20/11/2023

The Jews' relationship with IAMIAM was never constant. They recognised their "Hard Master" but oftentimes succumbed to the delights of pagan-living even to the extent of reverting to the idol-making that had so horrified Moses at the foot of Mt Sinai.

 In the first reading the scene is set for the drama of the Maccabees. Alexander the Great's Empire was short-lived but left a mark on the whole of the Middle-East. Historian's have called the process whereby many different cultures adopted Greek ways of living as Hellenization and Israel was not immune to this process.

I am always aware when reading the Old Testament that there were millions of other humans who were living at any of the " those days" in question but not receiving the grace of divine guidance through the prophets. Jesus too was aware of this for when condemning the Galilean cities he specifically compares them to Tyre and Sidon who would have welcomed him with open arms.

It is quite clear from the Incarnation that Father, Son and Holy Spirit knows how he wants us to live in the times we grow into from the moment of our birth. Jesus is begotten not made. He empties himself of the Kingdom, Power and Glory and chooses to become a living part of the Providence of God that we all are when living on this earth.

We know Jesus, the Resurrection, but to the Jews of his time on Earth he offered signs, his miracles. We attribute them to his divine powers but to the former blind man he says. "Go your faith has brought you recovery". The miracle happened because of perfect human faith ( the blind man's) and Jesus' perfect human (begotten not made) prayer to Our Father.

Dear Lord, I know that I am known to you and that I can ask for forgiveness and mercy. Help me to bring all others into your care and let the only other perfect human being who has not tasted the reward of sin but is with you in Eternity lead all the sinless and forgiven in prayer for the sinners here on earth with me and the Holy Souls in Purgatory.