Summary

Springtime Word on the Week 1st February 2025.
Here in Ireland we have been reminded that there is a new Public Holiday to be enjoyed. It falls on Monday and is supposed to usher in the season of Spring. In the UK they are less optimistic and delay Spring till the Equinox – the 20th March.
The Day has recently been ascribed to Saint Brigid. Daffodils and snowdrops are appearing just in time for the creation of the traditional headdress of maidens celebrating Brigid’s memory.
My introduction to Brigid was when the ‘soap’ Glenroe was the unmissable TV show back in the day. The name had taken on its more colloquial variation of Biddy. This displeased Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich as new Mothers were avoiding the name in case the colloquial version became to be used. I am not sure that the Cardinal’s intervention did much good!
The symbol for Brigid is the woven Bridget’s cross. It has four arms which meet to form a square centre. The opposite arms are parallel but do not form a straight line. A poor representation of Christ’s cross but presumably its purpose was explained from scriptures such as; “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3 verse 18).
Legend has it that St. Brigid was called to the bedside of a dying pagan Chief (possibly her father) to calm his restless spirit. As she sat next to him consoling him, she picked up rushes from the floor and began weaving them into the shape of a cross speaking about the Saviour; ‘He, Jesus, was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed’ (Isaiah 53 verse 5). The dying man presumably saw his need and trusted Christ.
Springtime is a time of new birth. The Christian message chimes with it so well - Titus 2 verses 11/14 – ‘the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good’.
Wouldn’t you like to be sure that you are one of His People?