A Mother's Letter
a reflection by Fr. Tom Breen,
based on his original broadcast on local radio (Tipp Mid-West) in December 2004

About three years ago I received the type of letter that one does not often receive and never forgets. It was from a young mother asking me to say mass for her and to remember her in my prayers. She was about to enter treatment for alcoholism. She wrote in the letter that she was determined to deal with this problem and to return to her home to be a good mother, a good wife and a good homemaker. She completed the treatment successfully and to this day she is a good mother and wife and homemaker. I will always remember that letter.

I found her honesty, sheer determination and willingness to faced the naked truth about herself, very inspiring. I thought to myself what a wonderful woman she really is.

I hope this story with a happy ending will inspire you to face a challenge in your life. Maybe you have fallen out with a neighbour, a friend, a family member or the church. May God grant you the same courage and honesty He gave to the mother who wrote that letter.

A Walk in the Forest
a reflection by Fr. Tom Breen,
based on his original broadcast on local radio (Tipp Mid-West) in December 2004

I enjoy a walk in the countryside once in a while. Just two weeks ago I was enjoying a walk in the forest. I was making my way through the forest along a well-trodden path. Suddenly my companion and I were unpleasantly surprised to come across what must have been 18 or 20 beer cans scattered over a 20 yard stretch of the forest path. We looked at each other in silence. I could see the disgust on my companion's face. We concluded that some people had a party in this spot but what a mess they left behind!

I wonder if my life is like that. Are there messy bits I need to clear up? Is there unfinished business awaiting my attention? Are there people I have hurt and not gone back to heal the wound?

It is never too late to try to make peace with our past. The beer drinkers left unfinished business in a beautiful forest; this invites me to reflect where I have spoiled the beauty of my own life and of the people whose paths I have crossed. Did I leave a blessing or a wound? How do I treat the countryside or the environment? How good am I on recycling? Maybe the beer drinkers are not so different to me after all. Jesus was born into this world; we do well to keep it beautiful for Him.