The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Revelation 22:21
“Ciaran founded the monastery of Clonmacnois on the banks of the Shannon River in late 544. Less than a year later on 9 September 545, he died unexpectedly at the age of 33.
Ciaran went to the island of Aran to commune with Enda. Both of them saw the same vision of a great fruitful tree growing beside a stream in the middle of Ireland. The tree protected the entire island. Its fruit crossed the sea that surrounded Ireland and the birds of the world came to carry off some of that fruit.
Ciaran turned to Enda and told him what he had seen. Enda, in turn, said to him: ‘The great tree is you, Ciaran, for you are great in the eyes of God and of all humankind. All of Ireland will be sheltered by the grace that is in you, and many people will be fed by your fasting and prayer. Go in the name of God to the centre of Ireland, and found your church on the banks of a stream.'”
Ciaran of Clonmacnois (512-545) and “The Vision of the Great Tree” from Wisdom of the Celtic Saints by E.C. Sellner as recounted in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 765-766.
I love that the final verse in the New Testament is simply a prayer that the grace of the Lord will be with all of God’s people.
When the grace of God was on Ciaran, he accomplished the vision God gave to him and to his mentor, Enda: to establish a place where people would be sheltered by grace and fed by fasting and prayer. He built it, then passed into the presence of God. His short life was not a waste. He did his part.
What about each of us? What vision has God given you? How might you be a shelter of grace for others and feed them with fasting and prayer in the time given you?
This is a powerful word picture. Our generous service can shelter people from the storms of life by grace. Our sacrifices in fasting and prayer can impact countless lives. Through these spiritual practices, they are fed with what they need and that which will satisfy them.
What would it look like for you to discern your vision with a mentor and then go after it? Your generosity could reach levels only known by God.