26/08/2024

Paul, Silvanus and Timothy were living in the same world has had Jesus. Very much has happened since those days when Rome ruled the Mediterranean basin and all of the adjacent countries. 

The Church in Thessalonica fills  Paul, who never lost sight of "the Holy One of God" who had stopped him in his tracks when he had been hell-bent on his mission of persecution of the "deviants", who were misinterpreting "Moses and the Prophet" and denying the authority of the "Chief Priests, scribes and Pharisees",  full of thanks to God for it continues to flourish as if he had never left it.

Those who claimed the authority to know the will of God and be able to offer the sacrifices that were the duty demanded of his people were the only ones condemned to their faces by Jesus. They are a "brood of vipers"; "blind guides who shut up the gates to heaven". Not only do they not enter through those gates themselves but they also prevent others from entering.

Jesus demands that we are ruled by "Truth". "Yes" means "yes"  and that no amount of solemn protestation can change "no" to "yes". He has absolutely no time at all for the casuistry that so delighted the Pharisees of his day and which has enabled many who should know better to lead us into temptation "who am I to judge?" in this modern world.

We have never been left alone in the world by God. Each individual human being is known personally by "Our Father". Everyone of us is a person known as a potential friend by the Son of FatherSonHolySpirit. We are always living in the sight of God. Jesus offered only love and mercy to all the personal sinners he encountered. 

All of us know our own hypocrisy and we can only hope that "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" applies to all sinners, even Pharisees for it is mankind that refuses the friendship offered time and time again to the chosen people and to you and me each moment that we are living. 

It is for my sake that Jesus offered up his life on the cross as the perfect sacrifice. He created once and for all within material creation the only means of its Salvation.

Dear Lord, I have learnt much as I ponder your word and the sins of my lifetime. I am sure that "Lord, Lord" that does not reveal itself in deeds is the "unforgiveable sin". May the remaining steps of my life stay upon your revealed, Way Truth and the Life and to always get the "plank out of my own eye" before witnessing the great hypocrisies of the past and in others living today. I am hoping that although I still have far to go my steps are focused on the Vision of your Glory that is your Resurrection. I have the faith to believe that Mary, John, and all the Saints, Father Dominic Barberi are united in prayer for me and all sinners offered to FatherSonHolySpirit in the Safety from Sin that it is the eternal joy of Heaven Amen.