07/08/2023

The relationship between the Israelites wandering in the desert and God resembles my own sinful life time. Sometimes as I was growing up I was safe and sure in the Catholic Faith that I was learning to love and sometimes my own sinfulness ruled all my thoughts and deeds and at those times I had no self control and as did the Israelites I blamed God for letting me sin.

England was a truly Christian country at that time. Each Sunday all the desolate and empty churches and chapels that now clutter our villages, towns and cities calling out our lack of Faith to the heavens,were filled with enthusiastic worshipers.. 

My neighbours were all Protestant Methodists. Every now and then I had to defend theological accusations that originated in Sunday Schools. Yes, children talked about God and religion in those days.Catholics are sinful because they worship statues was heard not once but many times, as were other blasphemies against Our Lady. Our Corpus Christi procession was met with scorn and jibes by groups of children and teenagers with their parents standing and smirking not too far away. But many of those boys had a real belief in the nearness of God. I remember one boy putting up his arm as if to touch somebody saying "I've got my hand on Jesus' shoulder". He wasn't mocking, he meant it. May God let him rest in peace.

I never lacked belief in God, however, and during the next 35 years made some effort to atone for sins but never showed the constancy that is the true sign of belief. Jesus had no need but he too  did spend 30 years in obscurity, Israelites wandered for 40 years and then spent hundreds of years trying to live faultlessly in sight of  their benefactor. 

In the closing shots of  yesterday's "filmed" drama the camera panned across the lake to another man of similar age to John sitting in a boat to address a great crowd of men, women and children. In what is to be a foretaste of the reason behind his presence in our lives today Jesus feeds a multitude using the goods  his creation to support our bodies while our souls look on in wonder and begin to worship.

Dear Lord help me to see clearly what it is that you reveal in the Scriptures. Let me avoid the attempt to be "clever" and childishly show-off. Let my "childishness" be an open heart that can recognise your Love and welcome it with humility and joy. Our Lady recognised your grace and always remains "poor in Spirit"only coming forward with any pride at the wedding feast at Cannae and this because of her trust in you.. May she together with the souls and angels of heaven plead with Our Father to send the Grace that will forgive us our sins and help us to become Christ-like in forgiveness of others.

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