02/06/2023

The first reading in today's mass could have been taken from any pre-Christian source. The sentiments are 100% human and unguided and could have been written by any sage of the ancient Middle-East.

The writer is sure that the most important thing for a human being is to be acknowledged by his fellow man and to create a legacy of fame and fortune. It seems to me that mankind has always had  the "celebrity-culture" which today is the focus of so many lives around the world. The only difference between then and now being that becoming famous has been democratised. Our influencers do not have to be produced only by lineage, education and ancestral wealth but can become celebrities without going out of their own bedrooms.

The psalmist, however, knows that the only "glory that will not fail" belongs to the God of Israel, and that we all, "illustrious or not", need to put our human heroes aside and sing praise to him who takes "eternal delight" in his people. To know that God loves us is much more than riches for he "crowns the poor with salvation".

Jesus, true man and true God, does something odd this morning. He "curses" the fig-tree because it is not producing fruit out of season. Could it be that our Lord has a sense of irony and mocks all of our petty irritations which, although less than sinful, disturb the equilibrium of our souls.

There is nothing ambivalent about his actions later that day. There is a right way to use the Temple. The purpose of our Temple of the Resurrection is to praise God and to exemplify right action, morality. Our Church leadership has to avoid their focus on the things of this world i.e. financial balance-sheets and building funds, and avoid becoming entangled in fashionable cultural trends.

We are men or women and "Pride" in sin should be condemned outright rather than brought into our Cathedrals by those who should speak out against the sinful laxity of our times. Jesus was never afraid to speak the truth to the powerful or to the weak. What is the matter with our clergy today?

Dear Lord, forgiveness is what we all need from you. Help me to avoid anger and selfishness that I may make my soul open to your grace. How can I move mountains if I am not sure that I will remain without sin for the rest of this day.? Strengthen my faith and help me to see in your mother the perfect faith that enabled her to accept without question her part in your plan and let these words not be "noise" but sincere acknowledgement of your Loving Mercy.