Tuam Coat of Arms

Did it ever strike you that the main symbol for Tuam is a broken wheel? A broken wheel is utterly useless; it is kaput, in need of repair. St. Jarlath broke his wheel around Tuam, and he stayed to found a monastery. Great fact to be remembered for! We also have to deal with broken wheels. No, I do not refer to the after effects of potholes, but to something even more common, the broken wheels of our lives. Our lives are broken by that what the Bible calls sin, not just major ones as perverse, immoral acts, sin also applies to those minor human shortcomings as lying, cursing, gossiping, drunkenness etc.  

the wages of sin is death  

We take the title ‘Sham’ as compliment, but do we realise that our lives indeed are ‘sham’? Are we strong enough to admit that something serious is affecting our lives’ journey? Or do we hobble along and hope no one will notice? We are of course glad that Jarlath decided to stop when his wheel broke, and so become the founder of Tuam, but what do we do after realising that the wheels of our lives need repair?  

Do you like living in a cemetery?

Tuaim-dá-Ghualann (Tuam) means “the tumulus of the two shoulders.” These are represented by the two green ‘shoulders’ in the arms of Tuam. It is a sobering fact that our town is named a cemetery.    

After having broken his wheel here, St. Jarlath not just recognised the state of death, but it became to him a ‘ place of resurrection .’ 

We as well, having realised that our lives are broken, that we do not live to the standards we set ourselves, let alone the standards God wants, need to find this place of resurrection. God offers us a new life in friendship with Him, if we come to Him with repentance. The Lord Jesus Christ wants to be our Saviour: just tell Him about the brokenness of your life!   

but the gift of God is eternal life