09/06/2023

We read the conclusion to the story of God's Providence for Tobit and his family. We know that all the main characters accepted their lives as a gift from God. I do not think that I have ever accepted this. I do know that I have lived in a sinful way and believed that this was the result of  the weakness of my will combined with the temptation to accept the pleasures of the flesh. 

I have often turned to God to relieve the painful guilt of my sinfulness, but it is only now in my old age that I can say with Tobias "Blessed be God"and begin to understand how my life has been always directed by God's providence and that I have always lived in God's Mercy for my sins are too numerous to name. I have read and written many words about God, sometimes my skull has been cracking with all the turmoil going on inside it.

The Patriarchs were all individuals who were touched directly by God to begin to fear and understand His ever greater Being and to accept their lives as a fruitful gift from the totality of Being that had named Himself "IAMIAM".

At the conclusion of the Old Testament, the Son disputes with the descendants of the prophets. Only he knows the Father. He also knows what is to happen when his "hour" arrives. This morning's Gospel tells us that the listeners accepted what he said with "delight".What was it that gave them "delight"? Was it  merely the way that Jesus confounded the arguments of the "learned and the wise"? Or was it a "delight" in Jesus the person, lovely and full of wisdom? 

Dear Lord, is it pointless for me to address you for already you know me as I really am.? My prayer is directed towards you but it is to help me that I turn to you. Jesus taught us to pray and I say the  "Our Father" for it contains everything that we need to know on earth. May the Angels, Saints and Mother Mary continue to find those on earth whose lives are still sinful and in danger of being lost. May the Holy Souls in Purgatory accept their penance and complete it in joyful thankfulness for that is your Justice.