08/05/2022

These early days of our Church can fill us with hope for these messengers from God, Paul and Barnabas, were the source of dissension wherever they went in central Anatolia. Dissension in the synagogs but joy to the pagans who listened to the revelations of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the first time in their long history.

One can understand the Jews who were descendants of Abraham, chosen by God to be the source of His favourite nation in their anger against these "polluters"of the Scriptures which had been the way of life of their ancestors since the days of Noah. The joy ascribed to the pagans is another matter and shows that God can be present in our world and influence our daily lives. It can only be through the will of God that the pagans, hearing the totally unprepared for message that God has forgiven all our sins and prepared for us an eterntity in his presence, instantly believed and started to spread the word.

It has got to be through the grace of God that any of us believe and follow the teaching of the evangelists and St Paul. Conversion can happen instantly as it did for St Paul but are their any words that will bring the self-satisfied to the Lord's table. EWTVN presents devout sermons and liturgies but without the fire of the Holy Spirit. Individuals such as myself, who keep plugging the same message, often fall into the trap of selfish egoism. Our prelates and clergy have lost, maybe "given up" is better, whatever moral authority they ever had. Our churches lack the sense of sacred and have become "spaces" that can be used for any purpose the "community" feels fit.

Dear Lord you manifested yourself long ago in the missionary journeys of your Apostles. You guided the written memories of your evangelists; inspired defenders of our Faith aganst heretics; please come today and revive your Church among the pagans, who cover the whole world of these modern tims. Let the fire of your Grace find willing souls to reveal by their words and deeds that you are indeed the source of eternal life. Mary, knower of God as no other, continue to lead Saints in their prayers for the sick on earth and the Holy Souls in Purgatory.