15/01/2024

I usually have to wait after reading the texts that are to be used at mass. Today's slaughter in Gaza is too close to  King Saul 's slaughter of the Amalekites, who were another race claiming descent from Abraham, for me not to be silenced into incomprehension by the disgrace of the denial of God by those who have been the first recipients of his Self Revelation. 

I can view no violence against my brothers and sisters as "justified". The wars of the world since Christ have never been just. The theologians, Popes, Bishops and priests who have said other wise have failed their Lord and lead many of us into temptation. 

But the Old Testament is full of what is purported to be the Word of God commending violence and today's first reading goes so far as to have God punishing the first "King of the Jews" for not being violent enough. He has won a war against his enemies but has not completed the genocide as instructed having been distracted by loot. The prophet Samuel upbraids Saul for not completing the total destruction approved by IAMIAM.

Saul's place in the history of Israel is a result of how he reacted to the providence of God. We all are the same in that none of us choose to be born. We are all the same in that no matter the circumstances of our birth, we can all choose to live guided by the will of God revealed to us in the scriptures and in the history of the world.

Samuel is inspired by the Holy Spirit to declare in the face of Saul but for all humanity to hear 

    " Submissiveness is better than the fat of rams".

but he goes on to actually complete Saul's task by personally dispatching King Agag.

"Submissiveness" for an Old Testament prophet is not the same as for we who have knowledge of the one whose "Kingdom is not of this Word". 

The true "King of the Jews" and of all humanity is our exemplar of true submissiveness and the righteousness that we should all aim for if we are to walk upright conforming to the will of the Lord.

Is any of the slaughter taking place all over our world as I type, is any of this slaughter doing the will of Father, Son and Holy Spirit?The covenanted people Israel soon became more in love with themselves than with God. The Church founded on Peter soon did the opposite of what Our King declared before Pilate and created a Kingdom/Institution definitely of this world.

I am a sinful man living in a sinful world but within me there is a spark of longing for all this to be different. A world where all mankind accepts the Love which has created us and God is All in All.

Dear Lord, let me become by my own choice the man whose image and likeness is known only by you. Let me avoid sin and throughout this day know that there is a Spiritual Church, the Mystical Body of Christ and let me share in this with Mary and all the Saints praying for forgiveness for the sins of all the world and the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Amen