16/06/2023

Today the Church reminds us that Jesus is a complete human being. God's love for mankind has shown us that only he can wipe away our sins. My own punishment is not enough to create, by washing away personal guilt, the child-like purity that God willed for all of us to have. This can only be achieved  by God eternally emptying himself to become true man while being true God.

God's total being is each of the persons of the Trinity. Jesus is not only the sacrificial victim that wipes away the sins of the world he is also the Word/Son who is eternally known by Father and Holy Spirit in the Being which God shares without any dimidiation of himself,  with the reality of creation.

"I am gentle and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls", the loving kindness of Father we hear in these words of  Son and the security of Holy Spirit they bring to our souls are all that we could wish for in life. Previously Jesus has told us that we have to respond to him with total sincerity even though that response will bring strife and the sword to our lives. Are the theological and philosophical attempts to resolve the contrasts between these opposing positions  the work of the "learned and the wise" whom we are not to take for our role models? 

We cannot avoid seeing the strife that surrounded Jesus during his public ministry. His own family were embarrassed by him. The synagogue  wanted to throw him over a cliff in Nazareth. Satan launched a direct spiritual attack on him. The wise and learned conspired to trick him, to disprove him by his own words. The secular authorities did the bidding of the High Priests and his disciples abandoned him on the hill beyond the city walls.

Where in all of this pain and strife where do we find the heart of a child? Mary believes totally in the will of the Father, knows implicitly that Jesus can change the water into wine and accepts the bequest made from the cross. Our Lady is born without sin and just accepts  all that God wills for her. 

The grace poured out from the pierced heart of the Lord saves us from sin and thus we can all become "the mere children" beloved of Father, Son and Holy Spirit" just as Mary is.

Dear Lord I thank you for the gift of faith and hope to live this day in peaceful love. My sins are grievous and I cry out for your pardon so that this confusion that is my being avoids doing harm in thought word or deed to any other person. May I grow closer to Mary who without stain of sin is created to be Queen of Heaven and first disciple of your Son.