Friday Thought with Fr Chris Ferguson

Before long I was walking around the parochial house like Robocop and if I dropped anything, I resembled Ed208 trying to negotiate a set of stairs. I tried pain killers, at one stage, and like any self-respecting, Derry man, I had my mother rubbing cream into my back. All this was to no avail, I was still walking like someone preparing for a DLA board or PIPs examination. As a last resort I decided to do something about it, even without my mother’s intervention or aid.

I have a friend from my days in Saint Joseph’s Boys School, who’s a practicing physio, so I booked an appointment with him. As usual, I was met with a sympathetic response when I struggled into the physiotherapist’s clinic. My friend took one look at me, and burst out laughing. Even before I was battered and beaten upon an elevated table, we spend fifteen minutes

talking about everything that was wrong with the world. Eventually after we had exhausted Covid and Brexit, we settled down to the relatively minor issue of my sore back. I must have been a nightmare at school, because my former class mate thumped the life out of my back. I wouldn’t mind as much, but even from our sixth form days, he’s stood over six feet, three. Often it has been said, the cure is more painful than the disease, if that’s true, then I’m well and truly cured.

Whatever pain I was in beforehand, paled into insignificance after my physio session. Of course, I have to go back for more appointments and have been given exercises to do in the meantime. In fairness the pain has eased and I have recovered more movement, however, I was warned it will take a bit of work and time. This is a difficult prospect in world we’re were encouraged not to have much patience. Certainly, my relaxed ways have become even slower in the wake of my injury. At the moment, I’m looking for excuses to avoid the physio, and even though the session will be beneficial, I still want to avoid the pain. This is an attitude, which can be applied to many areas of our lives, particularly our friendships and relationships. We have all experienced tensions with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. How many times have we sought to clear the air, meeting face to face, with very the person we have issue with? I know from my own experience,

I find it easier to talk to every other person who will listen, rather than confront the individual concerned. Let’s be honest, it’s not easy having to deal with conflict within friendships, relationships, or with people in general.

Yet in passage from Matthew’s gospel, Jesus’ provides us with a road map, leading towards true reconciliation and the restoring of relationships. The key, is our hearts, what is our motivation? Do we desire to make peace and restore friendships? Or, are we driven by a desire to humiliate and embarrass the other party? Are we concerned with creating peace, by bringing people together through the healing power of forgiveness? Or do we wish to lash out, by seeking vengeance, and being hell bent on causing more pain and destruction? How many times have we immediately sought someone higher up, only hoping to have the person concerned punished or called out? According to Christ, it’s our Christian duty to approach the person first, before we involve others, or the whole community.

It’s all too easy in today’s world social media world to indulge in trial by public opinion. Public shaming is all to common, and for many it’s the first rather than the last resort. Can we think with generosity, before we act?