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THE FOLLOWING IS a dialogue from a school nativity play written, acted and directed by a class of 9 year olds.
It opens with the scene at the Inn. Joseph and Mary ask for a room overlooking Bethlehem:
Innkeeper: Can’t you see the ‘No Vacancy’ sign?
Joseph: Yes, but can’t you see that my wife is expecting a baby any minute?
Innkeeper: Well, that’s not my fault!
Joseph: Well, it’s certainly not mine either!
I’m taking the chance that the little scene above may have brought you a smile. Maybe it brings you back to plays in which you, as a child, were in for Christmas or maybe
the recent ones over the past number of days when your little one(s) were doing you proud in front of the assembled school.
Whatever the case we all need a laugh, a chance to see the lighter side of life from time to time. We like to be in the company of people who are witty and have a sense of humour – they lighten our cares and worries for a time at least.
Christmas gives us the opportunity to smile, to engage with each other in a different
way more than any other time of the year. It draws from within us a rich meaning of how we should treat each other in a fairer, more compassionate, more humane and generous way.
Christmas joy
I know you may be thinking of situations where you may be with other people you don’t want to be with this Christmas or social situations which can be toxic. I know you are right in asking well, how can I smile or laugh when I’m spending another Christmas with my children in a hotel or my relationship has just collapsed, a family member has just died or I’m ill?
Christmas joy does not come from the absence of all the worries, cares and losses in life but rather from the understanding that Christ is present to us in them and throughout our lives.
Don’t be afraid, the Lord tells us constantly in scripture – joy comes from an open heart that dispels fear and is ready to accept whatever is thrown at us not in a despairing way but with the hope that through faith and good works, through our ability to seek justice and look for the common good, though a smile or kind word, we will overcome adversity.
On the third Sunday of Advent the Gospel presented John the Baptist to us with people asking him “What must we do?”(to be saved) He answered these people who were tax
collectors, soldiers and others who came to him with practical advise: share what you have with those who have not, exact no more tax than the rate, no intimidation, no extortion, be content with your pay (by the way, nobody claims that John was an economist!).
John was pointing towards a solidarity between human beings based in the love of God to do good. John was positioning people to be ready to meet He who can lead us out of the darkness of human sin into the dawn of solidarity, truth and the love of God. As St Athanasius of Alexandria said centuries ago “He [Jesus] became what we are that he might make us what he is.”
Selfless
Just ask yourself, when was the last time you did something truly selfless for someone
else, even if they didn’t deserve it? Did that bring you joy or a contentment in knowing it was the right thing to do? The joy that comes from truly Christian living comes alive each day we offer to people our hope, our presence, our prayers and even our laughter. It comes with the understanding that our ultimate reward is not here in this present life but in the glory to come, eternal life.
That is the real promise of Christmas.
The practicalities of Christmas: bringing family together, the gift giving, making an extra effort in our relationships and being aware of and helping the less fortunate should not be just confined to this time of the year of course but echo throughout the year itself – resolution anyone? Don’t be afraid!
In wishing you a very happy Christmas my prayer for you from Knock Shrine in the
year ahead is from St Paul:
“Always be joyful, then, in the Lord; I repeat, be joyful. Let your good sense be obvious to
everybody. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything; but tell God all your desires of
every kind in prayer and petition shot through with gratitude, and the peace of God which is beyond our understanding will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4: 4-7)
Fr Richard Gibbons is Parish Priest of Knock and Rector of Knock Shrine.
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It would also be good if the government overhauled how it’s taught in our schools so people could learn how to speak it properly.
@johnbunton: Too right! Irish should be taught the same way as French or German, for example. Prose and poetry should be made optional for those who want to do it and these should be done in separate classes. Knowledge of the language should be prioritised first and foremost.
@johnbunton: it has been. 40% oral.
@Ken Loughman: I’m a fluent speaker and got top marks in LC Irish and I completely agree. Seperate language and literature papers, leave language as compulsory and have literature as an option. It’s hardly fair to those who struggle (either with languages in general or specifically with Irish) to be expected to have an in depth knowledge of the poems, plays etc if they’re finding it hard to grasp the actual language itself. Plus it’ll also benefit those who do have strong Irish as they’ll have another optional subject they can be confident in.
@Frainc Ó Broin: it’s still not enough in my opinion. Students all across Europe students are fluent in at least two languages. We start learning Irish at the age of 5 and stop at age of 17 or 18 and most people still don’t have a clue outside the set oral spiel we all have to give. There’s something very wrong with the system when you could get an A or B in higher level Irish and not be a fluent speaker at the end of it.
@Ebony: I based my comment on my own experience in secondary school. While I enjoyed learning the grammar I hated the prose and poetry. It serves absolutely no purpose for everyday situations in the 21st Century.
I should add that one of my great-grandmothers from Mayo was a native speaker and my Dad was fluent when he was younger. I regret not being fluent myself considering those connections to the language in my family. Still, there’s always Duolingo…
@Ken Loughman: It’s miles better than it was, at least at primary level. At least I think it is. My 7yo regularly comes out with a long mellifluous spiel, most of which I don’t understand.
