05/11/2021

St Paul is not looking for his own glory. He is completely focused on his own mission. He knows himself to be a priest of the New Order. He is one with Christ. He preaches but only to those who have not yet heard the Word. This is why he covered so much ground in his life-time. I cannot say that the text he quotes reverberates within me, but it was obviuosly important to him. That is why he quotes it for although he does not wish to preach to the converted he does not leave us alone but continues to this day to reinforce the teaching we have received as parts of the Body of Christ.

Jesus during his time on earth constantly amazed and shocked his listeners and he continues to shock us who listen to his words. He is not offering the steward as an example to be followed but he is telling us that we all look after our worldliness with astuteness but we have got it the wrong way round. It is the Kingdom of God that we must serve with our whole beings. God will take care of the world. Putting our all into preserving an institution, a religous order a building even an environment is not serving the Kingdom. God loves his creation and counts the hairs on our heads and knows even the smallest of beings. It is my individual soul that he cherishes and not my idea of what it is to be man. My soul is the living entity that my freedom allows me to nuture and grow in the Love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It is we as individual children that he comes to save but we need to be aware of this and avoid the "big picture" that fascinates our blinkered souls to the detriment of the Kingdom.

Dear Lord help us to care for the welfare and holiness of all your people. It is a humble heart that you have rescued from total death.