Ash Wednesday

"Remember man that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return'.

This certainly keeps me focused on my sojourner status!

Sojourner

I love the word 'sojourner' and often think of myself as a sojourner in the world. It says in the dictionary it means "a person who is dwelling in a place for a 'little while'" and that's what I am, aren't I? In the light of eternity the time we spend on earth, 70, 80, 90 years, is very short, though of course when one is young it sometimes seems like forever. But as I get older and realise I will probably die in the next 10 years or so, thinking of myself as a sojourner reminds me that this earth is not my Home, so I shouldn't get too settled and comfortable. It's merely a place I am staying 'for a little while'

Word Love.

Words mean a lot to me. Words move me more than music or paintings, though I can love them too. But poetry, or a line from a beloved book are very precious to me. Once a poem cured me of flu! This particular day I was recovering from a bad dose of flu and feeling wretched when I picked up 'Much Ado about Nothing' and read - for the first time - the minstrel's song: It is about how men can't be trusted and contains the lines :

But sigh not so
And let them go
And be ye blithe and bonny,
Converting all your sighs of woe
To Hey nonny nonny.

They made me laugh so much - yes I have a wierd sense of humour - that I immediately felt better and next day was fully recovered!

It's because of my love of words that I love the Bible. I have favourite verses, favourite chapters, favoutite books. I read from the bible every day and am never disappointed. My favourite chapter of all is Romans 12. I once read nothing else for 9 months. To me it is Christianity summed up. I love it.

"Lord I am not worthy hat you should enter under my roof but only say the words and my soul shall be healed."

I love this prayer that we now say at Mass just before Communion. I know lots of people don't, Alex thinks it's stupid and doesn't make sense but I get such joy from it. It is more subtle than the earlier response we used to say and I love it because it was the reply of a powerful but truly humble man; a Centurian. I think the man's true humility permeates this prayer. It is not a prayer made up by a committee or even an anonymous cleric we know nothing about; we know about this man and know how astonishing such a humble reply by a man of a Master Race to an apparently itinerant Jewish peasant.

I also love it because it has been the traditional response by Catholics for centuries and I am growing in my understanding that the Catholic Church is a Church of Traditions. It has a history and deep, deep roots. Better people than us have developed these roots and preserved them for us. I am learning to embrace them.

Building a Relationship.

I once read that being a Catholic is not keeping a set of rules but having a love affair with Jesus! So how do I have a relationship with someone who I can't see or hear? First I had to get to know Him...so I prayed. A friend said to me "I haven't got time to pray." What would she have thought if I said "I don't have time to shower"? Whatever's important you find time for and I'm a Catholic aren't I? I'm building a relationship so I need to communicate.

So I begin to pray. I start with just 5 mins, a couple of favourite prayers and a few seconds silent awareness that I'm in the presence of Love. The relationship has begun. Alleleuia!

What if?

What if I prayed every hour during the day?

What if I made sure I did at least one good deed every day?

What if I whispered the name of Jesus first thing every morning and last thing every night?

What if I saw praying for priests as the essential part of my day?

What if I put God's service FIRST in my life?

What if I truly loved my neighbour?

What if I was constantly aware that God made me to know him, love him and serve him in this life and to be happy with him forever in the next?