Plenary, 21 Sep 2005

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Official Report 391KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection, for which our leader today is Msgr John Tormey, parish priest of St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Greenock.

Today is the feast of St Matthew, so we will begin our reflection with a reading from chapter 5 of the Gospel of St Matthew:

"Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them.

How happy are the poor in spirit:
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
They shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
They shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
They shall be satisfied.
Happy are the merciful:
They shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
They shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
They shall be called children of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."

I would like you to picture this scene. A small boy walked along the beach and collected starfish stranded at low tide. There were hundreds of them, but he lifted a few at a time and carried them to the sea shore. As he threw them into the sea, one at a time, a man who was watching him said, "What's the point? It will make no difference." The small boy looked at him, threw another starfish into the water and said, "It made a difference to that one."

We hunger and thirst for what is right: an end to war and to put a stop to suffering and debt around the world. The task seems enormous and the work to be done incessant. As politicians, you believe that you can make a difference. The gospel passage encourages you to be like that small boy who was determined to save as many starfish as he could.

Children often inspire us not to give up. When I baptise a small child, I reflect with parents and family how this child has so much potential to become someone great—maybe a footballer or a singer, or even a First Minister of the Scottish Parliament. They smile and wonder. Perhaps we, too, need to remember the hopes and dreams of our youth. Most people, however, do not become too famous. Nevertheless, everyone can make a difference in today's world. Your love and my love make a difference. Every small act of mercy that we carry out, every word of kindness, every time we say that we are sorry or call to see how someone is, we sow seeds of love, which change our world for the better.

To fight for justice and to eradicate poverty could gradually wear down the enthusiasm of any politician worth their salt, unless he or she sees signs of success. I pray for all of you who work here that you will see your work make a difference to all Scots and to people beyond these shores: to improve the quality of our life, our health and education; to help alleviate the suffering of millions who live below the poverty level; for fair trade and for the respect of every person's dignity from conception to natural death. I pray that your selfless work for others may begin each day afresh, with every letter you open, with every phone call you return, with every person who you speak to. For when you do these little things well, you are—like that small boy on the seashore—throwing another starfish back into the sea.