Séamus Ahearne: ‘I wish I was as sure about anything as s(h)e is about everything.’ (Macaulay supposedly)

The Baftas and Joan Baez

Martin McDonagh made his wry comment at the Baftas. ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ won the ‘Outstanding British Film’ of the year. He said that Rosie – the ass, came from Stoke-on-Trent which would probably qualify the film as British! It was said ironically. ‘Cailín Ciúin’ lost out. The very  name is a contradiction in terms! That was the likely reason for it to miss out. I had an unexpected pleasure last week (some time), I saw Joan Baez in Concert on Sky Arts. It was her 75^th birthday celebration. It was quite brilliant and nostalgic. Her final song was with Paul Simon. Yes. Yes. I know she is now 82 but the song of her life, resonated with many of us. The past woke up.

Democracy – how are you?

The Wagner mercenary group in the Ukraine, reminds me of The Dirty Dozen or even The Black and Tans as we understood them historically. Putin and Biden spoke on Tuesday. They see things very differently. It does seem difficult to grasp how the invader can justify smashing up the Ukrainian people for some ideology of nationhood. Joe Biden’s words on democracy and freedom were powerful. However, there has to be a hesitation at his words, given what democracy means in modern-day America. It is embarrassing rather than illustrative of a better way. If we consider the protocol of Brexit too, it raises the confusions in democracy. It also reminds us of an imperialist nation taking over a country and then being incapable of extricating itself even now from the consequences of that invasion. The DUP want all the benefits of free movement of goods without customs and also want to have the benefits of the Union. The UK got out of Europe. It is then impossible to square the circle. Where does the notion of ‘politics being the art of the possible; the attainable; the next best’ (Otto v on Bismarck) come in? 

The Taliban and Scriptural fundamentalism:

The Taliban in Afghanistan have become Catholic. They have banned contraception!   If they would listen to us, we could tell them what a bad idea that is, and how damaging such a policy has been for us, as Catholics. We are taken aback at some of the behaviour of the Taliban and then of many Islamic fundamentalists. Our own regime (Church) in the past, was very fundamentalist and rigorist. There are elements of that still around. It is a worry to hear of the lassie Kate Forbes who put herself forward for the leadership of the SNP (after Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation). She is a member of the Free Church of Scotland who are rather precise and tidy in their faith. She is against same sex marriage (she has a point.) She is against the self-gender-identification which had been passed by  Holyrood – the Scottish Parliament (I understand that too). But this will not go down well too well with the general population. I do see in the Free Church and their attitude to Scripture, something of what we did ourselves, and what some still do, in their literal interpretation. The message and the story gets lost in the words. Should we send a message to the Taliban and advise them from our experience?

Andrea Bocelli on pilgrimage:

I missed it. Andrea Bocelli was due to be on Sky Arts on Monday 20^th. I had accidently come on the programme the previous Monday 13^th February as I was searching to see what the outcome was from Rishi Sunak’s visit to the North. Bocelli was delightful. He did sing. He rode around on a horse in company and chatted as he went along. He was on pilgrimage. He reflected on life. On faith. On God. On forgiveness. It was very special. It was steeped in values. It was inspirational prayer on horseback. I was sorry to miss the recent continuation of his pilgrimage. And ideal reflection for Lent…..

Indi and her flowers:

Indi was on a video. She was investigating her garden. The ground was hard. She had been very busy. What was she busy at? She had to talk to her father at work. She had her bike. She had to move the bike. She couldn’t dig up the ground. She then wanted to watch the flowers growing. She was disappointed that the growth was so slow. She wondered if she went to bed would they have grown by the morning. That is what she said. She has become argumentative with God. She is convinced God is playing games with her. She thinks it is unfair.

Spring and Lent:

The crocuses. The daffodils. The snowdrops. The bird sounds. Spring. The companionship of the ducks and the water hens and the swans. The heron and myself are silent partners. We have companionable quietness between us. We don’t have to speak. Spring does speak to Lent. It is new life. It is stirring the buds of our hearts. It is waking up the sleeping wonder of our selves. It is refreshment. Lent has often been taken over by the rigorists. We don’t need purple. We don’t need ashes. We don’t need to eliminate the alleluia. We don’t need to fast. We don’t need to give up things. That isn’t Spring-like. If we are to be an example to those who are to be received into the Church at Easter; all this that would hardly make us very attractive. Lent is that preparation for Easter and is our effort to freshen up and thereby encourage those who want to embrace the faith.

Cultural dissonance:

We are into the season of Confirmations and First Communions. Some 17 schools (Finglas) need to be juggled in our planning for those events. Many are clamouring for First Confessions. A few voices would want the Confirmation candidates to have Confession too. These celebrations are very special. However, we do have to note cultural dissonance. The children don’t know much about Church or our Liturgies. God is not an ever-present person in the heart of the homes. The parents have wandered away from religious culture. Their music of life is quite different. It can be frustrating for some of us, to see the work done in the schools (by the teachers) and the work done in the parishes, and yet to realise how useless it is. We have the niggling feeling that much of it doesn’t make sense.

The God of our yesterdays have gone walkabout. We are in mission territory. We haven’t failed. What is on offer is still beautiful but our language is fading into the past. We are back in school. We are learners of a new language and new culture. God and faith and grace has to find a new expression. Our Sacramental occasions have to pay attention to this new scene. Our Masses have to change. Our Rituals have to change. Our funerals have to change. Our notion of Confession has to change. Our idea of priesthood and ministry has to change. It is very frightening for many of us to delve into this new language. Nothing says that the past was wrong. All it shouts out at us is that the adventure of faith calls us to be real evangelisers. We too have to find God and prayer afresh. These are great days to be priesting!!!

Seamus Ahearne osa    23^rd February 2023.