17/11/2023

I only have to drive about a mile from my house and I can see the towers of Lincoln Cathedral. The Norman conquerors of England soon left their mark on the new realm that they had taken by force of arms. Force of arms that had been approved by the Pope. The successors to St Peter had soon forgotten that Jesus had  emphasised that the material of this world and its political systems was not to be trusted for it would all pass away.

Part of Jesus' revelation to the first disciples had been "My Kingdom is not of this world". Many prelates over the centuries have challenged the immorality of earthly rulers but I have heard of none who challenged themselves to divest themselves of their place in the Kingdoms of this world that the Institution based in Rome had created for them out of the first community of witnesses to the Resurrection.

Ezekiel is appointed to ensure that Israel stays true to the Word of God. He will fail in his duty if he allows sin to prevail within his community. By all accounts, St Hugh who built my nearby Cathedral was a man of prayer but he was born into the "Feudal System". Today's owners of the magnificent building that is a landmark for miles around have even allowed it to be used as a filmset for blasphemy. 

All of us exist in this world at different times in God's Providence. God speaks to us as individual beings and has made it clear that we are not to be overcome by the wonders that we experience. 

St Hugh and his congregations were men/women of the Feudal Age. Their world was different than ours. Ezekiel lived and worshipped in the Post-Exilic Age of Israel. His world was very different than ours. Jesus lived in the first years of the Roman Empire.

The Kingdom he reveals to us all is the everlasting real world of our never changing Father, Son and Holy Spirit that was the same for Ezekiel, Hugh and now for me. God be praised.

Dear Lord, help me to atone for my sinful life. Look not to my words but to my heart and help me to purge the sins that I have welcomed in the past. May Mary, St Hugh and all the Saints by their prayers support all of us who are trying to do your Will by avoiding the sins of World, Flesh and Devil. Amen.