29/02/2023

If we all were to try to practise what is preached in all of the readings for today's Masses we would be living together on this earth in the peace and tranquility God wants for us. The Israelites didn't quite make it. At least, the ones we read about in the Old Testament didn't make it as the "Chosen People" although individuals and possibly some groups e.g.the Essenes did maintain an obedience to the spirit of the Law.

Love is never putting yourself first. The first family in Genesis are recorded as having produced the first killing, the first murder and since that time our race has maintained an unholy history of growth in wealth, in power, in knowledge. God knows this and could stop it but the freedom given to us  means that we have to choose for ourselves to become the creatures that God wants to be. All of creation is as it was created  , "and it is good" except for us who are continuing to destroy God's work both in ourselves and in our world.

One of Paul's first churches in Europe was soon at strife amongst themselves. The Corinthians dwelt in an anciently civilised community which meant that they had a rigidly hierarchical society and although converted to the Resurrection Faith by the charisma of Paul could not adapt to the love for each other that had been shown by our crucified Lord.

Preaching on a hillock in Galilee in the person of Incarnate Son,  Father, Son and Holy Spirit told us how we can bring ourselves to the holiness that would make us fulfill his will. The first of our kind failed even though the Hindu and Buddhist ancient texts show that they tried and are still trying. God even chose a group to especially favour, Jesus was preaching to their descendants, but they went so far in disobedience as to agitate the civil powers in Palestine to kill the Son of God.

Our own world today is nothing but strife. All organisations create their own versions of dissension rivalry and hate. It is only by each individual in the world trying to be in this life the human that we could all be if we treated the Word with the honour, devotion and obedience that his Evergreater being revealed in Galilee of the Nations.

Dear Lord, "I thank you for the wonder of my being" and pray that I can use your grace to increase my integrity and Faith. I am afraid that my being is too weak to escape from self-fixation and truly return the "Love lavished on all the World". May the prayers of Mary help us all to live in the words spoken on the Mount and may she and all the saints who even not present as she was at the "Sermon" implore the Holy Spirit to fill all our souls with the Love that comes from doing the will of God.