25/10/2021

Jesus is challenged today by the synagogue. It is a challenge that reveals the depth of the feeling about keeping the Law that was in religious leaders of his day and can still be seen in the surving "Chosen people". Jesus had performed healing in front of all the congregation. The healing is an obvious good and power was certainly revealed in the one who performed it. But all "work" was suspended on this the seventh day. God rested and so must man.

Jesus responds by a severe condemnation of  hypocrisy. In this case it is a "hypocrisy" that flaunts its piety by public demonstrations of prayer and fasting. I am writing this as a public demonstration of my sense of relationship with God and so I too must read my own words and act in accordance with them. I must know that my sins are forgiven by this same Jesus who is  followed by some but not all of his own people. 

The Holy Spirit moves us to pray and to truly believe that we are Coheirs with Christ. St Paul continues to emphasise this staggering fact which supported the early Church and which would do the same today if we were not confounded by our own hypocrisy which blocks the opening up of our being to the power of the  Love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord help me to show your Love to all of mine who are known to you and in all things let us know that "thy will be done" is not fatalism but a true submision and recognition that only "Good" comes from you.