First Night - a great Gathering

Well, our course got off to a great start with nearly twenty people braving the frost and cold to take part. The theme for the evening was "Faith in a Time of Crisis". Fr. Joseph Cullen led the group. Fr. Tim Murphy, Parish Priest, joined us for the evening.

We began by looking at the title and programme. Starting out on Ash Wed we are conscious of the fact that Lent is a journey which reachs its' destination at the fire of Easter and the celebration of our baptism. While ashes don't make a fire, its possible too that there are some embers in there which could help the fire to blaze up again.

We reflected on how faith is belief in God and the teachings of Jesus and that of the church about Jesus. But it also a relationship with God. This is because what happens in us in the area of faith is not just to do with our minds, agreeing or giving assent to revealed truths. It affects us at the very root of our being - it reaches into the whole person at a very deep level.

That is why, if anything happens to challenge or seriously hurt our faith, the impact can be very significant and difficult to resolve.

We are living through a time of unprecedented crisis for the church around the world and more specifically for the church in here Ireland. The fact of the abuse of children by some men in holy orders and religious life has shocked and stunned many of us. The news of the suffering of more, in state institutions and places of detention, compounds the sense of tragedy and pain that we, as people who belong to this church, are feeling right now. We are praying that out of the miasma of destructive forces in play at the present time, will come real change and assurances that such will not happen again. But most of all that those who have suffered and are suffering as a result of these actions will find justice, acceptance and inner peace.

We went on to consider the experience of the early Christian communities as depicted on the Book of Revelations. Exiled on Patmos, John, a significant figure in the preaching of the gospel in the latter part of the 1st century CE, wrote 7 "letters" to the them, praising and ecouraging them for their goodness and correcting and reproving them for the failures. These failures are documented clearly. They range from being lukewarm and unmotivated in living the christian life, to a variety of sexual, social and sinful deeds. Each letter is a call to repentance and a plea to listen to what the Spirit is saying to them.

One very important instruction John gives is that they identify and support that which remains of good in their communities. The spiritual core remains intact regardless of the words and deeds of those whose teaching or behaviour has damaged relationships and failed to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to heart. They must support one another, encourage and strenghten those whose faith may waver, and recognise that the Spirit of God is always present in a church which is both sinful and holy.

We then considered how this scripture might teach us and shed light on our present experiences. Firstly we must let the call to repentance, genuine change in our hearts, and renewed commitment to Christ become real in word and in fact. Secondly we can draw wisdom and reassurance that the spiritual core of our faith and journey in discipleship is still intact. Regardless of the actions or words of those who damage the community, the Spirit is present as guide and helper. Only openness to the Spirit and renewed commitment to Christ will bring a resolution to the present suffering of all. Those who have been injured and damaged must be recognised and restored. All of this applies to the whole church for we are that Church and Christ is our Head.

It is in times of crisis and upheaval in our personal lives that Christ is most present. So it is with the church to whom he promised that he will be with us always until the end of time.

The evening concluded with a look at the topic of next week's session which is "Baptism - the Church is our Church.