Friday Thought with Fr Chris Ferguson

Maybe it was my colleague’s birthday, or a parcel was expected from Amazon. Obviously, the parcel failed to arrive, because Fr Gerard was in the worse of form, he looked so dejected. It wasn’t until I started being nosey on Facebook, did the penny drop, when suddenly I understood why Fr Gerard was anxiously waiting on the post, it was Valentine’s Day. I wasn’t sure how to handle the delicate situation, my back wasn’t exactly broke picking up Valentine’s cards.

Thus, began a very interesting Valentine’s Day, which proved to be an education, and for those who think romance is dead in Derry, I’ve news, your dead right.

After trying to console my broken-hearted colleague I ventured into Saint Columb’s College. As normal, I began in the canteen, where I was treated to wisdom from some elderly members of the male staff. These senior teachers, now in their fifties, had formed a support group around one of the tables in the canteen. Not being one to stir, I asked had they treated their significant others to a Valentine’s card or gift. One of the teachers painfully explained how the next three weeks where going to be difficult. Week one was Valentine’s, week two was his wife’s birthday, week three was their wedding anniversary. The teacher in question knew he had to be super organised, this involved rushing out to buy a Valentine’s card.

On Thursday night as he was about the write the card, the teacher made the fortunate mistake of checking the front of the card. This was when he discovered he was two weeks ahead of himself, he had bought a wedding anniversary card.

Consequently, he found himself in a supermarket at 8am on Valentine’s morning.

No doubt, this weekend has been dominated by images of hearts, the scent of flowers, the aroma of fine food, everywhere except the parochial house. Valentine’s is driven by commercial interests, although, celebrated properly it can provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the our closest and dearest. If we remove the tacky elements and concentrate on honouring those who mean the most to us, then something positive can be celebrated. Over the centuries the portrayal of the heart has been subject to various depictions.

Recognised as the centre of the emotions, the heart was perceived as the seat of our passions. Who we are, the truth of our being, was often understood as being hidden in the depths of our hearts? We could quite comfortably present one face to the world, while in our hearts we could be seething with hatred and violent intentions.

In the Gospel, as Jesus proclaims a radical new teaching to his disciples, we’re challenged about the nature of our most intimate thoughts and feelings.

The root of all evil is to be found in our hearts, there anger, hatred, and jealously can ferment and grow. Christianity, true discipleship, the call to follow Jesus, is a radical and dangerous vocation.

Jesus is demanding all of us, heart, soul and body. God wants more than mere lip service, or the simple and hollow following of rules. We’re wasting our time coming to Mass and celebrating the sacraments, if our hearts aren’t opened to being broken, healed, transformed and enlarged, until we can live and love like Jesus Christ. This week in the diocese we celebrate Vocations week, so where and how are we being called? Are we prepared to trust God, allowing him to lead us where he needs us? Can we be generous enough to become a presence of God’s mercy,compassion and forgiveness. In a world crying out for role models, can we provide our young people with a genuine witness, to the God who wants all his children to live life to the full. Are we prepared to encourage our young people to answer God’s call for their lives?