All mothers ( fathers too) are amazed by the beings that they have given birth to; they cherish  memories  in their hearts and so the memory of the  emotion when the baby first smiled is forgotten or rathe smothered by many subsequent equally momentous memories. Now we have millions of images daily generated and saved by machines such as the one that I am now using.

 Two thousand years  the memory had to be in the heart. Mary knew that the child with her had been begotten by God At his birth there had been many signs and portents.

 St Paul knew that this is a new creation and that although some of the early Christians had known Jesus in the flesh, Jesus is now present to us in the Spirit and it is this Holy Spirit that speaks in hearts to lead us to God We can become the Goodness of God for Jesus has in obedience to the Will of the Father and by his own Will become a sacrifice to conquer sin. His sacrifice,  death and resurrection, is eternally present for the Holy Spirit to spread through out History at all times so that early Christians newly converted and we the hesitant followers of Christ in modern times can confidently say "Our Father who art in heaven " and know  the support we need will be always with us. Our Church may give few signs of holiness but we can be sure that it is the conduit through which the Holy Spirit enters into our world. Jesus is present with us  throughout the whole of Time.

Dear Lord I pray that your Church may act truthfully as your foundation for humanity's spiritual awareness and growth and that you can ensure that I can grow  in your love with sincerity of heart that focuses not on itself but on you and your creation. Help me Lord