Aughaval Group of Parishes

  Today’s gospel speaks of the kingdom of heaven - Matthew's preferred name for the reign and ways of God. The gospel suggests that although in this age we live in a world in which good and evil co-exist and clash, God's kingdom will come and God's will shall be done "on earth as it is in heaven". This is what we pray for every time we say the Lord's Prayer or Our Father. This parable is one of Jesus' "hard sayings".    Matthew includes a note of warning in describing the eventual separation by God of that which is evil and that which is good, just and righteous.  With its unsettling imagery it is a timely reminder that the evil which the world is witnessing currently in "the Land of the Holy One" and in other domains where violence, cruelty and terror are being permitted to reign, is not God's will or in keeping with God's just, good and loving ways and the way of peace.  Let us pray... Matthew 13:47-53 ‘Again, the kingdom of h...

Today's gospel contains two concise parables which together remind us, among other things, of the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:21, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  The Hidden Treasure Sir John Everett Millais , 1860 Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Matthew 13:44–46 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Sacred Space You can find a gentle prayer guide and reflection (recommended) here: https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-07-30/ Christian Art https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-13-44-46-2025/ We could add to these reflections that it is possible to discover the "field" or "treasure" (of the gospel and the kingdom of God), to treas...

       'Not so holy'. Photo, November 2017 The ongoing evils and horrors in Gaza provoke in us the cry, What can we do? And How long, O Lord? (Psalm 13)  This post was published on the Church of Ireland’s website and social media platforms on 28 July 2025.  "Voices from the Land of the Holy One – gathering perspectives of Christian leaders In the wake of the attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza on July 17 and intense pressure being put on Christians in the West Bank, Christians around the world are being urged by their brothers and sisters in the Land of the Holy One to raise their voices and raise awareness  The Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough has gathered some voices of church leaders in Jerusalem, including from our partners in the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.  Archbishop Michael Jackson has written an introduction calling us all to pray for a ceasefire so that care for all the people of the region can start. Praying for ‘Startcare’ … ...

  The Feast of Saints, Martha, Mary and Lazarus Today, 29 July, is the Feast of Saints, Martha, Mary and Lazarus, a "lesser festival", previously dedicated to Martha alone. Martha is known, on account of the narrative in Luke chapter 10, for her busyness, worry, distraction and apparent preoccupation with the practicalities of hospitality and related domestic concerns. She is often compared, negatively, and by the Lord himself, with her sister Mary. Mary is presented as more inclined towards devotion and learning - pursued in the typical posture of the student or disciple as they glean knowledge from the rabbi or master - sitting at the feet of Jesus. Yet it was to Martha that Jesus made the seminal statement that has been a source of courage, strength and faith for Christians everywhere and ever since:  “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe t...

  Parable of the Leaven by John Everett Millais, ca 1860 Aberdeen City Council (Archives, Gallery and Museums Collection)  Public Domain, via https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115176848 Jesus and the Parable of the Mustard Seed Public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jesus_and_the_parable_of_the_mustard_seed.jpg Two parables In today's gospel Jesus tells two parables which illustrate that, in God's 'economy', size and numbers are not everything. Rather, great good often comes from small beginnings - or as the proverb puts it, "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow".  This important teaching lies behind a saying attributed to Mother Teresa of Calcutta which reminds us that we may not all be able to do great things but we can all do small things with great love . These 'small things done with great love' - acts of love and mercy - may in the end have an influence for God's kingdom way beyond our expectations and may do immea...

Reek Sunday, in the Aughaval Parishes: 10am in Christ Church Castlebar, Morning Prayer, read by Dr Eamon Smith, followed by tea; 10.30am, A Service of the Word, at the Oratory on Croagh Patrick , led by Revd Canon Alex Morahan;  12 noon in Westport (in St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, for the Holy Trinity congregation), followed by tea/coffee in Carrowbeg House; 2.30pm, gathering at Murrisk Carpark (outside the cafe) for the short pilgrimage to the St Patrick statue, for prayers and reflection, led by Kenn McLaughlin and Brad Thien, and accompanied and blessed by Bishop Michael Burrows TLK; 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill , Evening Prayer, read by Benita Stoney, followed by tea in St Thomas's Hall. Thanks also to Dr Eamon Smith for leading Evening Prayer at Turlough Parish Church, on Sat 16 July. The Deer's Cry or St Patrick's Breastplate (sung): https://youtu.be/GGHWiAGpIP0?si=4AnLmymjUK--5pTe "Knock, and the door will be opened for you." (Luke 11:9) I...

  Today's gospel is the parable of the weeds among the wheat. Illustration rom book by Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé, Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz,  1885, Gera, Germany Public domain via Wikicommons Matthew 13:24-30 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell t...

  "Yours, O  Lord , are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O  Lord , and you are exalted as head above all." 1 Chronicles 29:11 Today's gospel       Matthew 20:20-28 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him [Jesus] with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’  But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’  They said to him, ‘We are able.’ He said to them, ‘You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’ When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two...

  The Emperor's New Clothes , fairytale,  in  Hans Christian Andersen Parade, Odense, Denmark, 2012 Photo by  Danand  Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Matthew 13:10-17 Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’  He answered,  ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets  of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: “You will indeed listen, but never understand,    and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull,    and their ears are hard of hearing,  ...

  Our thanks to St Mary's Church, Westport,  for provision of these helpful and attractive prayer guides,  suitable for pilgrims of any denomination (or none).  Our plans for Reek Sunday day are as below: (1) Service of the Word, on the Mountain - 10.30am This year our Church of Ireland parishes have been invited, most kindly, by our ecumenical friends from the Roman Catholic Church and Archdiocese of Tuam to avail of the Oratory on Croagh Patrick to hold a service in our own church tradition. We are grateful for their welcome and generosity.   (2) Gentle walk-and-talk-and-pray - 2.30pm For those who wish to enter in to the spirit and joy of the day but are unable to make the climb, there will be the opportunity to gather in the Murrisk carpark and with a few others to walk to the St Patrick statue at the foot of the mountain, for prayer and reflection. This will be led by a few of our trainee 'LLLMs' and accompanied and blessed by Bishop Michael. Everyone is i...

  Reek Sunday in the Aughaval Parishes : Something for everyone Canon Alex Morahan, centre   The Rt Revd Michael Burrows, Bishop of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe We are blessed as Church of Ireland parishes, this coming Reek Sunday, 27 July, to anticipate joining in the spirit of the Pilgrims of Hope, with a short service at the Oratory at 10.30am, led by our good friend Canon Alex Morahan, and gathering a little later, at 2.30pm at Murrisk carpark, for the short walk to the St Patrick statue at the foot of Croagh Patrick, with prayers, led by a few of our trainee 'LLLMs' (equivalent to Parish Readers) and blessed by Bishop Michael Burrows. It's for you! Everyone is welcome +

  What's on on Wednesday? Midweek Holy Communion, 10.30 am in Westport (St Mary's Church, S. Mall), followed by tea/coffee in the Clew Bay Hotel (James Street) Online Prayer and Bible Study, 8pm.  Link on request - email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org.  Please note that these Wednesday services will stop for August and resume in September.   Christ the True Vine, icon Athens, 16th century https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_the_True_Vine_icon_(Athens,_16th_century).jpg Today's gospel      John 15:1-8 ”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those...