Education in Faith Sunday 2008: Reflection after Communion

09 Jul 2009

One of the following may be used as a reflection after Communion:

1. Something to think about:

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness…
you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, the pangs of starvation…
you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church liturgy without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death…you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep…
you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and loose coins in a dish somewhere… you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married to each other…
you are a very rare individual.

If you can read this message…
you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

All-powerful and ever-living God, direct your love that is within us, that our efforts in the name of your Son may bring mankind to unity and peace.

2. Encouragement

If with pleasure you are viewing
Any work that I am doing,
If you like me or you love me
Tell me now.
Don’t withhold your approbation
Till the Father makes oration,
And I lie with snowy lilies o’er my brow.
For no matter how you shout it,
I won’t care much about it
I won’t see how many teardrops you have shed.
If you think some praise is due me,
Now is the time to slip it to me,
For I cannot read my tombstone,
When I’m dead.
More than fame and more than money,
Is the comment warm and sunny,
Is the hearty warm approval of a friend.
For it gives to life a savour
And it makes me stronger, braver,
And it gives me spirit to the end.
If I earn your praise bestow it.
If you like me let me know it.
Let the words of encouragement be said.
Do not wait till life is over
And I’m underneath the clover.
For I cannot read my tombstone
When I’m dead!

Family Life and Prayer Centre, Knock Shrine.

3. Achainní a rinne príomhoide meánscoile i Meiriceá ar a cuid múinteoirí, i litir a chuir sí chucu.

A mhúinteoir,
Mhair mé i dtrí champa géibhinne agus chonaic mo shúile rudaí nár chóir do aon súil a fheiceáil.
Thóg innealtóirí léannta seomraí gáis.
Chuir dochtúirí cáilithe gasúir chun báis le nimh.
Mharaigh banaltraí oilte naíonáin bheaga.
Chuir céimithe ollscoile mná agus linbh chun báis le gunnaí agus le tine.
Mar sin tá amhras orm faoin oideachas.
Táim ag iarraidh oraibh mar sin cabhrú le bhur scoláirí a bheith daonna. Ná lig do bhur dteagasc dúnmharfóirí, arrachtaigh, ná léithéid Eichman léannta a chruthú.

Ní fiú tada léitheoireacht, scríbhneoireacht ná matamaitic muna ndéanann siad gasúir níos daonna.

4. Ná coinnigh na duanta molta faoi do chairde agat féin nó go mbíonn siad marbh;
Ná scríobh iad ar a gcuid leacracha uaighe.
Ach abair leat anois iad.