@Ken Loughman: And how well do most Irish school leavers speak French or German ? Would a monolingual native speaker understand them or vv?
@Gearóid ÓCiaráin: Well, I speak both pretty well. I can guarantee you that school leavers who did French or German have a better chance of being able to use them in everyday situations than they would with Irish. That’s the whole problem with how Irish is being taught.
@johnbunton: it’s not how it’s taught – it’s whether or not people want to learn it – unfortunately most people don’t
@johnbunton: I think it’s also a matter of exposure. Any non-native English speakers who are fluent in English grew up watching the same films and listening to the same music as us – all in English!
@johnbunton: let’s gets teachers that engage with teachers first. My own personal experience is no interaction and Peig.
@Ken Loughman: very true im a fluent irish speaker and definitely the time spent learning poetry etc be better spent actually learning the language u don’t do french poetry or german to learn them
@johnbunton: what’s wrong with a big stick
@Thomas Harrington:I would argue that the way Irish is being taught, i.e. having to do prose and poetry at the same time instead of concentrating on the language itself, is one of the reasons why people don’t want to learn it.
The Clondalkin Irish scene is vibrant thanks in part to great work by those who established Aras Chronain. It’s worth a visit even if all you order is a Pionta, le do thol
Faoi dheireadh Caithfidh muid a bheith dóchasach go dtarlóidh sé mar a deireann siad
@Séan Ó Nuanáin: i hope to at some point be that good at irish like you. Started a course to get myself back to a decent level of irish again as i was quiet good at it in school. It all starts coming back to me the more im at it.
@shellakybooky: maybe you should start learning English first so you can be quite good at Irish.
#PrayForArlene
Irish was a complete waste of time in my secondary school. We did double Irish classes just to pass an exam but never learned how to really speak or understand real Irish
@Stipe Miocic: its sad isn’t it? I could start quoting Irish poetry to you but I haven’t a clue how to go about ordering a meal in a restaurant, buying cinema tickets etc in Irish. these are basic things you learn when you start learning another language so you feel confident speaking it. because of Polish friends who don’t treat me as an inferior species because I can’t speak the language I can speak more Polish than Irish &quite happily use it in Poland/ with Poles
@Stipe Miocic: and the fault lies with?
Arlene, will choke on her cornflakes.
Welcome to the the 21st century, where personal choice is welcomed, now to LGBT equality/rights
This entire sham is put into perspective when areas such as Clondalkin and Ennis are included.
@Adam Reid: Clondalkin has a thriving Gaelscoil. The area has a deep cultural interest and is steeped in history. The round tower garden was recently renovated and there’s a good buzz about the village. No better place to enthuse people of all ages to get involved in learning, or relearning their native language…. And of course they have Eoin Ó Broin and Lyn Boylan who do Trojan work in and for the area.
@Paul Linehan: Clondalkin has a chip shop; how many residents eat chips there?
@Adam Reid: Clondalkin also has Indian, Pizza and Chinese takeaways…. So I’m going to presume that they have choices!!!
Is fuath liom Gaeilge. D’fhéach fir brónach i gúnaí dubh a ghlac pléisiúr orthu siúd a bhí ag obair go rialta ag daoine nach bhfuaimnigh Éire mar a cheap siad gur chóir é a labhairt.
So what did we need an Irish Language Act for if we can just do this?
Seems almost like someone was trying to be antagonistic, when this could be sorted out in such a more graceful manner.
@alphanautica: Some people may have become addicted to drama, publicity and ‘historic moments’.
@Brendan O’Brien: You mean like the Majority of People in the North?? because thats who want an ILA.
So, incremental progress can be made through common sense.
Surely better than an all-or-nothing stand-off between massive tribal egos.
Do the DUP know this. ??
Proud to be Irish but Irish isn’t good for business……just saying
Stupid language
@Gearoid De Burca: Yes, English is a stupid language with everything backwards in comparison to rich languages like Irish.
@eastsmer: Irish speaking areas are full of people born with a sod of turf in their mouth.
@Gearoid De Burca: from the sounds of things, you were born with a sod of sh**e in yours.
@Gearoid De Burca: Hi Arlene!
@Gearoid De Burca: Coming from a person with an Irish name!
@Gearoid De Burca: Anyone who calls a language, any language, stupid is an ignoramus.
@Gearoid De Burca: you’re not much better obviously…..
@Leadóg: I just called it stupid
@Gearoid De Burca: With a name like yours..???
What planet are you on..
@Gearoid De Burca: At least its Irish turf.
@Gearoid De Burca: bitter that you were sh!te at Irish in school eh, Gerry Burke?
@Laura: You bite… You eat the same shite. So just grin with a wide one and except you’ve improved by at least on the higher intelligence ladder!!!
G
An Ghaeltacht should be a place where ”Native” Gaeilge is spoken or else change it to Gaeltacht Dhúchasach for example. Places like those mentioned in the article above could then use An Ghaeltacht.
Difference according to the article is that it covers only a handful of Gaeltacht areas and doesn’t supply any funding. ILA (I think) covers all areas with majority Irish populations and restores some funding that was previously cut.
have your say