18/04/2023

The readings for this morning reveal how the teachings of Jesus and the blinding Glory of the Resurrection had had their immediate impact.The Church in the first reading is the result in this world and life of "the love of neighbour as your self." It is the beginning among the people who had known Jesus, of the Church founded on the Rock and it grew but in doing so also lost the pristine innocence of its first weeks in Jerusalem.

St John's Gospel is the divinely inspired memoir of Jesus recollected by John in his old age. It is not a "true narrative" but the interpretation of remembered highlights of the Life inspired by Love. I think that as St John had been given the responsibility of looking after Mary within his own "household" his recollections were also supported by those of Mary. The billions of words of "Theology" available today all start from the Gospels and especially that of St John. He is the "Theologian".

Those first two decades of the Church are the ideal for all Christian life. Problems were at first overcome by prayer but even when they know Christ, people are still human, full of self and ready to protect their own. Deacons were appointed to ensure impartiality in the division of material needs and then overseers ( Bishops) became a necessity and thus human corruption first seen in the canvassing of Jesus by the mother of James and John, began in the infant hierarchy.Within three centuries the Papacy had taken on the worldly trappings of the Empire and acted as if it had forgotten "My kingdom is not of this world".

The worldly wickedness inside the Petrine Church is still with us as much as it has ever been. However, Father, Son and Holy Spirit through the words of Jesus has promised "to be with us until the end of time." Our Baptism has freed us to accept the "heavenly words" of the Holy Spirit so that even amongst the past and present evil men, who have neither fear of God nor respect for man but still rule the Institutional Church, we can find "the small quiet voice"that brings to us the Love of God that the prayers of St John and Mary keep flourishing in the hearts that are open to receive it. There has always been a Church of the Spirit and it can still be found.

Dear Lord, open the hearts of all your people to receive the merciful grace and comfort that is beyond all understanding and let us be able to without doubts join in the Liturgy that is the remembrance of you and renewed Sacrifice of your Body and Blood. May Mary and all the saints in the perfect worship of Heaven pray for forgiveness for all sinners here on Earth and for souls awaiting pardon in Purgatory.