Today’s gospel story describes how Jesus transforms the despair and sorrow of a widow by raising her only son from death.

Today we have two stories with happy endings,

two stories of hope, two stories of restoring the dead to life.

We might be tempted to say – wouldn’t it be great if we could restore the dead to life? But is that asking a bit too much.

We may not be able to raise the dead

But we can certainly bring hope, bring peace, bring a smile,

We can visit people, we can bring them the Word of God, and Eucharist.

Yesterday I brought 10 people communion for the First Friday, this is something that is very important to people who are housebound.

One man told me he hadn’t seen anybody since I was there a month ago.

There are many people in our parish who would love a visit, many who would love a lift to mass, many who would love someone to bring them communion every day or every week.

This is something that is not just about the priest surely – this is something that the whole Christian community can be involved. Everyone here can visit a neighbor, a fellow parishioner, bring them a smile, bring them the mass leaflet, read the Word of God to them.

New Ministers will bring communion

So we cannot raise the dead – BUT

- we can bring life , we can bring light to darkness

Comfort to sadness, hope to despair, company to the lonely

By bringing ourselves, by bringing the word of God, and by bringing communion

I would love to see a parish Visiting group? Visit and chat to those at home and those in hospital.

Where do we look for hope?

Where do we hear words of hope, encouragement

Where do I speak them? Share them

Pressures, sadness, death, bleakness, depression, suicide, abortion

In the middle of it all we can hear Gods word “A great prophet has appeared and visited his people –

Everyone was filled with Awe

We need to be filled with awe, days like today can get us out for a walk and be filled with the awe of Gods presence, the awe of Gods creation

Then we can bring that awe to those we meet, to those we visit.

Believe it or not, I turned around twice before I had the courage to walk up their drive-way. I began thinking of all kinds of reasons not to call; ’Maybe they wanted to be left alone, – maybe they would think we were busy-bodies, maybe someone else would have already welcomed them’.

I was shocked at how difficult it was to do something so simple, that in pre celtic-tiger Ireland would have just been the natural neighbourly thing to do.

Brian Lacey

Our Father,
Who Art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done
On Earth,
As it is in Heaven.
Give us this day,
Our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those
Who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Hail Mary

Death is never easy. Death brings with it struggle, emotion and huge loss. Death is unavoidable despite a real temptation to deny this reality. We have all felt the very fragile and vulnerable truth that is very real when we experience a loved ones death. The great Christian writer C.S. Lewis, describes this very human emotion. “What’s wrong with the world, to make it so flat, shabby, worn out looking? No one told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness…and at other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between me and the world.”

Bereavement is felt in the hearts of so many people in all our communities. There is no quick fix in dealing with loss. Life simply never is the same again as a result of a loved ones death. We can continue, engage in the routine but we can never fully “Get Over It” nor perhaps do we really want to. Every year I celebrate the life and death of many parishioners. I am very taken by the goodness, compassion and generosity expressed by extended family, neighbours and friends who turn out in force at funeral time. However, there is an air of unreality about the initial noise and chat that fills the early days of bereavement. The reality is that soon, despite the outside continuing as normal, silence, loneliness and inner turmoil defines the experience of loss from the inside.

November is a time to be sensitive to the bereavement stories that we all have. It is important to remember our losses. Paddy Kavanagh poetically named his bereavement story, “Every old man I see reminds me of my Father”. It is in listening and acknowledging our losses that we can in time befriend and live with the void that is the pain of human loss. C.S. Lewis again aptly describes, “The tears that now freely flows reminds me of the love we once shared”.

The story of Christian hope tells us for all who have gone before us life has changed but not ended. However perhaps the most powerful demonstration of Christ’s solidarity with all who are bereaved was when he lost his best friend Lazarus, simply and profoundly we are told  “Jesus Wept”.

Paddy Byrne

Fr. Paddy Byrne has a weekly column in the Nationalist Newspapers.

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained
and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television
- and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s”.. More “I’m sorrys” …

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.

Erma Bombeck