30/10/2022

I am assuming that Jesus was on foot when he moved from town to town. All pilgrims to the Holy Land are impressed by the descent to Jericho and many who have followed Jesus' footprints in sincerity have been cheated at the "Inn" where the "Good Samaritan" paid for the care of the injured traveller. As is quite normal in life then and now, the crowd were not impressed by Jesus choosing to stay at the house of a sinner; they knew better than their master.

The essential message of God's final revelation is that it is sinners who need to be saved. He is here not to commend the righteous nor to condemn the wicked but to bring the loving Mercy of Father, Son and Holy Spirit to us all. "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" he tells those who want to punish the woman caught in adultery. Working in the vineyard of the Lord is important and not the time we spend knowing loving and serving. Even those who come in the last hour receive the only reward that matters.

It is only Jesus and his mother Mary who have lived on earth without our inherited "original sin". They are also the only humans who have never sinned in their own selves. The reading from Wisdom knows that God is Evergreater and that his Love is directed at each one of us. The psalmist's words are as beautiful as anything that is not God can be and they hold us in their joyful worship of the Glory that is God.

The first Christians had seen the resurrected Christ. St Paul had literally been stopped in his tracks by God. The converts and the pagans in the diaspora had been convinced by the message that was the completion of God's witness to His People. It is not then surprising that they would become excited by rumours and enthralled by false news. Jesus blesses us for believing without seeing but he is still with us bringing his Love to all who still hope in what is promised to the faithful.

Dear Lord let me be strengthened in my being that is your gift to me for me to use willingly to become what you have made possible for all mankind. We are all created to become like you in virtue and truth and thus be protected from all evil in this world as we avail ourselves of the Mercy that is poured out over us all. May Mary and all the saints be heard in their ceaseless prayers that bring comfort to the sick and the dying convincing them that the Love of God is available by its nature and not because anyone can deserve it.