I'm not usually much of a one for these, as experience, from my own lack of success, has taught me that they are, generally, very short-lived. However, this first week of 2018 has seen me toying with the idea. So here goes.
The first one, from a 'God' point of view, is that I would like to share thoughts that occur to me from the Sunday readings at Mass. I've been wanting to do this for ages but kept looking for a 'good' time to start. Well, maybe now is as good a time as any.
Father has started a new practice of giving us a sheet which includes reflections on, and full versions of, the first readings and the Gospel. As he talks on them, it's great to have the texts to follow.
Yesterday's were on the feast of The Epiphany and the first phrase to jump out at me, from the Gospel, was " and opening up their treasures".
Oh what a picture came into my mind. Having seen "Paddington 2" last week with grandson E and his mum, I saw the hidden treasure chest spring open with golden and silver jewels, precious stones of all kinds, overflowing and bursting out.
Oh, if only we would open up our own inner treasures to the world, I thought, to share them with each other, as God shares his treasures with us. What a gift that would be for the newborn child!
The second phrase was above that one in the text, but, as I looked up the page, it caught my eye. Herod is told that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, as "a leader, to shepherd his people, Israel".
What a beautiful image that is; not as a King, nor even, as a Ruler! No, he comes as a 'leader', who will 'shepherd' his people!
How much are we all looking for a 'true' leader, one who cares, one who loves, one who will bring justice, peace and consolation; a shepherd who would guide and guard us and save us when we stray!
It's amazing how words that we may have heard countless times before can suddenly come alive for us. They certainly did for me, yesterday evening.
