THE NAZARETH SYNDROME
The Gospels tell us that Jesus did not work miracles
in his own home town. The reason was that his relatives
and neighbours did not believe in him. Jesus himself
said that a prophet is not with out honour except
in his native place. It's a situation which we might
call the Nazareth Syndrome.
It's strange that the citizens of Nazareth failed
to see in their carpenter anything divine. We could
ask, ''Didn't they see his halo? Didn't they experience
his gentle yet transforming care, his great love,
his profound wisdom or the force of his prayerfulness.
The townsfolk of Nazareth come under constant attack
because of their blindness. How could they have missed
someone so extraordinary, so divine?" The reason
is easy to understand if we see how the Nazareth Syndrome
operates.
For Jesus' neighbours, the extraordinary was extraordinary
and the commonplace was commonplace. Jesus, the carpenter
who lives down the street, was common. Because he
was common - just one of the folks - he couldn't be
special, he couldn't be the Messiah - and he couldn't
have a halo.
But where do halos come from? Halos are rings of
golden light that we tend to selectively put around
holy people and things. We invest in the sacred with
special importance; we set it aside, and then we believe
in it. Graced with our self-imposed halo, we have
"faith" in it, and as a result sometimes
miracles flow from it. Since we are always in search
of what is special, we tend to bypass the daily marvels
of our lives. What if all of creation were sacred?
Could we paint a halo around the whole earth?
If we are to "pray always," it will be
necessary to take up our brushes and gold paint and
go about our lives making halos! We should try to
see a halo around the stranger at the door, our marriage
partner, our children or parents. Try it and see the
marvellous and miraculous difference it makes in your
life. God has created a world of walls where the sacred
and ordinary are nicely separated. Rather, God has
invested the wonder of the divine presence into all
creation. God is indeed among us.
Without such a special halo-making kit, however,
we find it difficult to pray always. And without such
a special vision of what is common-yet-sacred, the
Nazareth Syndrome will prevent our lives from overflowing
with miracles.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday
evening at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. Newcomers
very welcome. This is an opportunity to experiment
with a new form of prayer, especially if you find
that your present methods are unsatisfactory.
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s
collection of £1792.00. Many thanks.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends
of:
Billy Farrell, Carlton Drive.
Patrick Devlin, London, formerly
of Strabane.
Hugh Vaughan, Derry, formerly of
Butcher Street. May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
James Conway, Frances Molloy,
Mary Murphy, James Sharkey,
Brendan Kelly, Kathleen Nolan,
Sheila McHugh, Mary Elliott,
Frank McNamee, Roseanne Hill,
Fr. James Clerkin, Fr. John Farren.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
Last year the diocese published a
prayer card with the names of all the Derry diocesan
priests. Many of you have these cards and every day
a specific priest is named. This week we ask you to
pray for:
Fr. Colum Clerkin PP, Ballinascreen,
25th May.
Fr. Roland Colhoun Adm, Long Tower, 26th May.
Fr. Michael Collins PP, Limavady, 27th May.
Fr. Oliver Crilly PP, Greenlough, 28th May.
Fr. Patrick Crilly PP, Desertmartin, 29th May.
Fr. Brendan Crowley CC, Malin, 30th May.
Most Rev. Edward Daly, 31st May.
BLESSING OF GRAVES
The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing
of the Graves will take place in this parish on Sunday
15th June at 3.00pm.
PARISH DRAW
The winners of the Parish Draw for
the month of May are:
£50.00 Sean McGrane
£50.00 P & B Grimley
£50.00 Brenda Hume
£100.00 Briedge Conway
£100.00 Margaret McGavigan
£100.00 Noleen Gallagher
£100.00 Pauline Kelly
£100.00 Eileen McRory
£200.00 Denis Porter
£1000.00 V & P Hannigan
PAYMENTS BY CHEQUE
The Bank have reminded us that all payments made
to the parish by cheque (for Parish Savings, Parish
Draw, Sunday and Special Collections etc.) must be
made payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception.
NOTICES FOR PARISH BULLETIN
In order to facilitate printing we ask that all notices
and anniversaries for the parish bulletin are either
given to the sacristan or left at the parish office
by Wednesday morning at the latest.
CONGRATUALTIONS
Congratulations to the boys and girls who were confirmed
last Sunday afternoon by Bishop Hegarty and also to
their parents, families, teachers and school Principals.
TAIZE PRAYER AND CHANT
Join us for an hour of meditative Taize Prayer and
Chant on Wednesday 28th May in the Day Chapel, St.
Mary's Church, Melmount from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Everyone
welcome.
