SÉAMUS AHEARNE – TRIVIAL COMMENTS: MUSING AND BEING AMUSED

A STATE OF CHASSIS:

‘May you live in interesting times.’ There is no clarity about the origin of this statement. It appears to say something different to the obvious. It refers to chaos, conflict and trouble. It is rather close to O’Casey’s (Juno and Paycock). “The world is in a terrible state o’ chassis.” (I used this, previously!) War has broken out. The people of the Ukraine, of Gaza, of Iran, of the Sudan are being killed, and lives are being shattered. Drones and missiles are hurtling across the sky. Even Dubai is not safe. Putin, Trump and Netanyahu don’t inspire many of us with confidence that peace might break out any time soon. The crudity of language. The vulgarity of self-righteousness. The insularity of the bully. Mark Carney was right when he spoke at Davos. Pedro Sanchez was right when he spoke against the attack on Iran. Keir Starmer was right when he didn’t give in to Trump.

MELLERAY, ROSCREA, SALESIANS, AUGUSTINIANS:

Mount Melleray (in WateRford) has closed. The monks have moved to Roscrea Monastery. And now Mount St Joseph’s Abbey in Roscrea is closing, and the monks are moving to Mellifont Abbey Collon, Co Louth. Our local Salesians are leaving us in Finglas at the end of June. Last weekend the Augustinians announced that the Church in Washington Street – St Augustine’s, is closing in July after 700 years of the presence of the Friars in Cork. Interesting times indeed. Or a state of chassis. Not really. Life moves on. Our rich story endures. We did what we had to do in times past; now we move on. It isn’t a crisis. It means that there are different needs and new people will bring something more to the scene. We give thanks for has been. Others can appreciate the heritage.

COST OF LIVING CRISIS:

There are loud voices shouting about the ‘cost of living’ crisis; the ‘housing’ crisis; the ‘health service’ crisis; and even some are anxious about the ‘faith crisis’. There is even a crisis for the dead and with the dead. I am told that it costs €4900 or €5000 to book a spot on the wall (for the Ashes) in the Rose Garden at Glasnevin. And then there is  the multiple and daily crisis for the living – a call out to the Alarm people costs €140; a heating engineer costs much the same; a roofer will quote over the €100; a plumber or electrician will ask for €80 for the call out, before anything is done. If it is even possible to get anyone to answer such a call. To get Planning now, or to get Builders, to do anything, takes forever. I spent almost 18 months pursuing Bord Gais to get back some €1,300 that they had overcharged the Parish. I spent a long time chasing Uisce Eireann to check their charge for water before again finding that their reading was wrong. I wasted time and energy with Eir trying to get the system working. And as for the ESB, that is another story. And so there is a crisis. Yes, I know that some of us are blessed – with Tradespeople who come immediately, and who are very reluctant to charge at all. But for the general population getting anything done is very difficult and very frustrating and very expensive. We must have some concern then for our politicians who try to get homes built. The bureaucracy is so profound and the process is so slow, that it becomes almost impossible to get anything done. In the middle of all this, some people are definitely thriving. ‘What crisis?’ as one of our former politicians…

WHINGERS AND MOANERS:

And now I do agree – many of the loud voices are just whingers who love to blame everyone else for everything. The Radio news is painful, especially if some politicians are on. Everyone has a gripe. I want to scream: Stop. Look. Listen. I like that song from years ago:  ‘Blame it on the Stones, the Rolling Stones,’ with Kris Kristofferson. There is a temptation for all of us – to blame everyone and everything. I often look around and see the take-over of the streets with such shops as Beauty Salons, Nail places. And I ask myself what on earth is going on? The young ones see these places as the essentials. But in reality they are rubbish and superficial. So what is important for us all? ‘Where is the beef?’ was that catch phrase way back in 1984. It could apply.

CRISIS OF FAITH:

And now for the other crisis – some see it as a crisis of faith, if it could be considered as such. Our Churches are packed for Funerals, for Baptisms, for First Communions, for Confirmations. Marriages are fewer which is rather good! But for weekend Masses, not that many appear, unless there is a Month’s Mind or an Anniversary. The expectation is there that when people need church people, that such people (and place) will be there. Is God hiding or playing hide and seek? The seek part is probably rather true. I know that some find Church and Religious very boring. But people can’t expect to be entertained. The Eucharist is something very active and participatory. I know. It is overloaded and ‘performed’ too often as a passive show. It doesn’t reach the guts for many. But at the heart of the Mass is something simple and demanding. If the ‘search’ isn’t on; the ‘finding’ won’t happen. The very convenient response can be – oh the abuse. That is why people gave up. Well now that is understandable but really an excuse.

REVELATIONS:

If the God we celebrate, or the God we are discovering, or the God who gives us life and colour, is recognised, then we can cope with the failings of some around us. And in ourselves. The Church has made mistakes. Sometimes the carry-on is rather ridiculous. But people are people and we have to be forever changing and learning and growing. And some can’t do that. But if we centre our minds and imaginations on meaning and values, and love, and the beauty and wonder of the world, God is forever being revealed. The Jesus of faith, delves into the very depths of humanity. The crisis for me, is not the few (or many) who don’t see any reason or need to be present in a Church, but rather the culture that doesn’t bother with those serious questions of meaning in life. In the chaos of life; in the vulnerability of life; in the fragility of life; something more, needs to be looked for, and celebrated. The asking of questions. The catching of the poetry in life. The music of the everyday. The yearnings of the human heart. The sacredness of friendship and love. The MORE.

THE DIVINERS  (with appreciation of Seamus Heaney)

I look around these days and see the Cherry Blossom or the Daffodils or the buds on the Weeping Willow, or the greening of the land and I smile. I look everywhere and see the love in the homes, and the sheer goodness and kindness and laughter of life, and I smile. Schillebeeckx was right – it is a smile on the face of God. That is Sacrament. And that happens everywhere and with everyone. I am more concerned with those who can’t see it. I spend time in homes preparing Funerals and hear the stories and it is Sacramental. The Smile happens. Somehow, I want everyone to go up that mountain (of the Transfiguration) and rest in the marvel of the view. The God moment happens. The good moment happens. The grace moments happens. We need to do a collection of moments to realise the wonder and beauty of life. The transfiguration moments in life. Such thinking, resting time matters, and is needed. We are indeed diviners.

Seamus Ahearne osa     6^th March 2026.