Time for Reflection
Feasgar math. Is e àm cnuasachaidh a' chiad nì sa chlàr-ghnothaich a tha againn an-diugh. Is e Donnchadh Macleòid an neach-stiùiridh a tha againn an-diugh. Tha e na mhinistear san Eaglais Shaoir ann am Peairt.
Good afternoon. The first item of business today is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader is the Rev Duncan Macleod, who is minister of the Free Church in Perth. English translations of the text are available in the gallery and members may of course use their headphones.
An t-Urr Donnchadh Macleòid (An Eaglais Shaor, Peairt):
Dhòmhsa, mar Leòdhasach, tha mo chànan agus mo chreideamh am measg nan nithean as cudthromaiche a bhuineas dham dhualchas. Tha e mar sin a' toirt fìor thoileachas dhomh na smuaintean seo a thoirt thugaibhse an-diugh anns a' Ghàidhlig—cànan a bhuineas dhuinn mar rìoghachd agus air nach bu choir dhuinn dìmeas a dhèanamh.
Ach is e mo chreideamh ann an Dia tre Iosa Crìosd an nì as luachmhoire a tha na mo bheatha. Is fhada bho chaidh seo a theagasg dhomh à "Leabhar Aithghearr nan Ceist".
"Ciod e Dia?
Tha Dia na spiorad, neo-chrìochnach, bith-bhuan agus neo-chaochlaidheach na bhith, na ghliocas, na chumhachd, na naomhachd, na cheartas, na mhaitheas agus na fhìrinn."
Thuirt Crìosd,
"An Tì a chunnaic mise, chunnaic e an t-Athair."
Ged nach eil na tha fìor mu bhith Dhè fìor mur deidhinne a chruthaich E, is cinnteach gun iarramaid uile a bhith a' foillseachadh na feartan eile a bha air an ainmeachadh an siud nar beatha.
Gliocas—cò againn nach eil a' cur feum air an seo? Buill Pàrlamaid a cheart cho cinnteach ris a h-uile duine eile! Is e tùs a' ghliocais eagal Dhè agus tha an gliocas a tha on àrd air tùs glan, an dèidh sin sìochail, ciùin agus so-chomhairleachadh; làn de thròcair agus de dheagh thoradh, gun lethbhreac agus gun cheilg.
Cumhachd—tha sinn uile dèidheil air cumhachd agus ùghdarras a bhith againn nar beatha. Ta chan eil ann an cumhachd ach rud nach bi aig duine againn ro fhada. Tha sin fìor mu bhuill Pàrlamaid cuideachd. Mar dhaoine, tha sinn uile cho lag agus ar beatha cho mì-chinnteach. Faodaidh ar freastal atharrachadh uair sam bith. Dèanamaid cinnteach, ma-thà, gun cleachd sinn cumhachd sam bith a bhios air a bhuileachadh oirnn a-chum maith dhaoine eile an àite a-chum ar glòir fhìn.
Naomhachd—tha am facal sin a' ciallachadh gu bheil Dia air leth bho gach neach eile, agus cuideachd nach gabhar aon chasaid de sheòrsa sam bith a dhearbhadh na aghaidh. Cha diathan sibhse, ach tha sibh air ur cur air leth airson a bhith a' dèanamh seirbheis dur co-chreutairean. Feuchaibh gum bi sibh gur giùlain fhèin a-chum 's nach gabh aon chasaid a bhith air a cur às ur leth.
Ceartas—is cinnteach gu bheil a h-uile duine againn ag iarraidh seo. Tha saoghal cho làn de mhì-cheartas agus tha e mar dhleastanas oirnn uile, agus gu cinnteach oirbhse a tha ann an ùghdarras, oidhirp a dhèanamh a-chum agus gum bi ceartas agus fìreantachd gar comharrachadh mar rìoghachd. Cha ghabh ceartas dhaoine a bhith air a chomas ri ceartas Dhè, agus nuair a tha sinn mothachail air mì-cheartas anns an t-saoghal is math briathran Abrahaim a chuimhneachadh:
"Nach dèan Breitheamh na talmhainn uile ceartas?"
Maitheas—nuair a bha Iosa san t-saoghal bha e a' dol mu chuairt a' dèanamh nithean matha. Na sgìthicheamaid de mhath a dhèanamh nas motha, agus gum biodh sin fìor mu gach nì anns am bi sibhse ri sàs mar bhuill Pàrlamaid na h-Albainn.
Fìrinn—a-rithist tha seo cho cudthromach. A dh'aindeoin 's mar a bhios sinn a' faicinn nithean tre shùilean eadar-dhealaichte, agus is docha a' leigeil cudthrom air deifir nithean a rèir agus an seòrsa feallsanachd a tha againn, is cinnteach nach eil nì cho iomchaidh na gum biodh sinn uile a' labhairt na fìrinn aig a h-uile àm gun a bhith a' toirt àite don bhreug.
Anns na dòighean sin gum biodh sibhse a' glòrachadh Dhè agus nur seirbheisich do mhuinntir na h-Albainn air fad nur n-obair, agus gun robh Dia gur beannachadh aig a h-uile àm agus anns gach nì.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
For me as a Lewisman my language and my faith are among the most important aspects of my heritage. It therefore gives me real pleasure to convey these thoughts to you today in Gaelic—a language that belongs to us as a nation and that we should not despise.
However, my faith in God through Jesus Christ is the most precious thing in my life. I learned this question and answer long ago from the Shorter Catechism.
"What is God?
God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth."
Christ said that
"he that has seen me has seen the Father".
Although what is true of God's being is not true of us, his creatures, surely all of us would want to show forth in our lives the other virtues mentioned in the catechism.
Wisdom—which of us does not need this? Members of Parliament need it just as surely as everyone else. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Power—we all desire to have power and authority in our lives. However, power is something that nobody will have for very long. That is true of members of Parliament as well. As human beings we are so weak and our lives are so uncertain. Our Providence can change at any time. Let us ensure then that we use whatever power we are invested with for the benefit of others rather than for our own glory.
Holiness—this word means that God is separate from all others and that no charge of any kind can be proved against Him. You are not gods, but you are set apart in order to serve your fellow human beings. Make sure you conduct yourselves in a way that is above reproach.
Justice—surely we all want that. The world is full of injustice and it is our responsibility—and certainly your responsibility—in positions of authority to make the effort to ensure that justice and righteousness characterise us as a nation. Human justice cannot be compared with God's justice and when we are aware of injustice in the world it is good to remember the words of Abraham:
"Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
Goodness—when Jesus was in the world he went about doing good. Let us not grow tired in well-doing either and may that be true of all that you as members of the Scottish Parliament are involved in.
Truth—again that is so important. Despite how we see things from different perspectives and perhaps emphasise different issues according to our own ideology, there is surely nothing more appropriate than that we all always speak the truth without giving any place to falsehood.
In those ways, may you glorify God and be servants of all the Scottish people in your work at all times and in all things.