03/20/22

St Paul indirectly tells us that he is the slave of God. He is the slave of "no-man" but is devoted to preaching the Gospel as he would be sinful not to do so. He does not want material reward to do this although he could ask for it. His preaching itself is all the reward he needs for he knows that by doing so he is in the place created for him by Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I wonder how priests who read this Epistle this morning can apply it to themselves and not feel decidedly nervous about the way they live out their lives in their parish houses. I too know that I am not living as did the poor who are blessed by Jesus. The Bishops of the Church live in "palaces" while Jesus had no place to rest in the creation of his Father.

We all can avoid applying scripture to ourselves even though we approach it with the best of intentions. I am sure that, this morning, St Paul's caveat "and not insist on the rights the Gospel has given me" is prominent in the minds of the clergy. What about Jesus' "signs" at the end of Mark's Gospel? I cannot see or perform any of the "signs" and do not feel bad about it. Do our clergy feel the same about the comfortable lives they now lead? Or, are we both guilty of the "pick and chose" attitude to our Faith that seems to be the most common characteristic of our age?

Dear Lord. Your first disciples were surely aware of the "signs, but during your lifetime the only one of those listed by Mark that was witnessed by them was the curing of the sick. What are the signs that I am truly devoted to you? My answer is right conduct and a selfish being subordinated by love. May Mary's prayers gain for me the grace to avoid sin and know that your ways cannot be fully understood but You never seek to deceive as You only have love for all Your creation.