‘No one who puts their hand to the
plough and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God’ Lk. 9:62.
I always enjoy a day at the ploughing championships maybe because of the
happy memories I retain from growing up on the family farm. The world and his
mother beat a track to the ploughing every September. It is Europe’s largest
outdoor event with in excess of 280.000 visitors attending this year’s event in
Screggan, Tullamore. Local farmers provided 600 hundred acres of their land to
meet the requirements for the ploughing events, parking and approx. 2,000
exhibits.
I was representing Vocations Ireland. I shared a stand with Franciscans
OFM. NET Ministries Team joined us for the three days. We were kept on our toes
with the footfall to our stand which was very encouraging. People were
requesting prayers of all kinds; children were seeking prayer cards for their
pets and animals. Farmers a blessing for their land and others a prayer for
sick friends. Wrist bands and crosses were also in great demand.
It is said that people who are close to the earth are close to God and
to the beauty of God’s creation. Jesus uses many images from the
land in his stories in the Gospels. He uses the image of the plough. “No one
who puts their hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of
God”. The person who is constantly looking back will get nowhere. Too much time
is wasted and lost in looking back. Nothing can change anything we have done in
the past. Getting it right now gives us much more control in doing things
better. God wants us to move focus on the job at hand and move forward in hope.
If you are interested in finding out about the Presentation Brothers,
don’t hesitate to email me at the following address;vocation@presentationbrothers.org.
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