The phrase “Thin places” seems to have its roots in ancient (not Celtic) Irish spirituality and mysticism. It is a place where heaven and earth meet. A physical place where the boundary between heaven and earth “is thin.”

Why are they thin?
• These are not just places where we go to get a spiritual high, to fill up the gas tank of my soul. It’s not merely a feel-good place.
• It’s a doorway, a threshold. Seemingly simple, it is a place and an encounter that lead to a bigger, wider, unexpected, more glorious place. (Like the plain entrance door that leads into the Sistine Chapel)

• It is a place of light, where we encounter wisdom, and insight, and acceptance and healing.
• It is a place of darkness, where we encounter the risen Jesus who asks the question “And who do YOU say that I am? Do you understand and believe that:
o I can make you aware?
o I can answer the question?
o I can heal you of that temptation that pulls the destructive trigger in your life?
o I can forgive you when you fail?

It is a place where we are jolted out of our old ways of seeing the world. When you live here, you live life on the edge; you have to be taught how to live there. You don’t do this alone. Notice that in the First Reading of this week’s Scripture for Mass, TWO people received the blessing. Jesus talks about “When two (or three) are gathered…” (Matthew 18:20). Jesus “…sent them out ‘in twos.'” (Mark 6:7)

Some questions to ponder:
• When was the last time you were at a “thin place?’ Where was it?
• Who was your companion?
• What happened?
• Is the Lord calling you to re-visit that place now?
• Is the Lord calling you to visit someplace new that is a “thin place?
• How will you respond?