04/03/2023

Jesus tells us today in the Gospel, that reciprocated love is as natural as breathing. Our love for others has to be something better than that. Elsewhere, he also tells us that he is not the "strong task master ", in fear of whom the third servant buried his apportioned capital and returned the same without any loss or gain, for his load is not heavy and his yoke is light. O Jesus, you know the weakness of our humanity, you know it to a much greater degree than I know it myself and you tell us in your love for sinful man, that we must be as perfect in our being as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is God!

He does not tell us to be God or even to be Godlike but to be in ourself, as it were, a new Adam, God's perfect Man. For this Jesus came into the world to suffer and die to atone for the first sin which is with us when we are born but is washed away by Baptism. Oh how I wish that all potential for sin had not been with me during my life. 

 Gods's promise to Moses has only one requirement from his "Chosen People". They must curb their human freedom and live lives according to  His commandments, statutes, and accordances by listening to his voice. The Chosen People time and time again refused to listen to the Word sent through the prophets so in these "Last days" God came to make in our time and world the perfect atonement for the sins of imperfect man.

We have to love our enemies. Even for me in the comfort of my peaceful home it is sometimes difficult to love those who love me. Elsewhere in our world my brothers and sisters, children have to face war, poverty hunger and violent enemies seeking to take their goods and even their bodies. Love my enemies? It's difficult for me to find one but for many in this world their struggles are totally, for me, unimaginable and as for loving the perpetrators of any violence. I am a sinner. Lord have mercy.

Dear Lord, you know that in my sinfulness I have created many difficulties for myself and others during my life. Let my prayers bring some relief to those who are dying at this moment as a result of violence. May your Mercy welcome those victims into paradise as you did the good thief on Calvary and may the love and prayers of Mary and all saints bring respite  through penitence to sinners on Earth and in Purgatory.