05/10/2023

In the first reading Nehemiah conveys to us the great joy felt by all who were present in the  Square before the Water Gate. He names scribes and priests but the image of the "people" calling for the scrolls to be read and then rejoicing, eating, drinking and having fun because they had heard the Law read to them captures the imagination in the same way as does Breughel's' paintings of Mediaeval life. 

This happiness in the Law makes me wonder how it was that these " Holy People", joyful in thanksgiving for the freedom to be enjoyed while living  life in obedience to the will of God, sinned to the extent that the only way to atone was for the Word to become man and offer himself as the Perfect Sacrifice.

In the Gospel, St Luke writes of seventy-two disciples who were sent out to prepare the way of the Lord. These are not named but would have been known to Jesus. If 72 is a real number and not akin to "a couple of dozen" i.e. an vague indication of more than single figures the "multitudes" of all the Gospel narratives were indeed approaching the "five thousand" who were fed on the mountain.

The only text that they could have preached was their own belief in Jesus the man. "We have found the Messiah". St Francis repeated the missionary poverty of "no purse, no haversack, no sandals" but his message was of God incarnate, babe, cross and  Resurrection.

Dear Lord, how can it be that it is so easy for me to sin when you have revealed all that there is to know about how to live as your children. Your life is the only way that we need to follow. Help me to put myself into your shoes and subjugate my ego to the will of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thy will be done. Amen.