The weather
here is beautiful, the sun is
shining, a slight breeze is rippling the
trees, everyone out on the streets are smiling, dressed in their Summer finery,
the flowers are breathtaking everywhere;
all they need is a pleasant drink in the evening and they are content,
that is until the slugs come along! Oh,
and Andy Murray won at Wimbledon on Sunday, so all is well!
But our God
is always there for us, no matter what the weather, no matter how we feel, no
matter whether the flowers bloom or not. As a friend of mine from the USA used
to say: “that is awesome!” So it is.
What a God – in a changing world, we can
always think of him and there he is! We can always put out our hand, so to speak, and it is held securely, lovingly,
protectively. We have only to call out his name, as the Carpenters, I think,
used to sing, and he is there. Always on our side, always ready to lift us up
when we fall, always THERE. And that, surely, is eternal Summer or Spring
or Autumn or even, perhaps Winter – it depends what your favourite season is.St. Paul summed it up perfectly, as he seemed to have a habit of doing:
“In him we live, and
move, and have our being!”
For this
month, I suggest that you take the lyrics of
The Deer’s Cry by Shaun Davey from The Pilgrim which is, of course, the
Lorica of St. Patrick – his breastplate.
Think about the wisdom they
contain as you listen to the words on the DVD.
I arise today through the
strength of Heaven....I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me....
If you
really want a crie du coeur or a cry from the heart, the last two lines
make one of the best prayers I know:
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me;
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me! I arise today...
Oh yes,
that, if lived, would make our world perfect inside and outside. So let’s during this holiday time, do what
the Celts always did so well in times gone by: live happily in the atmosphere
of the God who is always on our side.
That’s
better than a soak in the sun even with 30 factor sunscreen on, or even a pina
colada under a gently waving palm beside a turquoise strip of water surrounded
by gleaming white sand. You don’t
believe me? Try it!
P.S . It’s a
whole lot cheaper too!
REPEAT OF THE EVER-POPULAR SCHOOL
HYMN TO OUR LADY AT THE START OF A HOLIDAY.
O Causa Nostrae Laetitiae (Cause of our joy)
Mother of
all that is pure and glad, all that is bright and blest,As we have taken our toil to thee, so we will take our rest.
Take thou and bless our holiday, O causa nostrae laetitiae!
Airs that are soft, and a cloudless sky, we would owe all to thee
Speak to thy Son as thou did of old, that feast day in Galilee.
Tell him our needs in thine own sweet way, O causa nostrae laetitiae!
Be with us Mother, from morn till eve, thou and thy blessed Son;
Keep us from all that is grief to you, till the weeks and the months are run
Thine be we still, from day to day, O causa nostrae laetitiae!
Keep us in all that is blest of God, give us the joys that endure,
Lips that have smiles and words for all, hearts that are kind and pure;
so will thou be by night and day, O causa nostrae laetitiae!
Come when earth’s tears and smiles are o’er, mother of peace and love
Show to us He who is joy to earth, and joy to the Hosts above;
So shall we laugh in the latter day, o causa nostrae laetitiae!
Have a good
holiday!
Listen to the Holiday Hymn O Causa Nostrae Laetitiae in Latin
No comments:
Post a Comment