02/12/2023

Today's reading from Daniel continues the vision. The writer seems to place the vision inside Daniel's mind, it is subjective. These fearful images of "beasts and horns" have no objective reality they "pass through his head" and yet he asks a bystander for an interpretation. Daniel knows that he is dreaming and yet still aware of his dream/vision he can find on another level himself as an observer and another witness who is looking at the vision in the same way that he is.

This awareness of dreams is quite familiar to me and also common to most of us, if psychiatrists are to be believed. In the Bible, dreams can be the way God reveals his Will for us. St Joseph's reaction to Mary's pregnancy was guided by a dream as was the flight into Egypt. Joseph gained political power in Egypt as an interpreter of dreams. St Peter was able to announce the end of the Jewish dietary restrictions as the result of a dream, but there is no record of Jesus ever breaking those same laws.

Jesus warns us yet again that both personal death and the "End of Time" will happen at any moment. We have to live righteously so that we are always ready for our souls to face their creation. Our world is now fuller than ever of spectacular works of man but "the cares of life" are distractions that happen if we forget our primary purpose and are on a par with chemically interfering with the working of our brains and thus changing our perception of the reality of creation. 

We can avoid all bodily sins for God's grace is freely bestowed for us all to share. Tomorrow the Church begins her preparation for the birth of the Son of God. He who is far greater than our Universe has been gestating in the womb of Mary the Virginial Mother just as did the creatures who will end  his human life.  

The primary purpose that Father, Son and Holy Spirit offer to us is life in the never ending Love that is the Being of God. We can do this now with the help of his Grace and at our "end times", personal or universal we can be ready to enter what he has prepared for us.

Dear Lord, you know totally what It is I am striving for. I am always concerned that I may be misunderstanding the teaching of your Gospel. I am sure however that my sins are truly mine and always unnecessary. I cannot escape my personal responsibility and hope that the greatness of your Mercy will find for me the penance to bring me back to the holiness you have won for all mankind. May Mary and all the Saints who know eternal joy implore that we on Earth and in Purgatory can pay the price needed for us to join them in the Glory that surrounds your being. Amen.