26/02/2024

I need to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit if I am not to lose myself in the vast sea of knowledge and experience that is available without even moving out of this chair. Our computers are truly amazing and we are now able to turn over to them tasks that used to need our personal attention.

In the first centuries of Christian worship some became so intolerant of the demands made on on their personal attention by the Good News which included the care for their neighbour as they would for themselves, that they left their congregations and sought the lonely places that enabled them to raise their minds and hearts to God in peace and solitude.

Jesus too, often went into lonely places to be with his Father but he never remained separated from his companions for very long. His whole mission is to give the people of the world the grace to be able to live within the will of Our Father. For this reason " Thou art Peter and on this rock I will build my Church." 

Jesus did, at his trial where he was judged by both the State and the Temple, affirm  to both these institutions and for all time that his Kingdom was not of this world. The difficulty for us now and for the apostles then is that we are living bodily lives in this world and although at death we cannot take anything with us our goods do remain. 

The unintentional created wealth of the Church has promoted avarice and ambition throughout the ages and wealth has brought with it all the vices of any Human Institution that we can find in abundance within the Church which seems to be decaying today.

The body of Our Lord never decayed. Father, Son and Holy Spirit has compassion for humanity and revealed the Resurrection as the first fruits of the new creation that will begin with the end of time. We are all created to share in that new beginning but we have to follow God's teaching to become blessed of Our Father and to remember that our receiving of compassion is reciprocal; "the amount you will receive is the amount you have given out".

Dear Lord, help me to feel compassion for all victims of clerical vice and also to know what the world cannot acknowledge that the perpetrators can feel remorse and feel truly sorry for their sins. Each one of us, however, must be aware first of all of our own sinfulness and seek the Mercy that is the very being of You whom we know as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Let me beseech you that the prayers of Mary and all the saints are heard in the souls of all who turn to thee and that that glimpse of Love can be turned into the good works that we all need to do to fill our own cup of compassion. Amen.