11/07/2023

St Benedict tried to live his life in a literal adherence to the words of Jesus. He was not the first to try and he will not be the last. The abandonment of all mundane ties that are God's gift in his providence to all of us is no easy matter for they have come to us from God. It is still you, me, St Peter and all the Saints who make that decision. Very few of those individuals who make the right choice are chosen.

Jesus is not a hard taskmaster. He told us in Sunday's Gospel that his "yoke is easy and his burden is light". Peter pleads for some recognition for himself and his fellow disciples. Jesus again emphasises that he is revealing to us the Kingdom of Heaven. There is no Kingdom of God on earth. We live in God's Providence but we, each of us, have to answer that direct connection that Father, Son and Holy Spirit makes to us.

"He keeps his help for honest men, He is the shield of those whose ways are honourable". The solidarity of humanity, the Communion of Saints, the True Presence of Christ founded by Jesus on earth very soon slipped to become  the Mundane Power of the Papacy and it has degenerated further ever since. St Benedict tried to reestablish the direct contact that the Apostles had with Jesus.

His prayer filled community was not founded to do all the wonderful human things for which his Order is rightly renowned and praised. St Benedict, St Anthony, the Little Flower and all the Saints throughout their lives on earth refused to become enmeshed by their family, institutional Church, or Nation and so  are now part of the Kingdom of God that is not of this world.

Dear Lord help me to live another day without sin. Keep the ordained members of your Church free from sin so that we sinners have confidence that the Sacraments they administer are truly your Real presence on earth. May the prayers of Mary and all the saints unite to bring your Mercy to all us sinners on Earth and those Holy Souls thankfully awaiting your pardon in Purgatory.