20/10/2023

Today's readings give the support that I know that I need in my life. 

"Good deeds" is a bit  overpowering. For me it becomes avoiding my obvious, even to myself, sins. For St Paul it was certainly much more. He was helped up from his encounter on his way to persecute the incipient Church in Damascus and, never-looking back, he preached the Gospel until the day he was beheaded. His life became a "good deed".

Our Lord cured the sick, fed the hungry taught us how and why  to pray. Those are good deeds that we all can repeat but his ultimate "good deed" is that he is God incarnate in the same physical body as we are; he is begotten, lives and dies to become the Resurrection. 

Our all-powerful, ever-greater God knows us all. The "tuppenny sparrow" and hairs on our heads are always present to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He knows exactly what a human being is capable of and teaches us by his example.

I may doubt my own integrity and capabilities;  I have sufficient memories to so do.  Jesus, however, knows me in greater depth than I know myself. He tells me that he is my refuge and that we all can know the Joy of Salvation. I have to believe him for the man who preached throughout Palestine and suffered the agonies on Calvary is God.

Dear Lord, you know that I am a weak and fragile follower of your way. Let me know and be consistently thankful for the joy that your words bring to me. I have never been justly dealt with for my sins. Let me accept whatever punishment they deserve that I might look on the heavenly joy that is known to your mother and all the saints. May they pray for me as together we unite in prayers for all sinners here on Earth and in Purgatory.