Reflections from Fr Kieran

The Holy Spirit: continuing God’s loving work

From time to time, as we read or listen to the Gospels, the words of Jesus can seem harsh, as in the Gospel that we have heard last Tuesday (Jn 16:5-11) where Jesus first tells us that, while He is going to the Father, He is giving us the Holy Spirit as the Advocate. Following this, Jesus then sounds a more gloomy tone when speaking of the Spirit as one showing the world how wrong it is about Jesus.

In reflecting on this, Fr Kieran looks to the story in Tuesday’s first reading of Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:22-34), and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in the life of their gaoler. And this same Spirit continues His loving work in our day.

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The Promise of Jesus – peace!

It is not unnatural or unusual to be anxious about a forthcoming event or the future in general. For some people, anxiety itself can be a terrible burden that they might carry through life. And if we speak with people who carry such a burden, the reality of it can seem like a physical weight to be carried, with each step made more difficult as the weight on the shoulders bears down.

In Fr Kieran’s reflection this week, he explores the words of Jesus when he tell us, “Peace I bequeath you, my peace I give you.” It would be all too easy to read, or hear, those words, feel comforted by them, and move on. However, this peace, this assurance, is not as we know it. To be sure, it will not easily relieve all anxiety but if we can truly take this words to heart, understand what Jesus is saying to us, then we can truly live in the unconditional love that Jesus has for each one of us, uniquely.

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The Good Shepherd – why Jesus is more than just a ‘good’ Shepherd

We use the terms ‘good’ and ‘fine’ interchangeably all the time. And perhaps, that risks us taking a somewhat complacent attitude to the word, ‘good’ when we read and hear stories of The Good Shepherd. While English can be a very expressive language, sometimes, when reading the Word of God, a look back at the original Greek tells a very different story, just as looking at the original Irish word for a town or village tells its own story, one that is lost in its English translation.

Fr Kieran takes us on that journey today and in doing so, opens up a new perspective on what Jesus means when He says, “I am the Good Shepherd.”

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Encounter, revelation, recognition!

Fr Kieran takes a look at last Sunday’s Gospel (Third Sunday of Easter – Lk 24:13-35) telling a story of an amazing encounter with which we are all so familiar, viz. the disciples meeting Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Our immediate reaction could well be, “How come they didn’t recognise Jesus?” and so Kieran goes further, to look at the different levels or senses of recognition. There can be a lot more than just recognising a face, and when we find ourselves deepening our relationship with another, then it requires another level of recognition, which is revelation. And it is from revelation that comes recognition. Recognition brings with it appreciation, loving the reality of what we recognise and which is revealed us to! God reveals Himself to us completely and so our response can only be that of the two disciples when they recognise him – joy!

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A light to the nation! The Friary on RTÉ for Easter.

Fr Kieran shares his thoughts on what was a very busy week at the friary for the Holy Week services. RTÉ asked the friars to host the national broadcast of the Good Friday and Holy Saturday / Easter Vigil services and it was a privilege to agree to their request. For Good Friday, their request was that it would be an outdoor service, at the foot of the Calvary and the weather didn’t disappoint! Read Kieran’s full update.

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On being ambitious for the higher gifts

In this reflection on the Gospel for the third week of Lent, Fr Kieran considers the text of St Matthew’s Gospel and the story about the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Mt 20:17-28). Their mother (we don’t know her name) makes a request of Jesus, that her sons be allowed to sit on his right and on his left. While this request upset the other apostles, Jesus reminded them (us!) what the true request must be, viz. to serve and not to be served.

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Lent – a time of personal retreat

As we commence the season of Lent, Fr Kieran encourages us to see this as a time of personal and communal retreat. A good outcome in most situations usually depends on good preparation and so it is with Lent and with our preparation for Easter. This time of retreat allows us to reflect on that ever-present gap between our present imperfect situation and the place God is calling us to be.

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Living in God’s creation – without risk?

In his latest reflection, Kieran explores the story of creation, especially the second chapter of Genesis that focuses almost totally on the creation of humanity, with Adam first, then followed by animals and then finally by Eve, whereas the first chapter places the creation of humanity in a list of other creatures, which appear to dwarf the human with their great variety and colour, even though the first humans are said to be made in the image and likeness of God! So if, as we hear frequently in the first chapter the phrase “And God saw that it was good”, implying a sense of order and harmony, we may legitimately ask, in the context of contemporary news, “Where do earthquakes come from?” In the mixed blessing that is human freedom, God places risk at the heart of his creation. Living is a risky business! We live in God’s creation where risk is not necessarily a bad thing. It keeps us on our toes, keeps us humble and ultimately demands trust in God’s providence, even when terrible earthquakes happen.

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On being salt of the earth; light to the world

On the fifth Sunday of Year A, Kieran connects last Sunday’s Gospel, the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:1-12), with this week’s Gospel (Mt 5:13-16), which opens with Jesus telling his disciples that they, “are the salt of the earth.” As Kieran points out, Jesus did not say that they “must become” but that they are! What an amazing message to hear – a compliment for sure, and in his homily, Kieran points out that this is “the natural state of the baptised person.” Affirming and all as this is, and as we read the words of Jesus more deeply, isn’t it really about how we are, or are meant to be, as a community? We aren’t meant to act alone; one example is that The Franciscans base their apostolate on life in fraternity. They go out as brothers to the world, not as loners! So maybe Kieran is challenging us to truly live up to that affirmation that we are the salt of the earth, light to the world.

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Homily for 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Christian Ethics and the Beatitudes

In Fr Kieran’s homily for the fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, he looks at the Sermon on the Mount, the eight beatitudes or blessings. We might benefit from a short introduction to the Catholic tradition of reflection on what it means to live a good life as a follower of Jesus. In other words, a peek at moral theology down through the years!

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