WE MAY forget our own gifts and the many splendoured thing we are. Sight, hearing, smell and touch come to us as in-built talents often too little valued until illness or advanced years diminish them or deprive us totally of their potency and joy.
In the magical city of the tribes we are led to pray in the much loved Dominican Church of the Claddagh, a proud village that for so long claimed its own king. Here Dominic and Catherine and Martin de Porres are still invoked. A grateful people do not forget the gifted Fr Tom Burke and his generous efforts to protect his people in Famine days.
My generous and competent guide was Mrs Margaret O'Reilly. She proudly led me to her local Salthill Church (never without people of all ages coming to pray and to be refreshed in spirit). Here is a miniature Lenten garden where we reflect in stillness and listen to the Word of Scripture and to the health-giving challenge of Sacrament. "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts . . . Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation." Rock and plant and flower and running water recall for us our springtime journey as we seek amendment, peace and joy and go our pilgrim way to the blessed mountain of a grace-filled Easter.
The varied plants and flowers remind us that we are all different with diverse talents and the garden of God's world has space for all. The crystal-clear, flowing water speaks of Jacob's Well and Christ thirsting for the faith of the woman of Samaria more than for water to drink as He sat wearied from fatigue. We recall Baptism and the abiding call to a life of beauty, truth and lasting fidelity. "Grow where you are planted." That is the challenge as we remember the cleansing water, the spotless robe, and the flaming candle that were symbols of our sacrament as we started our pilgrim journey in the garden of God's world.
The footprints marked on the pilgrim path speak of the once-made journey. Some are only now beginning. Some are well advanced while many are close to journey's end. All of us are called to a moment of stillness and to make space in the mind for the ultimate reality that we need most to remember, and yet are most likely to forget. "Lord, that I may see!" can be our daily Lenten plea. Each of us is called to awaken from our death-like lethargy. Christ can work Lazarus-like miracles for us as he calls this Lent, "Arise! Come forth to the light and to the fullness of life."
The stepping stones of our pathway recall to reconciliation, searching for truth, repentance and to whole-hearted response. "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening!"
As we find delight in the awakening earth we look to our mode of life. So often we are not present to God or really present to our deepest self. As nature's drama once again unfolds we reflect upon the seasons of our years. The sower goes out in endless searching love. What soil do we offer in our world-weary hearts for the Gospel seed? As we travel towards Easter will we join the Mother of Christ with her generous "Yes!", her unrestricted "Fiat" in response to God's call. Annunciation Day calls to the deepest places of our awakening hearts.
The fragrant shrubs and perfumed flowers remind us of the challenge from St Paul to be the good odour of Christ. Lent asks us to comfort and to heal. Now is the season to be in daily living both restoring salt and light amid destructive darkness. As we resolve anew in calm of our Lenten morning we recall another pilgrim confused and astray in another garden. Augustine heard the children amid the trees as they played their innocent games. "Take up and read" was their playtime chorus. He opened St Paul's letters and began his wondrous journey into the truth that sets us free. "Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening."
Let us pray:
". . . God our Father, your Son Jesus Christ spoke peace to our sinful world and brought us the gift of reconciliation by the suffering and death he accepted. Teach us, the people who bear His name, to follow the example He gave us. May our faith and hope and our charity turn hatred to love, conflict to peace and death to Eternal Life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."