03/12/2021

St Paul always speaks directly to us as he is all things for all men. It is a totaly amazing thing that happened in the first years after the Resurrection. Those men and women really did go out to the whole world. They could do so because of the roads that had been created over centuries and were now controlled by Rome. Rome was of great importance to Paul for he was a Roman citizen and so could make his famous appeal to Caesar. 

Jesus too was  influenced by Rome. He was born in Bethlehem because of the order from the Emperor to conduct a census. He was handed over to Rome in the person of Pontius Pilate so that his purpose could be fulfilled on the cross. He also orders us to be aware of civil authority but not to forget the greater authority of God.

Throughout the centuries after the proclamation of his order to the 11 apostles Apostles, confusion as to how authority was to be recognised within the Earthly institution, the Church, has been in conflict with the teaching of the Apostles first in person and then via the records kept by them and others. There must be some way to ensure that what our conscience tells us,  is true to God's Word. Jesus did give the "keys" to St Peter but in Rome today  there is still a hotch-potch of human politics and corruption which is certainly not what our Lord intended his Churh to become.

Dear Lord,  purge me from my sins and purge your Church of corruption so that the faithful are not scandalised and can be sure that your priests are truuly feeding your sheep with your body and blood as you directed them to do.