08/07/2023

Today's reading presents us with a stark choice. Do we accept Jacob's deception of his aged father as justified in the eyes of God or is it on a par with Adam's sin, another disobedience to add to the pain of Calvary that is endured to enable sinful man to return to the arms of the Father?

A Latin phrase from the Easter Vigil that has stayed in my mind since I was an altar-boy is "felix culpa". The magnitude of the Incarnation, the Choice by God to take on flesh and become true man, begotten not made is a result of sin brought into creation by Adam and this "sin" is fortunate for us because we now have the opportunity to live our lives freed from sin by choosing to live in the grace of God, which so much greater than man's disobedience.

The first sin of Adam is from that time forward stamped on the beings of all of us. Jacob's life even with the "blessing" he stole is still lived in God's providence with the constant need to obey or disobey; to chose life or death. Isaac's "blessing" is a prayer of hope to God, it is not a "coded program" to predetermine life.

God has truly blessed us with the ability to determine objective right from wrong. Many of us, however,  have become gods to ourselves and claim as our own the right to decide on the sole basis of  personal choice. "My body my choice" is their unthinking rebuff into the face of the Crucified Christ.

The disciples of John asked Jesus about "fasting". Jesus' objective answer is that there is no need for sorrow for his disciples are with him, he is the new wineskin that is Father Son and Holy Spirit. The Mystical Body of Christ is the loving unity of all comrades in belief. Some of us are known to each other in the living world, some are known with Mary and all the Saints, but all of us, including the Holy Souls are known intimately by our loving Father who art in heaven. 

Dear Lord, let me hold fast to what is being revealed to me by my prayer. May I be steadfast in my Faith, Hope and Charity and may my prayers be joined with those of your Mother and all the Saints in Heaven. Let your Mercy flow over the Holy Souls and let me too experience total regret for sin that true awareness of your forgiveness brings.