We gathered in the Atlantic Room of the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point on 28th May, 2012. The summer sun shone in all its glory on sand, sea, swimmers and sunbathers.
Spanish Point beach
Who would want to be indoors on such a day? But consider the topic: “Cosmologies Old and New” and the presenter Brother Mark McDonnell, a great communicator and insightful teacher and you will understand the anticipation and enthusiasm of the assembled gathering of Sisters of Mercy, friends and colleagues. We weren’t disappointed.
Brother Mark McDonnell
We were led in a creative, interactive and inspiring way along the 13.5 billion year journey of the Universe and its implications for the meaning of life today.
What stays with me now, four weeks later?
Without a big picture, a big vision, we are very small people.
The creation stories in the Book of Genesis were greatly influenced by the cosmologies of the surrounding cultures, the super-powers of their day – Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece.
Every cosmology has a blind spot.
Since the seventeenth century biblical cosmology began to develop cracks when challenged by the discoveries of science.
What are the challenges that lie ahead?
There is no shared story of meaning in our time. Our story carries our image of God hence the dialogue that needs to take place between faith and the “new story” is of vital importance. We need to look at the Christian story within the Universe story to have a resonance between faith and science knowing that the truths of science and theology can rhyme.
Life continuously evolves. New revelations await us. Thomas Aquinas, in the thirteenth century reminds us that the ‘first Book of Revelation is the Universe itself’. And twelve centuries earlier Seneca declared that “nature does not reveal her mysteries once and for all”.
Do we, as an ancient race have a story of meaning, a “Big Story”? According to the Irish tradition, we come from a SONG. We are notes in the song, notes in the GREAT BIG SONG. What a beautiful image! How wonderful to hear this gem in West Clare, where the best of our traditional music and song was cherished and guarded during the decades when it was being discarded in the name of progress in other parts of the country.
“Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are.”
We are familiar with the nursery rhyme and can probably sing every line. But did you know that silver is born in the explosion of a star? That galaxies are star factories? That the light of the nearest star takes 4.4 light years to reach earth and the length of a light year is 5.9 million, million miles?
We have been living for centuries in black and white. Now we are enabled to live in colour.
Should Mark McDonald come to a venue near you, don’t miss the opportunity to be drawn into a new level of awareness, a deepening appreciation of the mystery of the universe, the mystery we call God, the God of Jesus Christ, who wishes us to live life in all its fullness.
God for us, we call you Father.
God alongside us, we call you Jesus.
God within us, we call you Holy Spirit.
You are the Eternal Mystery that enfolds, enlivens all things,
Even us, even me.
Every name falls short of your goodness and greatness.
We can only see who you are in what is.
We ask for such perfect seeing.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
(Richard Rohr, OFM)
Kathleen Delaney rsm
South Central Province
