Back in 1967, the Yorkshire artist, David Hockney, gave us his famous painting, a Bigger Splash, a diving board, a swimming pool and an empty chair. The splash in the pool suggests that someone has just entered the pool, although the only evidence is the plume of water spray and the empty chair. It was painted during a time when he was living in California , a memorable painting that has been reproduced many times.

 Recently, one of my grandsons, Connor, took a picture of a stone hitting the water of a lake. The resultant flare of water resembled arms and hands raised in praise. A beautiful picture, it led me in a number of directions, worth pursuing.  

 The stone which created the eruption of water sank very quickly to the bottom of the lake, leaving only its immediate consequences visible to the naked eye. Even that was quick in passing as the cascade of water returned to the surface. Lasting much longer were the circular ripples that flowed away from the point of impact, a natural event that we have all witnessed at one time or another.

 Essentially, the image was about an immediate impact and a longer term result. There can be no doubt that on the evening in March 2013, when Francis greeted the crowds in St Peter’s Square, that his impact was immediate, the deep bow and his silence to receive the people’s blessing. Now, that was indeed different. Since then the ripples have continued to spread, added to from time to time, encouraged by further stones landing on the water.

 Some have complained that the reform of the Curia is taking too long, others see no need for reform at all. For Francis, a man approaching his 80^th year, he is caught between a rock and hard place. You have only to read the press coverage of his washing of the feet of Refugees this Easter to realise the twisting and turning that has gone on over his decision for this to be inclusive. In this action he wanted us to see another powerful, Jesus-shaped, sign. For some, like Peter, it has all been too much.

 By the time this column is published, there will have been a few days to reflect on the release of "Amoris Laetitia; On Love in the Family". This document arising from the recent Synod on the Family will no doubt give rise to further ripples. It is suggested in a prior document released to the Bishops that Francis "encourages not just a 'renewal' but even more, a real 'conversion' of language." Therein lies the rub, that word conversion is both a powerful and a demanding word. It involves much more than tinkering at the edges of argument. It will indeed be interesting to listen to reaction as the ripples spread.

 This Wednesday, April 13^th would have been the 77^th birthday of the Irish Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney. His death in late August 2013 occasioned much comment and words of praise for a great writer, known and respected well beyond the confines of his native Ireland . His poetry caused many to think and to reflect, to appreciate his themes and to ask questions of themselves. He was not in the accepted sense a religious poet but he did express in his writing the questions posed by faith. He was careful not to take a position on the Troubles in the North, but he did point up the tragic consequences of conflict.

 Time and again, people who met Heaney commented on the generous, affable nature of the man, his good humor, the gleam in his eye, his story-telling and the marvelous tone of his voice.

 Back in the 90s, Seamus Heaney gave a reading of his poetry at the University of Keele which I was fortunate to attend. I experienced, fleetingly, that gleam when afterwards he signed a copy of his collection Station Island . When I complained that I had given up watching Liverpool play football that evening to attend his reading, the response was immediate, a broad smile crossed his face and his voice intoned three words: “Oh my God!”

 There are those who have questioned Heaney’s faith in his later years. Yet when he attended the funeral of his great friend Dennis 0’Driscoll, one of the co-celebrants, Mgr Tom Stack, reported in a letter to the Tablet last year, that he did receive the Eucharist when offered by Mgr Stack, with the Gaelic invitation “Corp Criost a Sheamus”.

 Just as we don’t know how far the ripples from a stone thrown into water spread, nor do we know the faith that accompanies others on their life journey. A bigger splash indeed.

 END