Rev Michael Cavanagh +353 (0)87 160 6312
Praying Together 26th July 2026

Praying Together 26th July 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 Trinity 8

Blessed are you, O Lord, and blessed are those who observe and keep your law: Help us to seek you with our whole heart, to delight in your commandments and to walk in the glorious liberty given us by your Son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 8: 26-39

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Reflection

There are many different responses when people suffer disappointment, hardship or suffering.

‘Why me?” “Why did God allow this to happen?” “I prayed but God didn’t answer” “Why should I believe in God anymore?” “What has God done for me?”.

We hear a lot of complicated theologically-based responses to those questions, but frankly, they aren’t much help when you’re going through a bad time.

I prefer the more succinct approach of my Auntie Annie. “There’s always a reason” she would say – and then get on with her life of faith. (St. Paul says much the same thing in his letter to the Romans – although with more words). Like Paul, we are aware that living the Christian life may involve us having to face ‘trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword’

We’re not going to heal every wound or every pain. We’re not puppets and the price of our freedom is that our stories aren’t going to end happily every time. Not in this life, anyway. God isn’t always going to find us a parking place, neither will He vaccinate us from every hurt and consequence of a sinful world. His plan for us – which we don’t necessarily know in any detail – is of much greater eternal significance. He climbs a Cross as comprehensive punishment for our sin. It includes His participation in warfare – His prize being our place in His Heavenly Kingdom. He rides into battle as head of an army of Angels; the Satan and all his works are defeated, and we are set free.

The following beautiful piece of music was written by Jean Sibelius as part of a tone poem named ‘Finlandia’ – it wa actually a banned song of protest and encouragement in difficult times against the increasing threat posed by Imperialist Russia. In its thematic relevance to the Christian story of spiritual warfare, it has formed the accompaniment to many Christian Hymns, including ‘Be still my Soul’. But I don’t think we need the words for it to inspire us and bring peace in our hearts, whatever may befall. Just cling to the promise that neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me.
Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me. Trust in the Lord now and for ever!

Psalm 131

Pray Together 19th July 2026

Pray Together 19th July 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 Trinity 7

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things:
Graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion,
nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8: 18-25

18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Reflection

I wonder what it is about certain cliches that makes them sound like pearls of philosophical wisdom and become figures of speech, quoted by media reports and then copied in discussions about a team’s performance (or lack of it) in sporting competitions. Example: ‘It’s the hope that kills you’. What a load of tripe.

Even at the level of amateur pundits, that couldn’t be wider of the mark. In reality, hope is all that keeps you alive – the absence of hope means you’re already dead.
That doesn’t mean that it‘s possible to hope without evidence. We define hope as ‘to want something to happen or to be true, and have a good reason to think that it might’.

‘good reason to think that it might’. The Bulgarian writer Maria Popova put this succinctly “Critical thinking without hope is cynicism, but hope without critical thinking is naivety.”

In other words, don’t cynically dismiss the concept of hope as being irrational, but make sure you have a good and justifiable reason to trust it. And we do. Even though, as St. Paul says, we cannot ‘see’ that reason – but in patience and faith, we believe in a Jesus in whom our hope is certain.

Someone made a list of the sufferings of this present time: a sinning, sighing, sobbing world filled with cancer, murder, violence, anger, relational ruptures, dementia, grief, physical, mental and genetic disorders. Sadly, this is the reality we live in. Without hope, we cannot survive. But in Christ alone, our Saviour, redeemer and friend, our hope is found.

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Praying Together 12th July 2026

Praying Together 12th July 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 Trinity 6

Merciful God, for those who love you, you have prepared such good things as pass our understanding. Pour into our hearts such love toward you that we, loving you above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears* listen!’

18 ‘Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.* 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’

Reflection

We are blessed today as welcome Ryan, Enzo and Ella into the Lord’s family in the Baptism service, as we invite members of the congregation to act as ‘Godparents’ – historically and originally termed ‘sponsors’, a tradition that dates back to the Middle ages, perhaps even earlier.

Nowadays the choice of ‘Godparents’ may sometimes be to win the favour of a wealthy relative; possibly one to cement social/ family integration and bonding; perhaps a Pantomime fairy with magical powers or a benevolent (!) Mafia boss. But the real task to which godparents promise is to ensure that the newly-baptised are supported in their Christian growth, by prayer, advice and example. Because living that Christian life is hard, with obstacles and temptations along the way.

