A Gaelic Homily

Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from July 30, 2006 at Iveleary, Ireland

Beal Ath'n gaorthaidh
Muineann Criost duinn san soisceal fe'n gceist; "Cad e an eaglais?"
An rud a phreabann isteach sa Cheann don gna duice na; easpiag, sagart, manaig, no seipeil.
Deireann Iosa; Ta an eaglais cosuil le tor no crann; tor mor , ard, faorsing ina bhfuil geag ann do gach eanlaith, fiu amhain ean ait agus aisteach. Is minic a cheapann daoine nach bhfuil cead acu bheith pairteach le pobal De.
Deinimid botun eagain, cailis, peace beag no mor agus tuigimid go mbeadh se nios fearr duinn fanacht amuigh fe dhorais an tseipeil.
"Sne uaireants sin, cuimhnigh ar an soisceal. Labhrann Iosa i ngach sceach pludaithe le spideoga, smolaigh, loinn duibh agus preachain agus deireann se linn go h'umhail, "Filte romhat, lig do scith, tar isteach. Ta ait annseo do 'chuile duine, fiu amhain an preachan dubh."

Homily offered in Ballingeary, a Gaelic-speaking village in my home parish of Iveleary.

Christ teaches us in the Gospel about the question; "What is the Church?"

The thought that occurs to most people is; the bishops, the priest, the monks, or the chapel.

Jesus says; the Church is like a bush or a tree; a bush that is big, high and generous, with a branch for every fowl, even odd and strange birds.

People often think that they do not have permission to belong to God's People.

We make a mistake, a foul, a small or a big sin and we think that it may be best for us to stay outside the chapel door.

In those times remember the gospel. Jesus speaks from every bush covered with robins, thrush, blackbirds and crows and says to us gently;

"Welcome, take your rest, come in. There is room here for everyone, even the dark crow."