I Met God Today

25.11.19, 4.25pm    I met God today. At least I think I did. He was walking his dog on the beach and he had a kindly face as those possessed of dogs often do. Kindliness is close to Godliness. Dogliness is even closer. We passed by silently with a mutual nod of the head. I, with a million million questions, a million million whys, walked on without stopping ... even to pet God's dog As did God keeping the answers to himself for another day

ISTOCK November starts with a bang - or with hundreds of them -  fireworks and bangers going off every night. Spiritually, too, it starts big, with a triduum – three days dedicated to remembrance of those who have died: the eve of All Hallows, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. Commemorating the dead continues this week with another All Saints Day. Today we celebrate all the Irish Saints, both those recognised by the Church and those who are not yet, or may never be, canonised. For Dominicans, another triduum begins tomorrow as we commemorate all the Saints of the Order of Preachers and all our deceased Dominican Sisters and Brothers. November is the month of the dead, of the holy souls, of the saints. If November starts well, we don’t always persevere in our remembrance of the dead, despite our good intentions. Even before Halloween, the shops begin to fill with all things Christmas. The commercial world would have us quickly move on from the supposed darkness of the dead. We coul...

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Luke 19:1-10 3 November 2019 image credit: http://www.jywallpaperapp.ethiccoders.com/5 Zacchaeus was anxious to see Jesus. Have you ever risked your dignity, or even your physical safety, to get a better view? Perhaps you have clambered up on a bus stop roof, clung to railings, or perched precariously atop some object or other. Maybe, like Zacchaeus, you opted to climb a tree to get a glimpse of someone important. Something about Jesus has piqued Zacchaeus’ curiosity. Faced with a triple hurdle – crowds, his stature, and his unpopularity as chief tax collector – Zacchaeus will not be deterred from his desire to see Jesus. Curiosity pushes him beyond considerations of injury or embarrassment. Zacchaeus’ curiosity changes his life. It puts him in the right place at the right time. A meeting ensues that proves transformative. Zacchaeus … hurry, because I must stay at your house today. If he intends to see without being seen, Zacchaeus does not go unno...