Some will treat their Baptism as an excuse for a party, devoid of real meaning. Some will initially attempt to live the life Jesus asks, but in the absence of regular reading of scripture and prayer, they will spiritually starve. There will be those who start out with good intentions, but when the worries and temptations of the world take over they will forget their original purpose. But for many, Baptism is truly life-changing. Even during difficult times and many failures, they will hold fast to the flickering but unquenchable light that can lead them back to the water that cleans and refreshes, giving new strength and purpose to proclaim the faith symbolised by the cross upon their forehead. In the most difficult times, they may even need someone to light that light. And that someone is called a Godparent.

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Praying Together 5th July 2026

Praying Together 5th July 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

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: Hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11: 16-19, 28-30

16 ‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,

17 “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.”

18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’*

28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Reflection

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.” Matthew 11:17

But whose music should we dance to?

“The trouble with Jesus and his followers”, complain the religious establishment “is that they don’t do what we tell them. They are supposed to obey the rules and regulations we insist upon, but they don’t. Those laws are set down for their own good. If they fail to abide by them, our peaceful society itself will be at risk”. They believe that their status gives them the right to dictate those rules and regulations for their own benefit. They seek to justify and legitimise their preferences by terming them to be ‘traditional’ values.

It’s not that rules and regulations are wrong in themselves – on the contrary, they are essential for guidance and mutual societal growth. The difficulty arises when instead or promoting and supporting justice and equity, they are modified to suit the wishes of those in leadership roles – religious or political. They need people to do what they say without question; but as we have seen (and are seeing) often, that way leads to corruption. They make laws to suit themselves – and their pockets. They play the flute (badly), and expect everybody to dance to their music. When people refuse, they don’t like it and call them subversive, traitors and often charge them with criminality.

They can’t cope with people like Jesus and John the Baptiser who dance to a different drum and are rocking the boat. The religious authorities are increasingly uncomfortable and challenged. John’s asceticism is calling for people to repentance and renewal; Jesus’ humanity and unconditional love is inviting ordinary people to Himself irrespective of who they are or their position in a hierarchical society. This kind of behaviour is not going to keep people sedated, unquestioning and obedient. Quite the opposite.

Essentially, said the philosopher Henry David Thoreau, unquestioning obedience results in slavery. Instead, Jesus offers freedom.

Our Lord challenges us to love as He loves us – but with a difference. The dance He leads gives us a choice. We obey His command, but not as slaves – instead, he invites us to be willing servants, alongside the freedom to always ask and reason together with Him as we choose our actions. Therein lies the path to Wisdom, and in God’s Wisdom lies gentleness, humility and rest for our souls.

We can dance to man-made Law. Or Servant Love.

Choose Love.

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Praying Together 21st June 2026

Praying Together 21st June 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

Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: Give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Matthew 10: 24-33

24 ‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!
26 ‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. 30And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

Reflection

‘You are of more value than many sparrows.’
Y

es perhaps we are – but that doesn’t mean that sparrows have no value at all. Neither does it mean that we can ignore their wellbeing. They are beautiful creatures created by God, and He cares for them as He cares for all things he has made. And He trusts us to do the same.

Yet everyday we hear of species at risk of extinction because of human greed and careless exploitation of the earth’s natural resources. It’s not as if we aren’t aware of the damage we’re doing – the tragedy is that we are, but we don’t do anything to stop it.

I vividly remember driving to work one day some years ago and listening to local radio. There was a news item that talked about a threat to an already-rare South American tree frog. The presenter made this into a joke – ‘Why should I care? What possible use can a South American tree frog be to me? – to which the answer is ‘You actually don’t know. That’s why.’ I had to stop the car to calm down at such a typically mindless example of human stupidity.

Why should I care about the Brazil rain forest? Why should I worry about destroying the habitat of Polar bears due to Global warming? If a mega-company wants to make a profit by drilling for oil in the remote environment of Alaska, why should that be anything to do with me? To our knowledge 160 species have become extinct in the last ten years (and we don’t know how many more). So what? Not my problem. Look after Number one. That’s my motto.

We interfere with things we don’t understand and we ignore the potential consequences of our neglect – and/or thoughtless actions. As Shakespeare’s Robin Goodfellow said on this day of the year, ‘Lord, what fools these mortals be’

When, perhaps one day, we discover that for example, Sphagnum moss, with its miraculous natural healing properties, has become extinct due to commercial over-harvesting; or that the anthropogenic destruction of pollinators seriously threatens the global food supply, we might go back to the Book of Genesis and think on what God told us was our responsibility.

Humanity might not care about the odd sparrow that falls to the ground – but God does. Just as He cares for the poor, the dispossessed, the abandoned of this broken world. To ignore them is to deny Him. Do we care? Sometimes I wonder.

And whosoever denies me, I also will deny before my Father in heaven’

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