Fr La’s weekly ‘Pause and Ponder’ from along the Pilgrim Path at Lough Derg. This week’s reflection – ‘The Quarry and the Cross’.

Emerging from the trees, our Pilgrim Path swings

to the left and opens up in surprise

on a view of this one-time quarry.

Its stone was used to found the forest roads.

Ten years ago on pilgrimage in Jerusalem 

I learned that scholars now believe

that Calvary was a disused quarry –

an ideal site for crucifixions,

just beyond the city walls and there beside the road,

with maximum visibility and horrific impact

on passing travellers and on pilgrims.

As a Passover pilgrim to Jerusalem Jesus came again,

like faithful Joseph who had brought him as a boy.

An empty cross set here in the quarry

invites the passing pilgrim to pause and ponder.

Fr La Flynn, Prior

3 May 2021