20/08/2022

One of the ways The Lord made himself known to his people, Israel, was by giving visions of his Glory to his prophets. We have the record of those inspiratins in the Old Testament. We know that Scriptures are not man-made literature for Jesus used them and prayed from them; his last words were taken from a psalm. He explained his death and resurrection on the road to Emmaus by reference to the prophets.In our New Testament we have the words of witnesses to his life death and resurrection; we have the words that lead us to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, words that lead us to eternal life.

The leaders of Jewish people were students of Scriptures. They memorised masses of text. Their descendants who kept alive the knowledge of their ancient contract with the Being whose name could not be uttered in human language, lost God in "secrets" found by arcane theories and manipulation of text; they became objects of awed respect and were all called Rabbi.

The Word which is always God's eternal Being became man and curtailed himself to accept the limitations of human freedom. Although exalted in Father, Son and Holy Spirit he is the humbled one even to the willing aceptance of the humiliation of a public death, scorned by the scoffing mob, naked on Calvary.

Our Church cannot lie to us as we have the promises of the Holy Spirit to that effect. The teachings that she formulates and approves; the Liturgies that she celebrates; the code of conduct with which she guides our human lives is the Sacramental life approved by "Our Father", our Dad in heaven. Within the sinful humanity that make up the Church there are to be found all human faults and the self-driven pride that seeks to advance a personal ego. The priests who pray the words of this Gospel this morning are all called "Father"in the languages of this world. Did Jesus not mean what he said? 

Dear Lord help me this day. Let my sins be left behind in true recognition of what they are. You have shown me the way to live and let the fog that occludes my sight of you be lifted so that my will is yours alone. May the Mother of our Church, Mary's prayers bring the Holy Spirit into the hearts of all priests that they may seek to do only your will and inspire the hearts of the faithful in this world that they might be happy in the next.