1. The Christian Vocation

2. THE WORLD TODAY IS A VERY SMALL PLACE, WE TRAVEL GREAT DISTANCES AND HEAR NEWS AND EVENTS ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY. TIME IS THE ESSENCE OF DAILY LIFE, WE RUSH ABOUT STRIVING TO MAKE OUR DEADLINES

3. The universe we know seems to daily grow smaller.

4. Once upon a time there were three friends who were eager to do good. One of them, who was very touched by the Sermon on the Mount, chose to devote himself to making peace between people who were fighting. A PARABLE FOR TODAY

5. The second felt great compassion for the suffering in the world so she decided to devote herself to looking after people who were sick. The third decided that what was most needed was prayer. He went off to live in the desert.

6. The first worked night and day trying to bring about peace between men and women who were quarrelling. He had very little success and was becoming discouraged. One day he went to visit his friend who was caring for the sick. She too worked hard but was losing heart because things were not going very well for her. The two of them decided to pay a visit to the friend who was in the desert.

7. He seemed to be happy. They talked and told him about their experiences. They asked him if he could give them any advice that might help them in their work. He said nothing but got some water from the desert well and poured it into an earthenware bowl. "You notice how cloudy the water is," he said. He sat down and they talked again.

8. After a while he brought them over to see the water in the bowl. It was beautifully clear and it reflected their faces like a mirror. "When your life is too full of work and activities," he said "you cannot see who you are. You must often allow your soul the chance to be still.” “ Only then will you know who you are and what gifts you have to give”

9. Love is: …. the most important quality and ingredient in human life and community. An old song said “ Love makes the world go round” Another said “All you need is love” All people have this need to be loved and to share love with others. Jesus said “Love one another as I have loved you” He also said “ By this all people will know you are my disciples that you love one another” So to be a disciple is to be a person who loves and is loved.

10. Jesus said…. ``You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its salty taste, then. You cannot make it salty again. It is good for nothing. It is thrown outside where people walk on it.

11. ``You are light for the world. It is not possible to hide a city which is sitting on a hill. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, on a lamp table, and it shines for everyone in the house. So, let your light shine in front of people, so that they will see the good things you do. Then they will give glory to your Father, who is in heaven.''

12. Unbroken circles In our world we often wear and exchange rings as a symbol of our love and commitment to one another. Sometimes we do it to remember someone or some special experience we have had. At weddings couples exchange rings and this lovely prayer is said “Almighty God, bless these rings, symbols of faithfulness and unbroken love. May this couple always be true to each other, may they be in one heart and mind, may they be united in love forever, this we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

13. Many years ago… A Russian monk was asked to write an icon that would be a window into God the Most Holy Trinity. After many weeks of prayer and time reading God’s word in the Holy Scriptures Andrei Rublev chose a scene from the Hebrew scriptures where three Angels come to visit Abraham and Sarah. For Rublev this was a great insight. Here he found the first hint that God as not one person but three. In his prayer he came to see these three Persons sitting around a table and he realized that the very essence of God is a circle of love, given and received. Andrei Rublev (legendary Russian icon artist), bronze by Bridgeview sculpture instructor Vitaly Patrov.

14. Rublev’s image When you look at his icon you can see from the shape of the shoulders a natural hidden circle. The circle has been drawn into the second picture so that you can see it more clearly. The Father is the figure on the left, the Son is the figure in the middle and the Holy Spirit is the figure on the right. The Trinity. Andrei Rublev (1370-1430). Moscow.

15. VELO The Father looks in love at both the Son and the Spirit, they both look back in love to the Father.

16. This wonderful version of the Trinity Icon was written or painted by Sr Paula in the monastery at Glencairn in Co Waterford. Sr Paula who is now in her nineties speaks with such wonder and power about the love that is God, Father, Son and Spirit that she deliberately chose to paint the icon as a circle or ring. She speaks of the loving gaze of the Son for the Father who in turn gazes in love on the Spirit. Yet we see there is a space or gap in the circle at the front. This space too is deliberate. The reason for it is so that each person who gazes at this icon steps into the circle.

17. We enter the circle here

18. So each Christian is called to take up this place in the circle of God’s love. What a mind blowing thought…we are to be a part of God’s very love- life. Through the Eucharist and living out our Christian vocation we enter each day into that very space. It will happen fully when we pass into the next life…but it has already begun here and now for each of us. Remember to take your space each day…. Me

19. Father, Creator of all life, bless us as we strive to know you. Help us to trust always in your compassion and mercy. One day may we stand in your loving presence and know what immense regard and love you have for all people. Each day help us to accept your invitation to take our place in your circle of love especially through our service of others and through Jesus who gives us Himself in the Eucharist.

20. Lord Jesus, You are our Master, our brother, our saviour….. You have won a place for us in the love circle of the Most Holy Trinity. Help us to have faith that you call us to yourself each day. May we always value and appreciate the honour you have done to us.

21. Spirit, most Holy, The Father has given you to the world in answer to Jesus’ own prayer for us. Work in our lives to help us be faith-full to our calling to share in your circle of love. May we serve Jesus our master in the care and love we show for others and may we by example lead others to understand the love you have for them. You are the giver of new life and hope, fill our hearts with an eagerness to work to build a new awareness of what it means to be disciples, Christians, people who follows the Way.

22. Lord God, Trinity of Persons Help us to be salt and light in our world. Help us to live so as to make a difference for others. Help us through our faithfulness to build up Christ’s body here and now. May our school community always be centred on You and your invitation to take up our space in your circle of love. May we achieve this through working with care, justice and truth. May we seek always to serve without erecting barriers or excluding others. Lord may we live faith fully always.

23. amen

24. Every effort has been made to seek permission to use materials in this meditation, if we have omitted to give any credit we apologise and will be happy to make acknowledgment in any future re working. © 2007