06/11/2021

I don't know whether his named friends are known to scholars but one of them was certainly not of the lowly as he had a house in which the Church in Rome could meet. The names are tantilising glimpses into the past for those names belong to individuals and it is individual persons who receive the call of God. I know that Jesus founded a Church which is his physical presence on earth but it is the individual members who are saved and not the corporation. The "I" who is saved is saved by the will of God visible in Jesus and not by the Church holy or sinful as she may be. 

She was certainly holy in her foundation the names of Mary and John have not been forgotten even though they have been burned from the rood-screens of churches in this country. Holiness was the aim of the Apostles and it is this that was preached in the first centuries. Holiness is still the message that is preached by scripture and from the living pulpits but our love for God is not confined to his institution. God speaks to me and to every other individual. "I suffered and died for you. My love will never fade. Do not be confused by your failures. My salvation is still there for you even in the Church which has become forgeful of its mission in concern for itself as an institution".

The individual pharisees who laughed have become proverbial as hypocrites and cited by all who are unhappy with our Church. Today's gospel should be permanently engraved on all our hearts for it is not in its structure that the Church becomes weak but in the constancy of all of us. We are the Church.

Dear Lord may my purpose to love and worship you show itself in constant sincerity. Father Son and Holy Spirit you are my beginning my aim and my end. Let me show this by my deeds.