FR. JAMES CLERKIN AND FR. JOHN FARREN
This week we pray for the anniversaries of two of
our former Parish Priests, Fr. James Clerkin whose
9th anniversary is 22nd May and Fr. John Farren whose
11th anniversary is 23rd May. May they rest in peace.
ONE DAY RETREAT
There will be a one day retreat in Lough Derg on
Tuesday 27th May. Bus departs from Mulvey House at
8.00am. Fare £30.00. For bookings telephone
02871886753.
LEGION OF MARY
Legion of Mary meets each Thursday morning after
Mass at 10.30am in the Church Conference Room. Work
consists of Rosary promotion in the parish, also visitation
of residential nursing homes in town and Lifford hospital.
New members welcome. Contact Margaret Harte 02871883159.
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
The next Parish Pastoral Council meeting will take
place on Wednesday 28th May at 8.00pm.
LOURDES HOSPITALITE COLLECTION
The Annual Lourdes Hospitalite collection
which was taken up at all the Masses last weekend
amounted to £479.00. Many thanks.
STRABANE SIGERSONS G.A.A.
The Clubs Senior and Reserve teams will play at home
to Owen Roes this Sunday 25th May in the O'Neill's
Sportswear Tyrone Division 3 Leagues. Throw-in times
are fixed for 2.15pm (Reserve) and 3.45pm (Senior)
All support welcome. Best wishes to Strabane Shamrock's
Hurlers who will play Carrickmore in the Tyrone SHL
Final on Sunday evening.
ST. PATRICK’S
HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
LUCKY 4 DRAW
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £2075.00
BARRETT SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING
Classes each Tuesday and Friday at 4.00pm in St.
Patrick's Hall. Age - from 3 years upwards. New members
welcome.
PRAYER CORNER
WHEN
I must be thankful for what is
and stop thinking about what is not.
---Nancy Wood.
In one of his journal notations Thomas Merton writes
that we are always thinking that our life will be
truly happy ''when''. We are not satisfied with what
is currently our situation because we have it in our
mind that our life won't be happy until something
else occurs: when I have one more thing I want, when
I get rid of that personality flaw of mine, when I
can finally have life as I have always dreamed it
to be, when I am truly successful, when I learn to
pray better, when I find the right person in my life,
when, when. . . .
Waiting for the ''when'' keeps me from appreciating
what I now have. Long for promises and dreaming dreams
is not a harmful deed as long as the present moment
is not overlooked, as long as gratitude rises for
what is already here, as long as I do not base my
happiness on what is still wanting. Thankfulness for
what has already been given is the foundation for
hoping for what is not yet.
Today I am going to put aside my ''when this happens''
and my ''if only this could be'' and my ''when things
get better'' and my ''as soon as I have this.'' I
am going to harvest what I now have, gather all the
gifts that are already mine. I am going to observe
what has been placed in the granary of my heart and
marvel at the abundance.
I will stand before this heap of blessings and take
a long, grateful look. I will say farewell to my ''when''
and be thankful for what is.
*************************
OPPOSITION
To a pioneering spirit who was
discouraged by frequent criricism
the Master said, ''Listen to the
words of the critic. He revels
what your friends hide from you.''
But he also said, ''Do not be
weighed down by what the critic
says. No statue was ever erected
to honour a critic. Statues are for the criticised.''
*************************
GUIDANCE
Spirit of Guidance, I see before me
numerous choices and a decision to be made.
There is a division in my heart. Sometimes
I want none of what I find. Sometimes I want to give
up making decisions and wish that the future would
go away.
I entrust my decision-making into
your hands, ready to do my part but also knowing that
I cannot do this without your help.
Lead me through all the unsure, unclear,
doubtful, hesitant, and questioning moments that are
mine as I search to find the right way in which to
go.
Grant me the grace to choose freely,
without being attached to the outcome. I trust that
you will be with me as I make my decision prayerfully
and with faith.
Assure me that your peace will rest
deep within me as I make the decision that seems best
for me at this time. I may continue to experience
feelings of turmoil and confusion, but deep within
I know that I can return to that settled place in
me where you always dwell.
Guide and Director of my life, I place
my life in your hands. Lead me to the path that will
best deepen and strengthen my relationship with you.
*************************
PRAYER
The purpose of all prayer is to uplift
the words,
to return them to their source above.
The world was created
by the downward flow of letters:
The task of man is to form those letters into words
and take them back to God.
If you come to know this duel process,
your prayer may be joined
to the constant flow of Creation -
word to word, voice to voice,
breath to breath, thought to thought.
The words fly upward and come to Him.
As God turns to look at the ascending word,
life flows through all the worlds
and prayer receives its answer.
All this happens in an instant
and all this happens continually;
Time has no meaning in the sight of God.
The divine spring is ever-flowing;
one who is ready can make himself into a channel
to receive the waters from above.
