10/09/2023

There are only a few words in today's Mass readings. They answer the question of the rich young man. "How can I enter the Kingdom of Heaven?" 

Ezekiel tells us that we do have responsibility for our brother's behaviour. God reveals through him that when we see sinful behaviour we must warn the perpetrator face to face. If that fails then do the same before witnesses. If we do not comply with these instructions, God will hold us responsible for the other's misdeeds.

St Paul warns us about the dangers of debt. Thousands of people in his day were living lives crippled by debt. Jesus' only act of violence was to overturn the benches of the money changers in the Temple. The Pharisees in the spirit of today's first reading condemned him for associating with "Publicans"the last layer of the corruption that was Caesar's system of squeezing money out his conquests.

A popular "anthem" of my youth and sung by another Paul and his mates, is absolutely true. All we need is love. First love of God and then love for each other for Love can do no harm. Love knows that each of is known by God, that each of us can choose to return to God his love which he has lavished upon us.

Jesus told us to gather together in small groups in awareness that he would be present with us. St Paul and the other Apostles spread this message throughout the whole world. God wants each one of us to live without sin. The Apostles, Mary and her friends were as insignificant in the Empire of Caesar as I am in the world today but their foundation is still with us after the Empire has been long gone.

Would they recognise in the Vatican of today the love of God and neighbour that Father, Son and Holy Spirit had inspired within them or would they cry out with their Lord and friend the last words from the Cross.

Dear Lord, forgive me for my sins. I am sorry for I know that even the sins of the little ones like me are your pains on Calvary. Help to find two or three whom I can join  in  worship that is untainted by Mammon in the teeming desert of the Web. May Mary and all the saints who have no trace of sin pray that all us sinners on Earth can find true repentance and the repentant ones waiting for merciful release from the pains of purgatory come to know the joy of God's infinite Mercy