05/01/2024

I always try to avoid distractions when, each day, I begin to raise my heart and mind to God. As I read the first reading for this morning's mass I realised that I have never until now really read this letter of St John. 

I have not been able throughout my life to avoid the distractions of world, flesh and devil. I have never prayed as I am now able and have often sinned in that I am, as was Cain, always ready to ally myself with the Evil one in matters both large and small and deny the whole point of human life. 

My talk and thoughts and often my prayers have been empty words "Lord, Lord" and not the  "knowing loving and serving" the Love that gave up his life for us. I have cushioned my conscience from the Holy Spirit and often been able to justify attachment to the things of this world. 

In this I am like millions of other human beings who have been able to justify to themselves their own pride and greed by forming for themselves a human conscience which agrees with their own egos.

St John preaches the direct message of the Incarnation. We can clear our  God-given ( not personally created) consciences and stand without fear in the full presence of our Maker, Saviour and Love only when "Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven" becomes much more than a formula for prayer," not just talk and empty words", but is realised in our daily lives and taken with us at the end as our own personal offering to be accepted or rejected by Our Father. God have Mercy on me.

Dear Lord, I too have to thank you for the "wonder of my being" and join the whole world in crying out with joy for you make it possible for me to be able to rely on you. Your Love surrounds the world and we can join it by turning our whole beings to you our creator. May Mary who must have shared on Earth her prayers with those of St John, and now leads all the saints in praise of your Glory, never cease to plead that we sinners on Earth, and in Purgatory can atone for our sins and finally come into your presence. Amen