17/10/2023

This morning I am determined not to repeat the mistakes of yesterday so I have got up early enough to use the peace and quiet of morning to calm my mind and heart, to begin the day by the knowing, loving and serving which were missing from my life yesterday.

St Paul is more of an Old Testament prophet today, although he knows that it is Christ of the Resurrection that fills him with new life. He condemns the idolatry of the pagans. If I were there I would remind him that God did choose the Jews to be the first to receive the revelations that make our lives on Earth meaningful. The Jews definitely had an advantage over the rest of us. 

He condemns the intellectuals, the philosophers of his day but they too had denied the "Gods". It was only Julian in the fourth century who was able to make  paganism into Religion. He had received a very well founded Christian education along with Basil the Great. God works in mysterious ways.

Jesus, as he does throughout his life, condemns the scrupulosity of the Pharisees who, true to form, blame Jesus for not washing before eating. If it were the custom of the Jews to eat from the same plate as each other washing before eating seems to be an understandable norm. But Jesus continues to condemn the "religious" who know all the rules but have lost the spirit.

St Paul blame the pagans for their response to the wonder of the creation. Seeing the wonder of creation all mankind should cry out in praise of such a great work and realise that there is one God who name it all. The psalmist got it right. The heavens do indeed proclaim the the Glory of Lord but God called only the Jews until the Incarnation of the Son proclaimed the ever greater glory that is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord I am always in need of ever greater forgiveness.  Thank you, cannot be enough for your great mercy but it is all that I can say. May the  prayerful communion of Mary and all the saints of heaven unite with ours on earth to defeat sin on Earth and your Mercy to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Dear Lord save the pagans who are also known to you and who cannot be blamed for ignorance.