28/03/2023

The followers of Moses must have come out of Egypt quite well equipped with all the necessities for life in the desert. They had been able to manufacture for themselves the "golden calf" and in today's first reading, Moses made from bronze a serpent which brought healing to those bitten by one of the poisonous snakes that afflicted them. I am always loth to deny anything that has been recorded in Scriptures and hate to strive to find a hidden meaning, an allegory beyond the stated facts.

The New Testament has no secrets. Jesus did speak in parables. His miracles really did happen. The Gospels are not "newspapers" but they do bring Good News. They are the collective remembrances of the most important times in the history of the world.made by the chosen ones of God. The first to be chosen is Mary and then the Apostles and finally St Paul.

The evangelists recorded their "memoirs" in later life but the essentials that they contain have been inspired by the Holy Spirit and St Paul is the first to receive that teaching as a "mission" and preach to the "whole world". 

The Jews that made the first congregation were in contact with the Apostles who knew everything that Jesus had made known to them. The Ascension had focussed the minds of the Galilean fishermen and their souls had been fortified by the Holy Spirit. The Church was founded in the Upper Room and by the shores of Lake Galilee but  they continued to pray in the Temple. 

It was openly in the Temple that Jesus' spoke these final words as a free man directly to the people beloved of the Father. When he began to write, St John had for many years cared for Mary as he did for his own family. Nobody has known Jesus better than his own mother.The presence of the Mother of God in his own house for so long must have had some influence on John's Faith in Father, Son and Holy Spirit and so we can accept him as the Theologian, the unveiler of "Christ our High Priest".

Dear Lord so many years have passed since you taught throughout Palestine and some of us feel alone. I pray that I can keep myself open to your grace and avoid falling into sin again. May your mother Mary continue to continue to lead the Saints in pleas for the grace to drive Satan out of the "whited sepulchre that much of your Body on Earth has become and may the Holy Souls in Purgatory soon receive the Grace that you made for us all by your suffering on Calvary.

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