21/09/21

St Paul who was a Jew and had been a Pharisee is an inspired teacher. He must have  been a charismatic preacher; but, we are told that he was not of striking physical appearance. he tells us today that we must be unified by our faith and accept that within our community there are by its very nature different roles for different believers and that we must accept this division of labour as a vocation, a calling to each of us by God.

Paul's former colleagues are shown to be focussed on the letter of the law that they practised so meticulously and Jesus reassures me that it is the sinners that he came to call to God's table. We must practise mercy ourselves. What about those, however, who reject God's mercy. Those who persist in grave sin. There are many such and by pretending not to judge and advise we do a grave disservice to those.

We all have the duty to build up the Body of Christ our Church but we cannot do that without facing up to the problem posed by the relationship of public sinners to our community,

Pope Francis "Who am I to judge" is remembered by all.  Last week, however he made it clear that those outside of our community cannot receive the Eucharist. Will that be remembered and acted upon?

Dear Lord let not the sight of public sin blind me to the sin which is in my own being. May your mother and all the Saints help me to truly receive the Grace which you pour unceasingly over all our world.