Trinity

Lord,
tonight Paul and I are at Exposition
at Aldergrove.

W – O – W ! ! !

It is so beautiful
and peaceful
and simple.

Two squat candles stand
on a small altar
sculpted out of granite.
The red sanctuary lamp is lit,
announcing the presence of My God.
Plain, arch window panes are framed
by white, sweeping, arch window frames.
The tiny chapel is filled
with gentle light,
a sense of peace
and a sense of prayer.

Paul and I kneel
before the Blessed Sacrament,
united in prayer.
I feel a strong sense of belonging
and I have a feeling
that here is a Trinity
of God, Paul and Claire.
I feel that, in our marriage vows,
three have somehow become one,
united,
in a bond of love.

I feel that my faith journey
and Paul’s faith journey
are inextricably linked
and I feel that,
as we kneel in prayer,
in the blessed presence of Our God,
God unites the three of us
in a special way
in love.

© Claire Murray

Welcome!

On a cold, windy,
dark spring evening,
Paul and I enter the Church of Saint Joseph
in Glenavy.

As I look up
at the Body of Christ on the altar,
I feel a wave of welcome
wash over me.

I kneel in prayer
and I sense Jesus speaking gently
to everyone present, saying,

“In your weakness,
in your brokenness,
in your incompleteness,
you are welcome.

“In your hopelessness,
in your darkness,
in your depression,
you are welcome.

“In your suffering,
in your agony,
in your forsakenness,
you are welcome.

“In your anxiety,
in your frustration,
in your weariness,
you are welcome.

“In your grief,
in your loneliness,
in your emptiness,
you are welcome.

“In your remorse,
in your regret,
in your turmoil,
you are welcome.”

As I rest, in prayer,
in this haven of welcome and peace
I sense Jesus say to me,
“Claire,
I’m glad you came!”

© Claire Murray