05/07/2024

Even though I am sure that the Institutional Church founded on St Peter has never been completely true to the intention of Jesus, to the purpose of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I am also sure that there is within it great flashes of human wisdom inspired by the revelations of the Old and New Testaments.

Today the reading from Amos presents the hopelessness of living outside of God's Law, of not following the Golden Rule. The Gospel presents the emptiness of  the words of the "Law" corrupted by Man and the Merciful Forgiveness that is the Word of God. Pharisees vs Jesus.

We can all be sure that the "Chosen People" failed in their God-Given task of showing to the world the delight of knowing that they were in God's favour and were the magnet to draw all of us into knowledge of the Love that gives "being" to all of creation. 

We are sure of this because the Incarnation to remedy the failure of his people lived among us for 33 years suffered, died and rose again. The Resurrection is the final seal of final revelation. The Word of God is authenticated and remains with us to the end of time to be delighted in by all who have listened to the Good News.

The economic crimes of materialism listed by Amos have never left us and the man-made wonders of this world still hold most of us in the grip of Mammon. Today's psalm emphasises that our true life is not to be found in this material world but in our souls protected by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 

Have the Christian Institutions and their hierarchs ever lived up to this essential message, the "core policy statement" that Jesus emphasised at his public trial before the Roman World of his day, and the still Mammon ruled world of today,  "My Kingdom is not of this world"?

Dear Lord,  you are our all knowing and all powerful God. Let me kneel before you in my weakness and failures knowing that although you are unseen by me, you see me and all my brothers and sisters living now with eyes of mercy ready to forgive us our sins as much as we can forgive any who sin against us. Help me to maintain the sincerity of these moments I spend thinking about your word and help me to live today without adding to my sins. May my soul be accepted into the Love that is the prayer of Mary and all the Saints of Heaven and may this communion prayer bring your Mercy to this World and to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.