Rev Michael Cavanagh +353 (0)87 160 6312
Praying Together 31st May 2026

Praying Together 31st May 2026

So the commandment is a challenge. To love those who betray you. Those who jeer. Those who wield the whips embedded with flint, hammer in the nails, pierce your side.

Meditation for Trinity Sunday

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity: keep us steadfast in this faith, that we may evermore be defended from all adversities; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever

2 Cor 13:11-14

11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God’s people here send their greetings. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Matthew 28:16-20

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Reflection

Greetings and farewells
‘Greet each other with a Holy Kiss’, (in some translations, ‘Greet on another with the Kiss of Peace’), suggests St Paul. Jesus demonstrates His forgiveness and love to Judas, calling him ‘friend’, even as He is betrayed with a kiss. You may remember Pope John Paul II kneeling to kiss the airport tarmac as he visited each new country on his many travels. We term a resuscitation technique as the ‘Kiss of life’. An example of the traditional ‘blessings’ a kiss can convey is the belief that kissing a piece of Carboniferous Limestone while lying inverted over an 85ft. drop can bring the gift of eloquence (but perhaps not the gift of wisdom?). Kissing is universal, and not unique to humans – as Dolphins, Polar bears and many others demonstrate!

This has been a week of many kisses, greetings and farewells. It was lovely to see members of the defence forces returning from their peacekeeping tour in Lebanon, being hugged and kissed by their young families. As we speak, hopeful footballers from 48 countries are in the process of leaving for potential glory at the World Cup in America, with their supporters wishing them a farewell with the same displays of affection.

At moments of high emotion, humans across the globe demonstrate physical contact as a reassurance of their united love and support, bringing a sense of togetherness and commitment, recognising the presence of each other. In our worship services, especially in the Eucharist, the Holy Kiss of peace is a consecrated act that symbolises that bond.

According to Bishop Theodore, of Mopsuestia in 428 AD: Each of us gives the Kiss of Peace to the person next to us, and so in effect gives it to the whole assembly, because this act is an acknowledgement that we have all become a single body of Christ our Lord, and so must preserve with one another that harmony that exists among the limbs of a body, loving one another equally, supporting and helping one another, regarding the individual needs as concerns of the community, sympathizing with one another’s sorrows and sharing in one another’s joys.

Throughout the world, greeting one another with a kiss is a standard way of greeting – once, twice or more (four times in some regions of of France.) In our less demonstrative culture, we perhaps tend to ‘Share the peace’ by means of a nod, wave, handshake a hug or sometimes even a kiss itself in order to respect what we understand as the boundaries of a person’s ‘personal space’. It doesn’t really matter how we do it, so long as we understand the importance of what we share – acknowledge and remind ourselves that we are one in the Body – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and we go out as that Body to make disciples of all nations. And as you do, may the Peace of the Lord be always with you.

Previous Posts

Praying Together 31st May 2026

Praying Together 31st May 2026

Throughout the world, greeting one another with a kiss is a standard way of greeting – once, twice or more (four times in some regions of of France.) In our less demonstrative culture, we perhaps tend to ‘Share the peace’ by means of a nod, wave, handshake a hug or sometimes even a kiss itself in order to respect what we understand as the boundaries of a person’s ‘personal space’.

read more
Praying Together 17th May 2026

Praying Together 17th May 2026

So the commandment is a challenge. To love those who betray you. Those who jeer. Those who wield the whips embedded with flint, hammer in the nails, pierce your side.

Meditation Easter 7

Collect

O God the King of Glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Mercifully give us faith to know that, as he promised, he abides with us on earth to the end of time; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Verses from John 14

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. I go and prepare a place for you.
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these,
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.
26 The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things

and Matthew 28

20 “And I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

1 Peter 5: 6-11

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Reflection

If St Peter had auditioned for the wonderful Musical Drama ‘West Side Story’, there is one role in which would fit him best – that of Tony, whose anticipation of ‘Something Coming’ mirrors Shakespeare’s Romeo in his dreams – and that of Peter himself, as he has heard Jesus mystifyingly talking about His departure and an ‘Advocate’ who will be sent by God. Peter trusts that Jesus’ promise to be with Him always will be fulfilled – but he can’t understand how, when or where.

He won’t have long to wait – He will watch Jesus ascend from the hill called Olivet, and has already shown leadership to the other disciples (Acts 1:15). But he can’t have expected the deafening wind and flames of fire that will give him the strength and power that he will need in his apostolic ministry. (of which more next week).

