Time for Reflection
We welcome to lead our time for reflection Father John Robinson, parish priest at Peebles and Innerleithen.
Father John Robinson (Catholic Church, Tweeddale):
I give you thanks for the gift and privilege of this time with you today. I had never thought that I might open my mouth in the General Assembly hall, let alone before the Scottish Parliament.
Today is the anniversary of the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in 1914—the spark that set off the first world war. It is also the day on which, in 1919, the treaty of Versailles was signed, which formally brought that war to an end.
In the Christian calendar, today is the feast of St Irenaeus, who became Bishop of Lyon and a martyr. As his name suggests, he worked hard for peace and unity. In light of those facts, here are some verses from Psalm 84:
I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land.
Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.
The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps.
We know that peace between nations starts with individuals. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. St Irenaeus taught that the glory of God is men and women fully alive. I am sure that the Scottish Parliament wishes everyone in the land to be fully alive—using their talents to the glory of God and in service of the community, and especially of those in need, and enabling justice and peace to embrace and mercy and faithfulness to meet—in every corner of the land. Of course, we always need to make sure that, in the midst of many demands on our energies, we are taking care of ourselves individually, nourishing health of mind and heart, body and soul—that is justice, faithfulness, peace and mercy to self.
So many of our communities celebrate and become more alive in and through special ceremonies at this time and some of us, particularly in Selkirk and in Peebles, have been blessed with the weather that crowns the day.
I will finish with a Beltane blessing from our Highlands and Islands, which is found in the "Carmina Gadelica", and which we used as Churches and community together in the Cross Kirk of Peebles:
Bless ourselves and our children,
Bless everyone who shall come from our loins,
Bless him whose name we bear,
Bless her O God from whose womb we came.
Be the Cross of Christ to shield us downward,
Be the Cross of Christ to shield us upward,
Be the Cross of Christ to shield us roundward.
Every holiness, blessing, and power,
Be yielded to us every time and every hour,
In the name of the Holy Threefold above,
Father, Son and Spirit everlasting.
Amen.