21/07/2024

Those who have felt that God has called them to be shepherds of his people have been called to display in all their doings the integrity of the Trinity. There is only one Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Holy Orders of Sacramental Life are still with us and are a huge responsibility for mere men to carry. The Church that I have met, or been met with, as I grew in life has never ceased to change as many generations of us have been born and the role of "The Good Shepherd" has been continued in an ever-changing world.

In the second reading, St. Paul, is writing to the Church in Ephesus. He is still totally aware of "them and us". "Us" are Jews and "you" are Gentiles. He himself has become God's "New Man". We are all to be united as the same "New Man". This is the meaning of the Cross. One God and one people. Vertically God to man and man to God, horizontally man to man .

In the Gospel, the missionaries have returned to Jesus. There is much "to-ing and fro-ing", lots of "busyness", lots of human nature. John the Baptist has been beheaded and Jesus knows that there is need of time for reflection as too much is happening all at once. 

So they get into the boat only to be preempted  by the crowd and thus is completed the preparation for one of the "feeding miracles" that precede the "Last Supper",  the source of the first ordination of New  Shepherds, all Jews, for the New Humanity, in the Kingdom which is not of this world.

Dear Lord, You know that I am struggling this morning to find the words that will make me feel to be truly satisfied that I am truly aligned with your will for me. I do listen to my own words and question whether they are truthful. I have to place all my trust in you and the saints who have faithfully served in this world. Let me be helped by joining my prayers with those of Mary and all the saints and let me live in the hope that my words do have a meaning that you will reveal to me. I do really want to know love and serve in this world for that is when I am happy in this world, the only world I know. Help me to the grace of holiness that you poured out on all this world at Calvary. You know that I am weak and sinful and helpless without your aid. Let the prayers of all of us bring  grace to the clergy that they may remain true to the calling by which they were first inspired.