The following is from a talk to mark thirty years of the Charismatic Prayer Group in the Dominican Priory, Tallaght.
In keeping with the First Reading of our Mass, we too can praise God this night and say: The Lord our God has carried us as a father carries his son, all the way we went until we have reached this place. This has been the secret of our thirty years of praise and thanksgiving in this place.
The text is taken from the farewell of Moses to his people as he has brought them through the desert to the gateway to the Promised Land: Already he has told them how the Lord has carried them on eagle’s wings and in Chapter 33 he gives them the assurance that “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms”
One might recall the story of the boy caught in the blaze at the window of the Burning house. His father is standing beneath and calling: Jump, son.
The lad hesitates crying Daddy The smoke is blinding my eyes. I can’t see.
That’s all right, son, I can see you.
The lad made the leap of faith and was caught in the outstretched arms of the Father beneath.

We thank God this night,that the eyes of the Lord have been upon us. This has been the blessing of the Charismatic Renewal. It has helped us make that leap of faith, that surrender of all that we are and all that we have into the caring arms of the Lord. Even if we sometimes doubt and fail to see the hand of God, we are assured that he sees us.
Underneath all our striving and all sorrows and joys have been the everlasting arms and we rejoice the Father has carried us on eagles wings all the way to this place and this time.
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