06/06/2023

The story of Tobit continues in this morning's first reading. His misfortunes begin with his blindness. His wife complains that his righteousness has only brought misery to his family. In the Gospel, Jesus is still being attacked by the big-shot clergy of his day.

The scribes and high priests although belonging to very different theological backgrounds, they are divided by their beliefs in a life after death, present a unified front to attack Jesus. Jesus can never be fooled by man's intentions and so we hear "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's".

The problems of the extent of  Church authority in this world are still with us, although increasingly swept under the carpet. Were our Bishops and priests right to close our churches during "Covid"? Is possible for "marriage" to take place between individuals of the same sex? Can mankind possibly over-rule the law of God?

Jesus did tell us that there is an institution that he founded to ensure that his presence would be with us in the world until "the end of time". In the very public setting of his trial, he also told the representative of worldly power, Pilate  that  "My Kingdom is not of this world". Do we really think that God's providence would contradict the Word? So what are we to make of the fact that the political power of the Papacy did exist for most of the 2000 years since the resurrection.?

 Jesus' foundation soon claimed for itself "Supreme Power on Earth"and millions had to die over centuries for the "World" to finally win this struggle between Pope and Emperor and confine the worldly Power of the Keys to one only of the hills of Rome. Has the Spiritual Kingdom  founded by Jesus completely disappeared or can it be found if we search hard enough?

The behaviour of popes bishops and priests over the centuries has also done very little to confirm the moral or other worldly authority of the Church. Recent revelations of the personal sins, even against children, of clergy do not give me much confidence that I can truly find the Jesus, "Do this in memory of me" within the Church that claims Apostolic Succession as the guarantor of her being the Spiritual Body on Earth of her Founder.

Dear Lord, I know that you have not abandoned your people. I know that somewhere within your Church there is still beating the "fire of your love". I am only one sinner who in the past, has wasted much of your grace but by its ever greater power has sincerely returned to you. Mary, John and all the Saints are the perfect Church with you in Eternity, please listen to their pleas and let your love pour out over the whole world and bring to their senses Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Canons, Deans Priests, all of the ordained to do your will and refrain from their sinfulness which brings not only them but also us all to ruin.