@blindknitter

2 months ago

I was just at a Bible study in Derry at Termonbacca, based on the Creed, and very unusually we only had five people beside our lovely priest Father Cajetan who led, plus the two newly ordained monks. So, a small audience of seven. And, as a listener, I wished profoundly and deeply that we'd had a hundred or more to listen to what Father Cajetan taught us, it was so astonishing and deep. It felt like I'd always known it, but hadn't had the words. I'm an Oxford graduate. I studied Biblical exegesis as part of my degree at Oxford, yet I learned more in that hour with the Carmelites than I did in my first year at Oxford. I absolutely crave my studies at Carmel, and I'm sure your listeners crave your words too (even if you are an oul Franciscan. 😜)

There were only seven of us tonight. But believe me, we seven were *listening*. Father Cajetan has preached to both much larger and smaller groups, yet whatever the crowd or lack of it, he still faithfully preaches. Whether the room is crowded to capacity or if there is a bare handful, he treats it the same.

Anyway - I'm partially sighted so I get a lift home. On the way back the two of us were buzzing in the car like bees in a bottle with excitement about what we learned, and the very minute I was in the door I was sharing it with my adult son, who - knowing him - will pass it on when he's at work. He's half English, so it's going to be on the big alien island to the east by tomorrow evening. And my friend has already shared it with family members in Spain and Romania. The other three laity, also excited, will also share.

Now, I'll share the core of the message if anyone is interested, but it's half one in the morning and I should be in bed.

But, seriously, Father, it's only been four hours. Tonight's Bible study is spreading across a continent and to the eejits in the big island next door.

'Listen mate,' as my Scouser son would say, I promise: you scatter seed, God gives the increase. You have no idea what God will do with your word, even if you think nobody is listening.

God bless you, from Derry

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