25/11/2023

In today's first reading the war between those who refused to become "Hellenised" and the Jews faithful to God's revelation to them, is going in favour of the Jews. King Antiochus has been overcome by depression at the news that has reached him. The Temple has been freed from the "Abomination of Desolation" and is again protected by high walls.

Many had been killed during the war but going through the minds of the victors there must have been the joy of that is "I will rejoice in your saving help, O Lord". They were as happy as were the German people when Hitler triumphed in Paris in 1940. Five years later Hitler too succumbed to depression.

During the last centuries of the Old Testament the Rabbi's had not only existed in a cocoon of "Bible Studies" but had also been part of the human trend to think about what it means to be alive and to worship God. God's revelation to Moses had ensured that for them there were no personalities to be appeased; no Joves or Astartes. 

IAMIAM is the Creator and had revealed how each personal human being is somehow like him but is also totally inferior. Humans are to worship the Lord and prove that they do so by their deeds during their lifetimes. There is no clear teaching about how we are "image and likeness" within the books of Moses but by the time of the Incarnation there had grown two parties among the Priests and Rabbis. Pharisees believed in resurrection/eternal life after death i.e. our life itself is part of our likeness to our Creator, the Sadducees didn't.

Jesus brings the Merciful Love, that is the being of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and forgiveness of sins to the whole world and has risen to prove by his Resurrection that God's Love is eternal and that we can share in it by our own choice for we also have a share of God's freedom.

Dear Lord tomorrow we will close this liturgical year. Our Church really does follow and repeat your teaching. On earth you did condemn the Pharisees who knew the right way to pray and live on earth but of themselves many lived in hypocrisy. Help me to be part of the Church as founded in your mother and St John. John took Mary into his household. May I be joined in prayer with all who know and return your Love as did the solitary figures at the foot of your Cross and renew in the Institution the remembrance of the warning you gave in "My Kingdom is not of this world".