Gathered in the church for Brigid's funeral, some people were a little surprised as her grandchildren placed symbols of her life in front of the altar. People had begun to expect the prayer book, the photograph and the crucifix. Some thought the television's remote control to be out of place and perhaps inappropriate. Those who knew Brigid better realized that it was a significant reminder of the life that was being recalled.

Anyone who had visited her in recent years recognized the remote; it had the signs of use, with its sticky tape and its signs of handling. The patina that it had acquired was because Brigid, as she became more and more chair-bound, relied on the television and radio to keep her in touch with the world and with the country around her.

Even if there are times when we want to turn off the troubles of the world, or not to hear about them, we realize that where we are is where God has placed us. We celebrate and hold as central to our faith that the Son of God was born like us, into a troubled time and difficult situation. The Incarnation inspires Christians to continue to be at the heart of the world, bringing the care and compassion of God to life in our times.

The advice of the theologian Karl Barth to sermon-writers retains an insight for us all: he told preachers to have the Bible in one hand and the New York Times in the other. It is easy for religion to become detached and to be concerned with itself. It is more difficult to keep the reality of the world in sight as it may mean having to wrestle with questions about good and evil. Barth's dictum alerts us to the temptation not to be concerned with the daily realities of the world. It reminds us too that the messages of the media are not to be taken as gospel, but need to be held up to the light of God's Word.

We look to Jesus for inspiration and guidance about how we can make sense of our world and make the best use of the access we have to the media. The way that God became flesh in our world points our direction.

Just as Jesus lived fully in the world of his time, engaging with the lives of the people he met, we need to accept that the Spirit of God has also been entrusted to us. The gospels tell us how Jesus reacted to those people who came to him with their own needs and to ask for his help for others. They also brought him their questions about happenings that had caught their attention.

We can imagine that the disciples often wanted Jesus to be more effective and active, to work in visible and evident ways. Jesus' way seemed slower, as he took time to pray, rising early in the morning or going to lonely places. We can see that this was not instead of his mission of preaching and teaching, but it was in his relationship to God that his words and healing found their authority and direction.

Prayer was what kept Jesus 'in balance' and prevented his being distracted either by isolation or by the many claims for his attention. When we are overwhelmed by the 'news of wars and rumours of wars' (Mt. 24:6, Mk. 13: 7), we need to bring them before Jesus to realize what meaning they have for us.

No matter what our favourite Gospel scene, it is likely to picture Jesus bringing the world before God or bringing the world to an awareness of God. Whether responding to Mary's nudging in Cana, comforting sinners, or at prayer in Galilee or Gethsemane, Jesus was engaged in the mission that he gave to the disciples and to us too: to bring the Good News.

Watching the news or reading the paper is not always uplifting and encouraging. The news is seldom given to us neutrally. It is often intended to provoke us, to capture our attention, to keep us tuned into the commercial source that wants our time. The time that Jesus gave to being with his 'Abba', his father, is a reminder to us to bring our concerns and fears - all our reactions to the news - before God. We may find that the focus moves away from us as we begin to see, in our compassion for the needs of the world, that the heart of Jesus continues to beat. Instead of being distracted, we are drawn to a deeper sense of our need for God's grace and blessing.

We are fortunate to have access to so many channels, stations and publications. But we may need to remember that all the news we are given is not all the news there is. Much of what brings life and inspiration never makes it to the 'big' media.

We can keep our minds open to the greater variety of news by reading the religious magazines and publications of voluntary groups that are sources of good news from around the world and from our localities. Agencies like Dublin's Jesuit Communication Centre work to bring news that inspires faith, reflection and action. Religious media draw attention to enduring meaning and remind us that there is good news. A bad news diet will leave our mood and outlook out of balance.

The habit of years may have taught us that the news is something we receive passively. Modern media often speak of interaction, of giving people opportunities to respond. A phone call, an email or the time-honoured letter to the editor remain important ways that we can use to express our appreciation or to challenge those who bring us the news. The personal word is a reminder of what is important to the audience, a main interest of every news channel.

The Bible and the New York Times were unlikely to have been often in Brigid's hands. For her it was more often the rosary and the remote. The beads and the buttons kept her in touch with God and with the world. She lifted the world before God in her prayer, aware both of its blessings and its needs. She did what she could in her prayer and in keeping her heart open to the needs of her neighbours.