by the Rev Peter Endall, of St Barnabas', Thwaites Brow

It is wonderful when we have the media reporting on a great news item that is 'good news'. Nowadays we seem to hear more and more news about the terrible happenings in the world and in people's personal lives.

Most days the news feels so depressing and heartrendering that it seems as if there is nothing good ever happening in the world. Of course there is, but you have to look behind the 'headlines' and the 'front page' to find it.

It was so different on Saturday May 16, to hear the very good news that the people of Ireland had overwhelmingly voted 'Yes' in their referendum for the peace talks document, and also that the format be accepted and for everyone to continue to work it out.

Good News, like the summer sunshine, lifts the heart and gives us hope. Certainly now for Ireland there is again hope. That is what Jesus Christ came into the world for, to bring Good News and Eternal Hope to each and everyone.

For us all the receiving of good news makes all the difference to the day. Suddenly life isn't so bad after all, and people are not as bad as we often paint them.

Our relationships with others matter, and it is in having good relationships with others that brings about happy lives.

Jesus came to enable us to have a right relationship with God. Someone, in fact all of us, Jesus said, need to say sorry to God, who will forgive us and so we shall be reconciled and have a loving, joyful and peaceful life shared with God.

Surely that too is the true way for all human relationships to be mended, and for us to live together in that true life of love, joy and peace God intended for us to have.

Let us pray that a lasting peace be found in Ireland and that in all our lives we may find peace with God and each other through the way Jesus has shown us.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.