Plenary, 14 Mar 2007
Meeting date: Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Official Report
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Time for Reflection
Good morning. Our first item of business is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is Father John Keenan, of the Catholic chaplaincy of the University of Glasgow.
Father John Keenan (Catholic Chaplaincy, University of Glasgow):
Good morning.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Today's scripture is from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses said to the people:
"Take notice of the laws and customs I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life and enter and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. As the Lord has commanded me I teach you these laws … And they will demonstrate to the nations your wisdom and understanding. When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, ‘No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation.'"
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Dear brothers and sisters, one of my high points as Catholic chaplain at the University of Glasgow was the 550th anniversary of our foundation, when Pope John Paul sent us a letter of congratulations and blessing. I treasure that letter to this day. He applauded the rich humanism that ran through our bull of foundation. That inspired vision of humanity has guided our university through the ups and downs of half a millennium. The Pope pointed out the key to our success: we put people before things, ethics before technology and spiritual things before material.
The Pope's letter ended by focusing on our motto, "Via, Veritas, Vita", taken from St John's gospel, where Jesus revealed himself as the way, the truth and the life for all humanity. In him, his word and his loving sacrifice on Calvary for the whole world, we discover what it really means to be human.
The aim of our business today is not so far removed from that rich vision. In these moments we humbly ask Almighty God to guide us as we mould laws and customs that will give our nation new life, deeper humanity and gracious possession of our land. Under his sure assistance may we prosper in prudence and wisdom so as to be a light to the peoples of the world.
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ. Your word of love perfects the just laws of our fathers. Under your providence may we keep and teach your wise commands in this place so as to be worthy watchmen and women of your kingdom. We ask this in your name.
Amen.