall those who have strengthened your faith and be grateful;

picture each person and pray for each of them.

Lord, I believe, strengthen my belief.

Donal Neary SJ