I’m offering up today’s morning Mass
for something that’s troubling me.
Despite my best efforts
I’m getting frequently distracted.
As Fr Kevin raises the host
at the consecration
I find myself asking,
“Lord,
what am I to do?”

I sense a gentle reply
from a God of tremendous patience,
“Claire,
can you leave this one with me?”
And I do just that.
Any time during Mass
that my troubles distract me
I simply remind myself
that this matter
is in God’s hands now
and I feel at peace.

It’s bedtime now
and this feeling of peace persists.
I have left my troubles
in the hands of My God
and right now
I needn’t feel troubled
at all.

© Claire Murray, 21st May 2017

Sometimes I struggle to forgive
someone who hurts me.
It can be hard
but at least I can make a good attempt
at forgiveness.

But when someone hurts or rejects
my husband
or my children
it’s a whole different ball game.
I feel their pain acutely,
a deep sense of resentment
which smoulders,
sometimes for decades.
Part of me wants to nurse my anger,
to say, “I’ll never forgive him/her!”

Today I’m struggling to come to terms
with someone hurting one of my children.
I’m aware
of the Christian call to forgive.
But I feel
that I can’t even begin to forgive
the person who hurt my child.
I feel like a total hypocrite,
which troubles me.

I meet Mammy and Daddy for lunch
and while we’re chatting
about something totally different,
Mammy presents the perfect solution
in a nutshell –
“I pray for people I don’t like.”

As I drive home
I reckon that I feel ready
to pray for the person
who hurt my child.
It’s only a first step
but I feel convinced that, in time,
forgiveness will follow.

Now, I feel at peace.

© Claire Murray, 20th May 2017

Today has been a busy day,
one of those “so much to do,
so little time” days.
It started at 6 am.
Now it’s 8.30 pm
and I’m still rushing!

I find myself, unexpectedly,
with time to spare
and I call into the Adoration convent
on the Falls Road.

The Rosary is being said
slowly, rhythmically
and I sit down
to join in with the prayers.
All of my concerns,
all of my rushing about,
appear to have been left at the door
and I feel that,
for the first time today,
I am at peace.

I have a sense that, this evening,
My God is urging me
to go slowly
and to remember that,
in His hands,
everything is possible.

And as evening prayer murmurs
in this grace-filled room
I simply sit still.

Later as I drive home, I reflect
that 30 minutes in the Adoration convent
has been the perfect antidote
to all of the busy-ness of today.

© Claire Murray, 16th May 2017

When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus
to the temple,
a man called Simeon prophesied
that Jesus would be responsible
for the rise and fall of many.
We are told that Mary pondered these things
in her heart.

Sometimes it strikes me
that I should strive
to be more like Mary,
pondering things in my heart
instead of speaking them aloud.
I remember words spoken at Clonard
by Brother David Jardine –
“When someone annoys me,
I say, ‘I bless you, I bless you, I bless you.
And I say it as many times
as it takes.’”

Lord,
in this busy, challenging, unforgiving world,
there are many times
when I don’t see eye to eye with people.
Help me, when I feel annoyed,
to react in Christian way,
so that I ponder and I bless
instead of spreading discontent.
Give me a wee nudge
and remind me that,
in that situation,
you want me to be
a channel of your peace.

© Claire Murray, 14th April 2017

I’m moving to a new parish
and this is my final Mass
with friends
from Hannahstown folk group.
Only three of us can attend –
Tina, Frances and me.

We sing melodies and harmonies
to the guitar and the whistle
and we play quiet instrumental
Irish airs.

Then, at Communion,
we sing “As I Kneel Before You”
and the congregation joins in –
singing harmony!
For the first time in my life
listening to music
gives me goose bumps.

All too quickly
Mass ends
and it’s time for farewells
in the church car park.

Thank you, Lord,
for the gift of music
and the gift of friends
who have offered so much
support and encouragement
over the years
and with whom,
for the first time in my life,
I experienced goose bumps.

© Claire Murray, 9th July 2017