Today’s Gospel
is the story of the Pharisee
and the tax collector
who both go to the temple
to “pray”.

While the tax collector
prays from the heart,
acknowledging his faults
and begging for mercy,
the Pharisee indulges
in singing his own praises
and condemning the tax collector
whom he regards
with disdain.

It’s oh, so clear to us,
the listeners,
to see who leaves the temple
at peace with God.

But it’s also oh, so easy
to condemn the Pharisee
in the same superior way
that he condemned
the tax collector.

In our ordinary, daily lives
we can also be easily tempted,
like the Pharisee,
to compare ourselves,
very favourably
with others.

Today’s Gospel challenges us
to do better than that.
It challenges us
to exchange
that comfortable sense
of self-righteousness
for humility.

In my attitude towards others,
who have I most closely resembled today –
the Pharisee
or the tax collector?

© Claire Murray, 26th March 2022
(Luke 18: 9-14)

The disciples ask Jesus
a question –
“Who will be the greatest
in the kingdom of Heaven?”
And I sense their wondering
as they wait to hear
Jesus’s answer.

Will it be
the greatest teacher,
the greatest healer
or the one who casts out
the most devils?

Will it be one
who raises the dead to life
or a great king
who governs his people fairly?

Will it be someone
who works endlessly
with the poor
or perhaps a man
with tremendous wisdom?

Hmmm …
which will it be?

Before answering
Jesus calls over
a wee child
whom He then presents
to His disciples
before explaining –
the greatest in Heaven
is someone who is as humble
as this youngster.

A sense of astonishment
among Jesus’s disciples
as a sad realisation dawns –
that simply by posing this question
they have demonstrated
that none of them could possibly be
the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.

A challenge to each of us
to strive in life
to be as trusting
as a child
and as humble
as Jesus Himself.
A tall order, surely.
Aren’t we blessed
to have Jesus by our side
to help us
every step of the way?

(c) Claire Murray

In today’s Gospel
Jesus explains His purpose in life
to Herod –
“ … for this I came into the world –
to bear testimony to the truth.”
I find myself asking God,
“What about me, Lord?
What’s my purpose?”

I sense an answer from My God
that is instant, surprising
and delightful.
“Claire,
you are like the salmon.
You came from Me
and your purpose is
to find your way back to Me
during your time
on Earth.”

Immediately,
I think about the salmon
who return to the source
of the River Roe,
high up in the Sperrins
in springtime.

From wild Atlantic to Lough Foyle,
upstream to Limavady and Dungiven,
further upstream to Dungiven,
and yet further upsteam
to the shallow, gravelly river beds
of the small stream
near the Mass Rock
at Glenshane.

Salmon who journey
thousands of miles,
drawn inexplicably
to the exact, remote spot
in the Sperrins
where life for them began.

I give thanks to My God
for that still, quiet,
irresistible voice
deep within me
that draws me
closer to Him.
and I pray that, like the salmon,
I too may fulfil my purpose
and find my way
back my origin
during my time here
on Earth.

© Claire Murray, 30th October 2022
(John, 18: 33-37)

Mammy used to tell stories
when she worked
in our local library.
Every Tuesday afternoon
she would gather around her
all of the children,
then sit down
and read them a story.

The children used to sit
at Mammy’s feet
wide-eyed
and listening intently
while, just around the corner …
all of the adults,
apparently browsing through books
listened as well!

And sure why not?
Doesn’t everyone love
a good story?

This pops into my head
when I read this morning
about Jesus
by the shores of Lake Genasareth.

Simon Peter’s boat
is moored just off-shore
after a fruitless night
of fishing
while nearby
his disappointed crew of fishermen
wash out their nets.
Getting into Simon Peter’s boat,
Jesus begins to teach the crowd.

I wonder about the fishermen.

Washing their nets
by the water’s edge
they are perfectly positioned
to hear every word
that Jesus says.
And I wonder whether,
under the guise of working
the fishermen, too, listen-in
to all the Jesus has to say
(just like the adults
in the library)?

And sure why not?
Doesn’t everyone love
a good story?

You see, not only was Jesus
a gifted teacher,
he was a master storyteller
as well!

© Claire Murray 3rd July 2022
(Luke 5: 1-11)

Jesus said,
“Whatever you ask the Father
in My name,
He will give you.”

And so I pray
for the most important intention
that I have today.
In fact, it’s probably
the most important intention
that I will ever have –
I pray for those
who are dear to me
who have lost their faith.

I pray that Almighty God,
for whom nothing is impossible
and who was able to touch the heart
of even the most hardened opponent,
Saint Paul,
will touch their hearts
so that they may come to believe
in Jesus
and follow Jesus.
Then,
they may have the opportunity
to spend eternity
in peace and happiness
in heaven.

A prayer to save the souls
of people I love –
surely this is the most important prayer
that I’ll ever say?

© Claire Murray, 29th May 2022
John 16:23

Today
as I pray the Rosary
I’m particularly struck
by a Luminous mystery –
the baptism of Our Lord.

Here we find Jesus,
the son of God,
approaching John the Baptist
to ask for baptism.
Jesus, the son of God,
humbly bows his head
as John, the wild holy man
of the wilderness,
pours the waters of the Jordan
over him.

No pomp.
No ceremony.
No sense of status.
And absolutely no sense of
“Do you know who I am?”

Instead …
deep humility.

And as I ponder this mystery
I sense a challenge
to walk humbly with My God
in my life …
just as Jesus did.

© Claire Murray, 20th August 2021

(Matthew 3: 13-17 & Micah 6:8)

Simon Peter
was a great friend
to Jesus
and a great apostle.
He was the first
to acclaim Jesus
as the Son of God.
Jesus in turn
held Peter in great esteem.

And yet,
only minutes after pronouncing,
“You are Peter
and on this rock
I will build my church”
Jesus had occasion
to chastise Peter,
describing him as
a stumbling block,
an obstacle in His path.

You see Peter
tried to dissuade Jesus
from undergoing
all of the suffering
that lay ahead of Jesus –
suffering that was central
to God’s plan for us.

Despite the best of intentions
Peter was proving to be
a stumbling block
for Jesus
and His church.

Perhaps each of us
in this church
that is founded on Peter –
from the lay person
those in the highest echelons –
need to ask ourselves
what our role is –
by our actions
are we helping to bring about
God’s kingdom on earth
or are we
despite our best intentions
proving to be
an obstacle
in Jesus’s path?

(Matthew 16: 17-23)

© Claire Murray, 13th August 2021