1 As we head towards Holy Week....

I'd like to share with you a poem by Steve Stockman that I've always found particularly striking at this time of year...

do not remind me

lord do not help me to remember
that which i have heard so often
because reminding me would soften the wonder.
instead help me see it afresh
like i have never seen it before
let me look at it for the first time
not forewarned about the next part
help me believe that he might not die
that the disciples might rescue him
that pilate might be strong
that the crowds might shout "crucify barabas".
let me hear the hammer come down
let me hear the sound of nail through flesh
let me hear the cry of pain
let me sense the distress
let me watch as they put the cross in the ground
let me look on his face contorted with pain
ugly with the agony and the torture
of suffocation one moment
and then the crippling ache of pushing himself up on those nails to breathe
let me see the sky go black
let me hear him cry
"father forgive them for they no not what they do"
"it is finished"
let me watch as they carry him off dead.
surely dead and without hope of recovery.
let me feel that despair, that loss, that tragedy.
let me weep and mourn
for hope that's murdered
and dreams that lie in a tomb.

then lord, without reminding me
without indication of the wonder
take me to that tomb
let me be surprised and confused
at the stone rolled away
let me be angry at the thought of his body stolen
let me go inside to look, to seek some clue
and then let me turn to see him
let me not believe it for a moment
and then give me the full hurricane force of belief
let me jump and shout and scream for joy
let my heart leap and my soul go running off to highest heaven
with a little glimpse of what blinds the saints
do not remind me but let me experience it for the first time
sin forgiven, redemption bought, freedom won
the amazing wonder of the gospel that calls me a child of god
no lord do not remind me
for that would be as dull as knowing the end of the movie
having read the last page of the book
show me for the first time and let it change my life

4 Bug in blog...

I got this in an email the other day, entitled "Bug in email..."
Thought I'd share!



I suppose its a bit like the Lionel Rich-Tea one that was going about a few years ago...



... or the "amazing picture of a sea horse"...

0 Lenten Reflections on EWTN

For all of you who have EWTN, check out the Lenten reflections that they will have on every Sunday throughout Lent. They've been produced by a friend of mine, who runs a media apostolate called St Brendan's Communications. These programmes promise to be very good, and this Sunday, the reflection will be given by Fr Owen Gorman, who is a fantastic priest. Check them out! The times for your area should be given on the EWTN website.