I suspect many of us have had the experience of knowing that ‘Something is coming’ without knowing exactly what it is – a feeling of expectation, but perhaps slightly fearful of what significant change might ensue. In Peter’s first letter, the author reflects on his calling to be the rock on which Christ’s Church is built and his gradual preparation for the task – involving repentance, forgiveness, mistakes and misunderstanding. From his own experience, he describes the ‘normal’ Christan life, with its ‘normal’ ups and downs – leading to the day when the ‘Something’ will be recognised as God’s Holy Spirit, our strength, encourager and guide to sustain us through the difficult times of worry, suffering and temptation to which Christ’s followers are all subject.

Peter’s story has parallels in each of our lives. When we accepted The Lord’s call, we became aware of what it involves, perhaps including difficulties and sadnesses as well as joy. But we are also promised the gift of power to be witnesses to Jesus loving salvation through all of the changing times of our lives. Our future awaits the Day of Pentecost, and as the song says,

‘Somethin’s comin’, don’t know what it is, but it is gonna be great’

Previous Posts

Praying Together 31st May 2026

Praying Together 31st May 2026

Throughout the world, greeting one another with a kiss is a standard way of greeting – once, twice or more (four times in some regions of of France.) In our less demonstrative culture, we perhaps tend to ‘Share the peace’ by means of a nod, wave, handshake a hug or sometimes even a kiss itself in order to respect what we understand as the boundaries of a person’s ‘personal space’.

read more

Praying Together 10th May 2026

Praying Together 10th May 2026

So the commandment is a challenge. To love those who betray you. Those who jeer. Those who wield the whips embedded with flint, hammer in the nails, pierce your side.

Meditation Easter 6

Collect

God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: Grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reflection

This week I offer a report of our Archbishop John’s Introductory address to this week’s General Synod. It speaks for itself. I wish certain political leaders would read it too.

Against a backdrop of a world which has become “atomised and angry” through new forms of digital communication and networking the vocation of the Church of Ireland is to witness to an alternative truth and to march to a different drum beat.

This witnessing and discipleship, he noted, is done primarily through the Church’s parishes. He also focused on issues which he believes will test discipleship and faithfulness in the days and years to come – artificial intelligence and the rise of the Christian right.

“In a world which is dominated in almost all its doings by the often sinister ambitions and networks of a very small number of very rich men who are infinitely more powerful than any Celtic chieftain or medieval magnate or elected Chief Minister, we have both the structures and the resources to march to a different beat and to create different societies,” he stated.

He continued: “The parish is the place that is big enough to require everyone to pull their weight and small enough for that mutual giving and receiving which is at the heart of communion; to be places that stand out in the world and which can change the landscape and the horizon.”

Artificial Intelligence

The Archbishop said that social media was supposed to have democratized the world but instead it has concentrated power in the hands of a few “grotesquely rich men”.

Their current emphasis on the development of AI is being heralded as a great leap forward in the liberation of humankind. But the truth is, he said, that such liberation only binds us further.

“I say this is ‘the truth’ on purpose: for we should be confident in the very existence of ‘truth’ and ‘fact’ – neither of these things can be artificially generated. Artificial Intelligence may relay information to us based on incredible calculations of probability and suitability, but we should not allow efficiency and convenience to become the primary values against which we measure whether this information is worth the resources expended to generate it. The costs are human and social as well as environmental, of course.”

AI integration is dangerous, not because it is manipulated by the powerful, he suggested, but because it is increasingly accepted by us as the logical choice.

He pointed out that Christianity is understood as an individual’s relationship with God, lived out in community. This, he stated, was wholly personal. He said that opportunities and challenges in the future would be to stick to the difficult path of deep and costly human relationships sustained by a closeness to God in prayer and moral discernment.

Migration

Archbishop McDowell said that our attitude to migration in Ireland, both north and south, is one of the great touchstones and tests of our Christian authenticity.

“It is possible to take a wide range of views on immigration policy which may be broadly consistent with belief in Christ and in the particular form of human equality which is articulated in the New Testament,” he said. “But it seems to me that there is a fairly simple imperative when it comes to the ‘stranger that is in your midst’, and that is to welcome him or her and to care for him or her,” he stated.

The Primate added that migrants to this island want what we all want – to bring up children in security and decency; to provide them with a good education and the chance of a stable future. They want to contribute to the communities in which they live. They bring with them enormous energy and fortitude and often scarce skills. For these and other reasons there is every rational reason to welcome them, he contended.

He decried statistics from the PSNI in Northern Ireland which in 2024–25 pointed to the worst recorded levels of racist violence since monitoring began in 2004. Meanwhile, in the Republic of Ireland Garda hate crime data showed a sustained multi year increase of racially motivated incidents.

“That increases in migration should be seized on by the extreme right who are bereft of any other ideas is not surprising, although it is less edifying when mainstream parties equivocate in the face of the horrendous violence which migrants suffer. However, from the Churches’ point of view, the more worrying development is the rise of the so–called Christian Right. These groups emphasise what they claim to be the undermining of ‘Christian civilisation’ or ‘Judeao–Christian’ values and the discrimination which they say Christians are subjected to. And they use the Cross – the very epitome of powerlessness, and what a very advanced ‘civilisation’ inflicted on Jesus – as some kind of symbol of their dominance and superiority,” Archbishop McDowell stated.

