Fr John McCarthy
Jesus said:
“The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice.”
We’re exhausted – as individuals and as a society. Stress, anxiety, overwork and overwhelm are everywhere. Speaking to those in the medical profession lately I was told that these are the most common complaints leading to exhaustion and sick leave.
As a friend put it, we are constantly “on” from the first to last moments of the day. So many seemingly urgent things clamour for our attention. Even in quieter moments we tend to the pings and alerts on our mobile phone, or other gadgets, and end up scrolling for more time than we would like.
The Bible speaks of listening to His voice – in the Old Testament there is a reference to “the still small voice of God” (1 Kings 19:12).
But this requires silence – and this takes conscious effort on our part to find a time and a place where we will set the phone aside to even simply ‘be’.
In these days of spring and early summer, nature beckons. Let’s find a walk, a hill, mountain, forest, or beach where we can find “alone time.” It’s hard to explain but it’s worth the effort to do this as afterwards we once more feel renewed, refreshed, and ready to attend to tasks. As we offload our worries and concerns in prayer, we feel our bodies, chests and shoulders lighten.
In that quiet time, we gain perspective and clarity. It is where our minds take a rest from so much false urgency. We can reflect on the pattern and direction of our lives and see where God has been at work all along “in the music of what happens” (Seamus Heaney).
There the Voice of God – like tuning in – becomes sharper and clearer. It is the voice of reassurance, of loving invitation, of challenge and call, of forgiveness, freedom, and healing – and our unique mission.
God has been and is continuously speaking to you and me. Allow yourself to be surprised at what you may hear. Take the time.
“O, that TODAY you would listen to His voice” (Psalm 94).
Let’s pray for our young people in our parish communities discerning where Christ may be calling them to follow and serve Him in priesthood or religious life this Vocations Sunday.
Ceathrú Domhanch den Cháisc
Glaoch chun éisteacht go ciúin atá igceist inniu.
Mairimíd uile i saol ana bhroidiúil na laetheanta seo – gach lá lán go barra agus fiú, ansan féin, nuair a bhíonn neomat againn, seans gur ar an nguthán a bheidhmíd.
Ar uairibh, mothaímíd tuirse atá níos mó ná tuirse fisiciúil – tuirse spride más maith leat.
Bíonn ammantaí ann gur bhreá linn imeacht uaigh ar fad.
Ag a leithéid sin de neomat, is minic sinn ag dul ag siubhal ar shliabh nó fá bhruach na h-abhann nó isteach sa Choill agus le sin, déantar athnuachtaint orainn ann.
Agus ar a leithéid d’uairibh airímíd an guth laistig ag glaoch orainn agus ag tabhairt nod dúinn is ag cur spec orainn féachaint cad é an treo ina bhfuilimíd ag dul, cá bhfuil trial ár saol ag imeacht.
Glaotar an “Guth Beag Ciúin” ar seo sa bhíobla agus sin guth grámhar Dé sa chiúineas. Ach is diocair do alán againn é chloisint inniu, go h-áirithe an ghlúinn óg leis an fotharam uile atá timpeal orainn ag lorg ár gcluas de shíor, an idirlinn is an guthán póca lena chuid téacsanna is apps is feadaíol orainn.
Ta an oiread sin fotharaim inniu go bhfuil baol ann nách n’airímíd a chéile a thuile agus sinn
beag-bean ar éileamh a chéile dá bharr.
Mura a bhfuil ciúineas conas a chloisfear Dia?
Is glaoch chun éisteacht atá againn inniu mar sin. Glaoch chun an fón is an remote do chur
síos agus an teilifís is na gadgets go léir a mhucha tamall.
Bheith inár stad neomat agus éisteacht le guth Dé – sa chiúineas, cosúil le bheith ag faire amach
don cuach na laetheanta seo. Glaonn an file Séamus Heaney “Ceol gach rud ag tárlú” ar seo.
Am chun ríomh ar cad tá ó Dhia uainne anois agus ón lá seo ar aghaidh.
Ar thárla se riabh duit gur glaodh amach t’ainm oscionn gach éinne eile timpeal ort – i lár an tslua?
Bhuel, tá guth Dé mar sin.
Inniu tá Dia ag glaoch ar ainm gach duine againn oscionn an tslua – ní mór dúinn éisteacht.
Mar sin:-
Tá glaoite orainn inniu am a dhéanamh chun éisteacht.
• Ar dtúis am le éisteacht le daoine eile
• Ar an dara dul síos éisteacht leis an guth beag istig inár gcoinsíos i gciúineas ár gcroí.
• Agus sa triú áit éisteacht le pé rud atá da rá ag Dia linn – an fotharam go léir timpeal
orainn do mhúcha chun a ghuth do chloisint.
Deir Críost linn “ Na caoire a éisteann liom, éisteann siad le mo ghuth”. Ní mór an ciúineas nó an thost chun é sin do dhéanamh.
Tóg am chun paidireoireacht sa chiúineas inniu – bfhéidir go mbeadh ionadh ort cad deir an
Tiarna leat.
Idirghuí:
• Guímíd inniu ar a son siúd inár bparóiste go mbfhéidir go bhfuil Dia ag glaoch orthu chun
na sagartóireachta nó an Bheatha Rialta.
• Guímid ach go háirithe go mbeidh an ghlúinn óg inár scoilleanna is coláistí, go mbí siad oscailte chun an chosáin ar a threoiraíon Dia iad agus chun a thoil do dhéanamh.
Fr John is Vocations Director in the Diocese of Cloyne