We all know the story of the young man who wrote a love letter to his girl friend. He said ‘’Darling,I love you so much. I would climb the highest mountain to see your beautiful face. I would travel the whole world, to hold your hand. Then, at the bottom of the letter, he wrote ‘’See you tomorrow night, if it’s not raining.’’ I am sure, that the young girl didn’t appreciate insincere words, and neither do we. We live in a wonderful world. Sometimes, I think, that we can become saturated with words...only...Imagine all the words on ‘’Ads’’, and all the words on Noticeboards, and in files, and in the secretaries office. The Christian religion tells us, that The Word was made flesh. God The Father put flesh on His Word, and the result, is the wonder of my being, and the wonder of the world around us. We are encouraged ’’to flesh’’ our words, with sincere actions, and people do this all the time, remembering birthdays, saying thanks, giving an encouraging word, rejoicing with the happy, listening to the worried one. I missed the young postman at Christmas. To day, I offered him ‘’a tip’’ of appreciation. He refused, graciously, to take it. He said ‘’I am lucky to have a job. There are many out there struggling. You know them. I would like them to have your gift.‘’

Liam Hickey, St.Ciarans, Hartstown, Dublin 15.