15/08/2024

Textual scholars of the Bible supported by theologians tell us that St. John's Book of Revelation belongs to a class of late Judaic Literature that is termed Apocalyptic. This doesn't help me at all to understand the vision described by John.

St Paul even at his most ecstatic writes plain truth in plain words and his words make plain sense. Today he is writing to Corinthians of the first century. He and his listeners are expecting the end-times to be soon with them. We know that their expectations were not met and we are still living in Christian Hope.

Our Lady was born sinless. She was created as were our first parents to do the will of God and be the embodiment of his image of perfect humanity. She was part of God's eternal plan of mercy for his backsliding chosen ones.

The Word became incarnate from her human being, her flesh, her womb and for nine months she is literally, Theotokos. For thirty years she alone in all creation knew God first as a human child and then as a young man who during the next three years, completed in mortal time the revelation  of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

At the foot of the Cross she witnessed the completion of the Eternal Mercy and with John accepted the responsibility to care for us all with the human love that in her perfection was the image and likeness of the Divine Love that forgives us all when we too know, love and serve.

Of course Mary joined her son without the need for death for she is how God intends us all to be. I have much to atone for and expect the Mercy of God to be tempered by His Justice before the day this human body has to answer for how I lived during my time on Earth.

                 Holy is his name and his Mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.