One of the following may be used as a reflection after Communion:
1. Archbishop Oscar Romero
It helps now and then to step back and take the long view.
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent
enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the
Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No programme accomplishes the Church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about:
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realising that.
This enables us to do something and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way –
an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between
the master builder and the workers.
We are workers, not master builders, – ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
2. Alcohol: The Challenge of Moderation
Alcohol confronts us with our own frailty and weakness. Even those who are not
addicted need the support of a higher power in the journey through life if we
are to avoid the perils of addiction. We need the support of friends, of family
and of God. Indeed, there may be people around us who need our support. The
love and support of God is mediated through people just like us when we reach
out to others, bringing God’s love and care into our world.
(Pastoral Letter from the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference)
3. An tAlcól: Dúshlán na Measarthachta
Tá plaic crochta ar an mballa in a lán de na hionaid a chuireann cóir ar andúilithe,
agus scríofa air tá: ‘Is tusa amháin atá in ann é a dhéanamh ach ní féidir leat é
a dhéanamh i d’aonar’. Cuireann sé seo i gcuimhne dúinn go gcaithfidh muid glacadh
leis nach bhfuil ár neart tola uilechumhachtach agus cé ‘go bhfuil an Spiorad
toilteanach, tá an corp lag’ (Maitiú 26:41). Cuireann sé i gcuimhne dúinn freisin
go gcaithfidh muid cúnamh a iarraidh ar Dhia agus ar a chéile má tá muid ag
iarraidh alcól agus na bronntannaisí eile a fuaireamar ó Dhia a úsáid go measartha.
Freisin, tá sé ag cur i gcuimhne dúinn go bhféadfadh sé gur ‘muide’ an crann taca
a theastaíonn ó dhaoine agus iad ar thóir tacaíocht ón AA nó ó ionaid leighis nó
ó chomhairleoir. B’fhéidir nach mbeadh an t-am, an fhuinneamh ná an scil againn
chun cabhrú leo ach b’fhéidir go mbeadh sé ar ár gcumas iad a threorú dtreo an
chúnaimh a theastaíonn uathu.
(Tréadlitir ó Chomhdháil na nEaspag Éireannach)
4. A Íosa a Aonmhic an Athar
A Íosa a Aon-Mhic an Athar ‘s a Uain,
Thug fíorfhuil do chroí ghil dár gceannach go crua,
Bí’m dhíonsa, bí’m choimhdeacht, bí’m aice gach uair,
Más luí dom, más suí dom, más seasamh, más suan.
Ó ísligh mo dhíoltas is m’fhearg is m’fhuath,
Is díbir na smaointe mallaithe uaim;
Lig braon beag ded’ NaoimhSpiorad beannaithe ‘nuas,
A scaoilfeas an croí seo’tá ‘na charraig le cruas.
Tabhair tionscnamh dom ghníomhartha i d’ainm go buan,
Is críochnaigh le fíorcheart de ghnáth mo uaill,
Go bhfaighinnse teacht saor ó gach cealg is cluain,
A RíMhic, ‘s go Bhfaighinnse bheith ag amharc ort suas.
(Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna)
