Today is another glorious day of bright sunlight. Stephen prays that the sin of killing him be forgiven because the perpetrators are doing it in ignorance and following the long-time example of their ancestors. St Paul comes to the fore for the fist time. "He thoroughly approved of the killing". His sin is forgiven in a miraculous fashion as the appearance of Christ on the road to Damascus. God forgives the worst of sinners. God forgives me but I sin again. The holy Spirit did not desert Paul and  from persecutor he was turned into the Apostle of the Gentiles. There is much to understand in this. Christ is brighter than today's  brilliant sunlight with a brightness that does not fade the only problem is me.

Dear Lord let me know your grace and let me in sincerity seek it out and thank you for the beauty of this world and your presence in it.

The presence of God in the Blessed Sacrament is promised by Jesus. Jesus the Father and the Holy Sprit is working through the "actions of the priest" to ensure that the bread and wine become his body and blood. Wow! How can I  keep myself away from the Church if I truly believe this? How can sinful priests continue in their office? Do I sin by not condemning the sinful situation where public sinners are approaching the altar to receive what I know to be God's Body and Blood? God knows that I by repeating the words of consecration cannot confect the Sacrament. It is not a magic formula but needs the structure of the Church to guarantee its truth and efficacy. What if the institutional salt stinks.?

Dear Lord send your Holy Spirit anew and renew the heart of your Church. Let our bishops and priests condemn the Devil the World and the Flesh and truly accept Jesus' threefold mission to Peter. Let us see in the Church's servants true representatives of your love and not a source of doubt and stumbling.