Week beginning Sunday, 26 July
seeing your life through the lens of the gospels
John 6:1-15
1 At the heart of this story we are told that Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed them. In our day this reminds us of the Eucharist, the bread of life with which Jesus feeds us. By sharing the bread and wine in the Eucharist we symbolise our unity with one another and with God. Can you recall a particular Eucharist that was especially nourishing for you? What was it that made it different?
2 Take, give thanks, distribute. The actions of Jesus also suggest an attitude to time, gifts and living. We take what we are given, give thanks, and use what we have. Have you found that having a grateful heart for what you have been given has made it easier for you to share with others?
3 From what seemed meagre and inadequate resources many were fed. When have you found that when you gratefully use what little resources you have the results are beyond your expectations?
4 Jesus chose to involve those around him in feeding the people. Have there been times when you have experienced benefits from calling on those around you to use their gifts to help with a task?
John Byrne OSA
Email john@orlagh.ie
Questions people ask
Q. I read your answer why the Church is against pre-marital sex. But is there any better way of preparing for eventual marriage than living together to find if the couple are compatible?
A. You seem to be blind to the fact that there is a much higher rate of break-up among couples who cohabited before marriage than among those who did not. It is very likely that couples who did not cohabit before marriage had stronger religious beliefs and developed a spirit of self-sacrifice in their relationship. These factors are hugely important in strengthening the bonds of a mature relationship.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Email silvesteroflynn@gmail.com
The Deep End
In Need of Friends
Someone once pointed out that the best time to make friends is before you need them. Paul’s passionate plea for unity in today’s Second Reading (Eph 4:1-6) is a reminder of that fact. Paul, of course, doesn’t package his plea in such self-serving terms. However, in its own street-wise fashion the remark is true. Unity is good, disunity is not. It’s as simple as that.
Paul uses language here that many people, particularly men perhaps, may find difficult to identify with in terms of relating to others. He pleads for ‘humility’, ‘gentleness’, ‘patience’ and that awful thing called ‘love’. In an age when, in the name of so-called entertainment, we are bombarded with images of just the opposite of these – anger, hate, violence and abuse – we might be pardoned for wondering which is the norm in life: humility or arrogance, gentleness or aggression, patience or frenzy, love or hate. A constant diet of grim actors on TV, and on the big screen, aping antisocial antics as if life consisted of never-ending rows fuelled by mindless jealousy can result in a build-up of bile.
So, whether we suffer from indigestion or not is up to us. Which do we want: to be hurtful or helpful, coarse or courteous, aggressive or friendly? Those who feed on anger, hate and violence are no strangers to fear. These take more out of us than they give. It’s the caring, the friendship and the love that makes life pleasant and fulfilling.
Ask any angry, jealous and friendless role model you can find.
Fr Tom Cahill SVD, Divine Word Missionaries, Donamon, Co Roscommon
Email tomcee@svdireland.com
