Brendan said: “What makes yonder sheep so large, living as they do in this island?” for each of them was bigger than a fatted ox. The holy man said: “The reason is that no milk is ever collected from them, nor are their fleeces ever sheared, and no winter or darkness ever comes on them. And there it is that they are of that excessive size, owing to their being always out at grass. Therefore they are larger here than in any other land in the world.”
– The Life of Brendan of Clonfert
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
– Psalm 23.1-3
Looking ahead
This passage from The Life of Brendan of Clonfert allows us to see the writer at his best, weaving the details of history with the beauty of story and the wonders and promise of eternal life.
Tim Severin helped us see that Brendan and his crew might have made a stop at the Faroe Islands, renowned for their wool. At the “Island of Sheep” they saw sheep that were larger and woolier than they had ever seen. Having met a holy man on the island—a monk, perhaps—they began to learn from him a bit more about what lay ahead in their journey. Their next stop he advised them, would be at the “Island of Birds”, eight days’ sailing from where they were. But the holy man would also point a bit further than that.
Brendan then asked about the sheep. Note this about the holy man’s reply: The sheep never diminished in size. They only grew more and more bountiful wool, which is their natural “fruit”. And they fed continuously on green pastures which abounded in grass. These bits of hyperbole are intended to provide a glimpse of the end of Brendan’s journey—and of ours. In the “paradise” Jesus is preparing for us, we will abound in all things good, and bear an abundance of “fruit”—of the Spirit, of course, but also of our unique callings and purpose from the Lord. He will provide abundantly for us, and we will dwell forever with Him in glory.
This “tall tale”, spun off from a historical detail and intended to encourage us in our journey with the Lord, is a subtle but masterful piece of poetic elaboration.
Glimpses of glory
At the same time, the writer encourages us to see glimpses of the glory to come in the beauty of the world around us. The heavens declare the glory of the Lord.[1] God is revealing Himself in all the things He has made.[2] And since being with the Lord forever, seeing Jesus face-to-face,[3] is the end of our journey, each glimpse of the Lord that we may gather from His works should encourage us to press on in our calling, in heightened expectation of realizing endless glory and bliss in the Presence of our God forever.
Each winking star and majestic constellation of the night sky speaks to us of the wisdom, power, and grace of God. Every weed and wildflower, bird on the wing, insect buzzing our ears, and all beautiful and edifying works of art, together with many good works of culture and the loveliness of caring relationships —all these speak to us of God, Who calls us to respond in wonder, delight, love, praise, and thanksgiving.
Brendan did not hesitate to seek an explanation for the wonder of those extraordinary sheep. Likewise, we should be curious and seek understanding of the many quotidian ways God reminds us of His Presence and points us forward to the glory that is yet to be. For thus we may more fully enjoy the Lord as He intends and be encouraged to persevere in our journey toward the true Promised Land of the Saints.
For Reflection
1. Do you ever “glimpse the glory of God” in the creation around you? Explain.
2. What could you do to become more constantly aware of the Lord’s Presence with you?
Psalm 23.1-4
(The Gift of Love: Though I May Speak with Bravest Fire )
Because the LORD my Shepherd is,
I shall not want, for I am His!
He makes me lie in pastures green,
He leads by waters cool, serene.
My soul He quickens and will bless;
He leads in paths of righteousness.
Though I may walk in death’s dark vale,
I shall not fear—He will not fail!
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast takes up the book Understanding the Times to help us in knowing how to live and proclaim the Kingdom. Our ReVision series, “The Kingdom Economy”, continues to unpack the secrets of the Kingdom. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
[1] Psalm 19.1-4
[2] Romans 1.18-21
[3] 1 John 3.1-3; cf. Revelation 4, 5
