Today is the feast
of Our Lady of the Rosary
and at morning Mass I enjoy the treat
of hearing a Gospel story that I love –
the story of The Annunciation.
Usually I love to hear part
where Our Lady says “Yes!” to God.
But today a totally different phrase
grabs my attention –
“Nothing is impossible for God.”

I find myself thinking about Paul
who has been suffering from chest pain
for eighteen long weeks.
Paul’s pain persists
despite visits to doctors, consultants
and physios.
And as weeks of pain pass into months
with no respite
I sense despair.

Today’s reading offers hope –
“Nothing is impossible for God.”

I think of the woman who haemorrhaged
for twelve years
and the man who had been blind from birth.
Despite being ill for many years,
Jesus had touched and healed
both of these people.

Mass continues
and I pray for Paul
with a renewed sense of hope
because nothing is impossible
for God.

©  Claire Murray, 7th October 2016

At Vigil Mass
Fr Thomas reads a gospel story
which, for me,
contains the saddest words
that Jesus ever spoke.
It was the story of the poor man called Lazarus
who died at the gates
of an un-named rich man.

Lazarus goes to heaven
but the rich man doesn’t.
The rich man pleads,
begging for Lazarus to be allowed
to return from the dead
and warn the rich man’s brothers
so that they may repent
of their evil ways.

The rich man’s request is denied.
Jesus goes on to explain why
and I find His explanation
heart-breaking.
Jesus explains
that if people won’t repent
after hearing God’s word
from Moses and the prophets
they won’t change their ways,
even if someone was to rise from the dead.

These words fill me with sadness.
Jesus is preparing
to sacrifice His own life
by enduring a tortuous death
but His words tell me
that Jesus is fully aware
that, for some people,
nothing that He ever does
will be enough to convince them
to change their ways.

Jesus is fully aware that,
for some people,
his agonizing death will be in  vain.

Isn’t that just incredibly sad?

©  Claire Murray, 18th September 2016

Tonight I go to evening Mass
at St Peter’s the Rock
for the Month’s Mind
of Monseigneur John Murphy.

As I examine my conscience
before praying The Confiteor
my mind fills with memories
of many recent instances
when I have acted in a harsh manner
at home and at work –
times when I have not answered
the Christian call
to love others.

I feel deeply saddened, ashamed
and inadequate.

At the Gospel
we hear the story of the time
when Jesus challenged his disciples
to feed over five thousand people.
Jesus’ closest friends,
His disciples,
were incredulous –
they only had five loaves and two fish –
surely this was asking the impossible?

Yet the little that the disciples had
proved to be more than sufficient
when placed into Jesus’ hands.
And in fact there was actually food left over!

And as I stand listening to this Gospel
I find that I now feel undaunted
by the challenges that I face.
I feel convinced
that even my paltry, meagre best
when presented in faith to Jesus,
is transformed
so that it becomes more than enough
for any situation
that I may find myself in.

And as I stand listening to the Gospel
at the Month’s Mind
of Monseigneur John Murphy
I no longer feel inadequate –
I feel empowered.

©  Claire Murray, 16 September 2016
(Matthew 14:13-21)