14/11/2023

No one can know the nature of God. Many have tried over the centuries. The Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament is not only the product of man's intellect as is Greek Philosophy, but has also the inspiration of God to guide it. 

In the first books of the Old Testament God is an immediate presence to the Chosen People. He is with them in the "Tent of meeting" and journey's with them to the Promised Land. His Glory is visible in the victories over the "nations" and especially in the Temple of Solomon. God's favour is revealed by the success of his chosen ones and dismal failure is the lot of the apostates.

The return to Jerusalem from Babylonian Exile is that of a changed Israel confined not to twelve but only two tribes. The Temple Sacrifices are the focus of their faith but Synagogues are centres of learning and the Rabbis, although not gifted with "prophecy", begin to develop out of their sacred scriptures ideas about the nature of God and man's relationship with him.

The first reading confirms Genesis and tells us that mankind is the image of God. We have an eternal being that is not God's but similar to God in that we have freedom to think, create and Love and we can become eternal. The Jews of Jesus' day were divided in their opinions about Souls and also about life after death.

The Baptist is the immediate precursor to Jesus but some of his listeners and disciples would have been aware of this Wisdom text composed only 50 years before the birth of Jesus and thus more ready than others for the teaching of Jesus. Martha, for example, already believed in the General Resurrection.

Forests have been devastated to produce the paper that has been used to write about Jesus. Intellectual satisfaction can soon become the object of what starts out as my sincere effort to understand "God and me" which is the most important relationship of our time on Earth. Today Jesus assures us we free beings have to recognise that we are all slaves of God and by faithfully sub-serving our own will to Father, Son and Holy Spirit we can become the virtuous beloved and loving throughout Eternity.

Dear Lord, may I be ever aware that you keep me in your Love. May I not be envious or jealous. May I accept your Will for me and let me place all my trust in you. May Mary and all the saints continue praying in support of all living in their bodies and of the  Holy Souls in Purgatory. Let me never become satisfied in myself and remain truly aware that the only virtue that I have is the gift of the Crucified Jesus.