He asked which aspect of discipleship in Jesus Christ is being exercised by “baying outside a hostel while terrified children are inside. How is parading around the streets draped in a national flag representing the mind of the God of all the nations?”

Previous Posts

Praying Together 31st May 2026

Praying Together 31st May 2026

Throughout the world, greeting one another with a kiss is a standard way of greeting – once, twice or more (four times in some regions of of France.) In our less demonstrative culture, we perhaps tend to ‘Share the peace’ by means of a nod, wave, handshake a hug or sometimes even a kiss itself in order to respect what we understand as the boundaries of a person’s ‘personal space’.

read more
Praying Together 26th April 2026

Praying Together 26th April 2026

So the commandment is a challenge. To love those who betray you. Those who jeer. Those who wield the whips embedded with flint, hammer in the nails, pierce your side.

Collect for Easter 4

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life:
Raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness,
that we may seek those things which are above, where he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Reflection

1 Peter 2:19-25

For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

How Deep is the Father’s Love For Us (Hymn 80)

Over these few weeks, we’re looking at Peter’s first letter, written in Rome towards the end of his life, and directed to the fast-growing number of followers of Christ (only later termed ‘Christians’). It is a letter of encouragement and takes the reader into a better understanding of what being a follower entails. In the letter, Peter talks firstly about the faith that shields us now and in the future; he goes on to talk about holiness and ‘reverent fear’ – an awareness of being in the presence of an awesome God.

And now he turns to suffering. There are those who are justly punished for the things they have done wrong; there are those whose punishment is undeserved and unjust. These latter refer directly to women and men who will be persecuted for their faith (of whom in Rome and other places in Asia Minor there would be thousands, and still are). Their tenacity is made possible by their faithful aspiration to do God’s will. But they are nonetheless imperfect and in need of forgiveness– human beings can never be without sin no matter how much good they do. They are His children, and in their deeds and words, like sheep they go astray.

Fortunately, God’s love is not restricted to those who do good. He sent His only Son to save sinners – whoever they may be, whatever they may have done wrong. He bears their sins without complaint despite rejection, insults, torture and crucifixion, and through His Cross offers the opportunity to start again with the slate wiped clean for those who repent and seek forgiveness. It’s Grace – never our deeds – that leads us home.

p.s. Last week’s Gospel was the story of the Disciples on the road to Emmaus, and wasn’t the basis for our meditation. However, as I was reminded, we missed the opportunity to include the following remarkable song – so here it is. Be blessed as you hear it.

Previous Posts

Praying Together 31st May 2026

Praying Together 31st May 2026

Throughout the world, greeting one another with a kiss is a standard way of greeting – once, twice or more (four times in some regions of of France.) In our less demonstrative culture, we perhaps tend to ‘Share the peace’ by means of a nod, wave, handshake a hug or sometimes even a kiss itself in order to respect what we understand as the boundaries of a person’s ‘personal space’.

read more

Praying Together April 19th 2026

Praying Together April 19th 2026

So the commandment is a challenge. To love those who betray you. Those who jeer. Those who wield the whips embedded with flint, hammer in the nails, pierce your side.

Collect for Easter 3

Almighty Father, you have given your only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth;
through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reflection

1 Peter 1: 17-23

17 If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile.18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed for your sake at the end of the ages. 21Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

22 Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23 You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

To think about:

17 – all people impartially according to their deeds: Judgement is not restricted to either believers or non-believers – but All people

17 – reverent fear – not fear as in being frightened, but fear as in realising the enormity of what God’s only Son has done for His creation – and for you. And then aspiring to live in the understanding of what that means –  holiness, an awareness of being in the presence of God

18 – ransomed from the futile ways: the old order is gone; by the cross all things are made new

20 – before the foundation of the world: Before time began, Jesus is.  revealed for your sake: and He is made known to you

21 – raised him from the dead: in love, He died for you – in love, He lives for you.

22 – love one another deeply from the heart: And now you are to love one another – All people, as above, believers and non-believers alike

23 – born anew – you are a new creation through the living and enduring word of God – and nothing and no-one can take your new life away from you.

Previous Posts

Praying Together 31st May 2026

Praying Together 31st May 2026

Throughout the world, greeting one another with a kiss is a standard way of greeting – once, twice or more (four times in some regions of of France.) In our less demonstrative culture, we perhaps tend to ‘Share the peace’ by means of a nod, wave, handshake a hug or sometimes even a kiss itself in order to respect what we understand as the boundaries of a person’s ‘personal space’.

read more