Grassroots Liturgist

Were Socrates alive in the 21st century, where we can fill our lives with so much noise and so many distractions, I rather suspect that he would encourage us to get back to nature. The older I get, the more I realise the importance of nature for our emotional, psychological and spiritual wellbeing.   Nature helps to slow us down, whether it be the vast countryside or our own little patch of garden or even a window box.   Nature gives us space and opportunity to reflect, and we can begin to see little parables which enable us to better understand God and our own spiritual life. For example, earlier this week I was walking on Bleaklow and was reminded of when I walked the Camino de Santiago several years ago.   This week, like then, I began to struggle; I was getting acute pains in the balls of my feet and blisters began to form. To try and avoid these sharp pains, I began to limp, to put the pressure on other areas of my feet. But, of course, we are designed to w...

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, have you ever wondered at which point the father forgave the son who had offended him in every possible way?   Was it when he threw the extravagant party?   Or when he ran out to embrace his son?   Or when he first saw his son returning to the family home? For me, it was long before that.   We are told that the father saw his son while he was still a long way from home – he was scanning the horizon, yearning for the return of his beloved, if wayward, son.   Would he be doing that had he not already forgiven his son?   But it wasn’t until his son returned and fulfilled the other necessary conditions for reconciliation (contrition, confession and penance) that the joy of the reconciliation – symbolised by the lavish celebrations – could commence.   The son was burdened by the weight of guilt at his offence.   That burden was lifted by the reconciliation with his father, and the joy of the father's love could...