09/03/2024

We are all part of this world created by God. There has never been an era in times past when the world was as full of the works of man as it is today. Mankind is the greatest of God's creatures. We are the image and likeness of Our Father and this is revealed in the works of man which have come into existence out of the freedom God has given to us.

Jesus tells us that the Pharisee in the Temple stands before God and thanks him for his self-satisfied moral superiority. 

In the world of today we lose ourselves in creating new wealth out of the material of the Universe, in the delights of uncreative sexual pleasure and calm any disquietude we might feel by altering the function of our brains with chemicals which we ourselves manufacture. For the most part mankind does not give a thought to anything beyond the material of this Universe even though we all know that our bodies are not everlasting and will wear out. Mankind has become its own god until that moment of departure, the end of this life, death.

Jesus also tells us that the Publican in  the Temple is despised by the Pharisee but is favoured by God. 

As a publican he is not short of material wealth but the simplicity of his prayer tells us that he has the Hebrew awareness of God who has revealed himself to his people. He knows that in his life it is only his personal conduct that has any importance for he has to be the guardian of his soul which is the image and likeness of God. He knows that he has transgressed in his way of life. He feels guilt and knows that it is only God who can clean his spiritual slate of all his debts. He knows that there is an evergreater power and is in the Temple to confess his sins and seek the mercy of God.

Dear Lord, please forgive me for all my sins and let trust in you not become the self satisfied religiosity that you have warned us about so many times. As always it is in deeds that we follow you so let this, my morning prayer set the tone for today's living and help me to avoid sin today. May the prayers of Mary the Mother of your Son together with all the saints continue their pleas for us the sinners on Earth to open our hearts to your mercy and for those in Purgatory to welcome the Justice that is your will for them.