29/10/2023

The psalm today proclaims our praise for the Lord. The three readings tell us why we do so. A thousand years of  God's providence for mankind are covered from Moses to Jesus and we today  have had another two thousand years that mankind has lived within the ever changing times provided by God. The times and the individuals change but God remains unchanged, the beginning and the end of time, the ever-greater focus of our existence.

I know that I am a sinner but I also know that God's forgiveness and mercy are far greater than any sin. He has consistently made known to us that we can all live lives in freedom according to his will and that he is the support of Faith and source of never-ending Grace.

Moses has seen the Father. It is this revelation that confirms that I have to put other people before myself.  Paul's whole life is a mission of service to spread the Good News. He confirms his words by his deeds. He can live without sin and the Thessalonians have not only witnessed this but followed his example.

Jesus, the Word, has emptied himself of divinity to become the perfect human. He does not respond to the casuistry of the Pharisees, ("Do you not think that my Father would give 10 legions of Angels?"), as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but as man to man.

I have been created to know, love and serve God and without doing any harm in thought word or deed to any other person. If everybody alive seriously tried to do this who would ever have tried to bomb whole nations out of existence or looked away from any disabled beggar?

Dear Lord, all that I can truthfully be within your sight is this pathetic sinner who cannot get rid of the ego that loves itself more than it does You and my neighbour. My freedom leads me into sin. I know that I can serve you only by accepting without any reservation your aid to conquer my will. May the prayers of heaven which is joy in your presence be heard and let my resolve to do your will become fruitful in this world and find forgiveness in the next.