26/06/2023

I am only able to accept the Gospels as they have been translated and recorded over the the centuries. Jesus says "Don't judge"and I immediately retort "but if I want to avoid sin I have to make a judgement before I make a choice"! Then I want to make a new translation. "Don't judge" becomes "Don't condemn".

My retort is not a rash contradiction of the words of Christ but rather a reaction to those whom we all know who have become so "unjudgemental" as to have turned Mercy into leniency. If we observe sinful behaviour amongst our peers and our betters we cannot ignore it nor can we condone it.

As always, Jesus speaks person to person. Many of us are and have been present to hear his words but it is to each one of our individual souls to whom they are addressed. We must not judge others before we judge ourselves. This emphasis on our personal responsibility, our freedom, for all that we do in life is fundamental to the teaching of Jesus. "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone" was enough to shame even the Pharisees who hearing it could not bear to stay in Jesus' presence.

Appalling sins committed not by me but by far too many clergy against the "holy innocence of children" have again damaged the Church during this latter part of my life. Many of us now know that every priest is not all he that should be and avoid Mass which was in our youth the most important part of our lives.

 I also remember, however, that even then my personal life was also full of sin for which I am responsible and for which I continue to beg forgiveness in the hope that the Love which Jesus assigned from the cross to Mary and John is also the Church of the Spirit, the institutional governance of which was to be Peter's.

Dear Lord you know that my life in your Providence has really been easy; that I have not done enough to spread your Gospel; and that now I am trying to live according to your Will. May Mary and all the Saints pray that I can respond in truth to the loving grace of you Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that a place for penitence will be found for me in this world or the next.