01/02/2023

I feel closer to St Paul than I do to the Bishops here in England. 

Reading this morning's Gospel  I was struck with Jesus', although he was amazed by the lack of Faith, acceptance of his situation vis a vis his neighbours and family. He accepts that their familiarity with him as a child who had been seen on the streets and fields of Nazareth, growing up as children do, coloured their thoughts about him. They must have known about the only event of his childhood recorded in Scripture and he could have been known as "that clever boy of Joseph whom the Scribes listened to" but on them this "Nazrani"  had nothing, as a grown man, like the impact he had had on the beaches of the Sea of Galilee.

"Judge not lest you be judged" is a dire warning and so is Paul's "take care that no root of bitterness take hold and begin to grow". Whole Christian communities have been destroyed over the centuries by this bitterness that arises when we listen to ourselves and invest our whole being in ourselves and not in the only Christ who brought Father, Son and Holy Spirit to his people living on earth.

There have been many decades in History when the institution that Jesus founded to confirm the holiness that is the will of his Father, the reason for his suffering and the Glory of the Resurrection did not act according to the Gospel. Is knowing that whole dynasties of Popes and Bishops and Clergy have been corrupted by the Devil World and Flesh which we condemn with the confirmation of Baptismal Promises by our way of Life, not making a judgement in favour of Truth.

Is it not sinful to passively accept the de facto holiness of the "Church" when we can see the hypocritical waywardness of those who have been given both the seal of the Priesthood and the Keys by the Good Shepherd. 

Of course, I feel closer to St Paul than to the Bishops for he is closer to Jesus, my Lord and my Saviour God.

Dear Lord, you know that much of your Church is not doing your will on Earth. I also know this, but also know that repentance for my sinfulness is the only goal that I am capable of reaching and that only with the Grace that you have poured out for us all. I think that Mary was not happy with the reception you received "at home" but know that there was no bitterness in her. May her prayers and those of all the saints continue to support us here on Earth and let the "Holy Souls in Purgatory Time" have their sins washed away so that their Souls can be filled with your merciful  Love.