The Divine Comedy played at the Dublin music venue, Vicar Street, last night. A colleague who travelled up from the country to attend the concert was particularly impressed by the lyrics of one of the songs, Eye of the Needle

They say that you’ll hear him if you’re really listening
And pray for that feeling of grace
But that’s what I’m doing, why doesn’t he answer?
I’ve prayed ’til I’m blue in the face

The cars in the churchyard are shiny and German
Distinctly at odds with the theme of the sermon
And during communion I study the people
Threading themselves through the eye of the needle
I know that it’s wrong for the faithful to seek it
But sometimes I long for a sign, anything
Something to wake up the whole congregation
And finally make up my mind

The cars in the churchyard are shiny and German
Completely at odds with the theme of the sermon
And all through communion I stare at the people
Squeezing themselves through the eye of the needle?

Neil Hannon, the lead singer, is the son if a bishop and when he writes such words, they are to be taken seriously, here are serious questions from within the camp.

If God gives no sign to the most earnest of seekers, what conclusion is there to be drawn?

Is the problem that God’s people, those who are to be signs of his Kingdom, are so busy squeezing themselves onto heaven that they obscure signs of his grace?