My sharing this week is coming early to coincide with our national celebration of Matariki this Friday. Some of you will remember that a couple of years ago I collaborated with Fr James Lyons on a song entitled 'Matariki' , track 20 on 'Songs Commissioned'. James composed the poem and I put it to music. The lyrics adapted from the poem are below for you to follow as you listen to the song. You are very welcome to use the song in any gathering or prayer service you may be organizing or part of.
Matariki
Gift to our Southern Sky
Matariki
Path through the dark of night
Matariki
Shine, the brightness of joy
Carry the light of rebirth,
Sew hope with your star-lit braid
And keep watch on the earth, the wonder of earth
Matariki
Gift to our Southern Sky
Matariki
Path through the dark of night
Matariki
Shine, luminous stars
Glittering gems in the dark
Guarding the harvest of life
Friends to all whanau, hapu and iwi
Matariki……
A new year we view with our eyes
You shine down and nurture us here
If we care for the world and all lives
A star-studded future is near
Matariki……..
Matariki is a time for us all. It is another opportunity to remember our loved ones who have passed away during the past year. It is a further opportunity to give thanks for the many blessings we have received including the gifts the earth and all creation provides.
From the National Liturgy Office:
"Praised be You my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful.”
From the Canticle of Creation by St Francis of Assisi.
Blessing
The new light of Matariki has risen!
May it be to you a sign of resurrection and new life.
May it be to you a sign of hope in times of darkness.
May it be to you a sign of the wondrous mystery of Atua who loves you.
May it be to you a sign that the eyes of the Eternal One are ever upon you and that the presence of the Holy One is ever with you. And may this be the cause of your rejoicing.
Go in peace.
Through Christ and in the perfect unity of the Holy Spirit, we pray.
Amen
This coming Sunday's Gospel is taken from Matthew 13:1-23 and appropriately tells the story of the Sower and the seed. Matariki is also a time to prepare the soil and plan for the spring garden. We are reminded that'the one who received the seed in rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it and yeilds a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.'