22/06/2022

Jesus warns the disciples of the dangers that will face them in the world. False prophets there were to be in an endless variety. Today there are still many and many who seek them out. Wars we will hear about and wars that will inflict us directly. Betrayals will take place in families and in the Church. We must be strong and stand firm in the face of persecution. Eleazar told his false friends directly that the deception they presssed upon him was  a non-answer. He would die as he had lived, devoted body and soul to the Lord and his law.

John Fisher and Thomas More similarly refused to bend to the will of the King and of his minions. Both loved Father, Son and Holy Spirit and would lose their lives rather than depart from the Love and the Law revealed to all mankind for all ages. These three individuals are united in the belief that God is the Ever Greater. In the Old Testament passage there are many more of the Jews who broke the dietry laws than refused and these tried to convince the martyrs to accept the pagan way of life. Were there not more than one Bishop at the time of St John Fisher? What became of them? Were there not more than one Catholic Layman courtier/politician? What became of them?

The truth is that many accepted Church Lands and thus increased their wealth so that it lasts until this day. The English Hierarchy seems to have been spineless and this characteristic is still with us. How many of our Bishops trust more in Jesus than they do in accountants and lawyers?

Dear Lord let my heart be filled with your Grace; let my mind be fixed firmly on you and let my body do your will and support your creation by simple labour. Mother Mary lead the saints and martyrs in worship and petitions for grace to be given to all people to know that it is only God that we need to love, serve and obey for this is the way to the holy sinlessness that you have always enjoyed even in the horror on Calvary.