14/08/2024

The "visions" that were seen by all the prophets were all recorded in words. It is the power of words to inspire the imagination of man that impress us with their magic. That was true for all of mankind up to the middle of the twentieth century. But...... 

Today far more wondrous visions can be produced by a flick of a switch in the homes of most of the world. Images on our screens capture our imaginations and mostly lead us to believe in the ultimate power of mankind. Visions of "Glory" are a dime a dozen; who is going to read the words of  long dead prophets?

The Gospel for today is much more naturally realistic. The situation is ordinary life. How do we deal with malefactors? 

The Incarnation is not a vision. It is ordinary life. It is a historical event of human time. Son of Father, Son and Holy Spirit divested himself of divinity to be born as are all human beings. His first breath became a squall when smacked into life by the wife of the innkeeper, maybe one of the shepherds, ? We don't know who performed this necessary service for that helpless one who is the creator of all that is our universe and our being, but we are sure that he did begin to breathe as do we all.

Jesus teaches us that we have to confront misbehaviour whenever we encounter it. We chastise and are chastised by our children. Our societies try to govern by the rule of Law. What can I do when the Law has lost its moral compass? What can I do when the Church, the community of the people of God has always been flawed in its assertions about itself based on misinterpretations of today's Gospel?

Jesus did not crown St Peter with a triple crown. When we do gather consciously in the presence of God we have only one thing to ask of the Father. We have to ask for his loving care and grace for all of us to do his will on earth. Jesus taught us the Lord's Prayer and it is the only prayer we need to follow Jesus in his life that was lived totally for others. St Maximillian pray for us.

Dear Lord,  today we remember another saint of our times. There are people still living who knew St Maximillian and witnessed his choice. Most of your people do not have the opportunity to make such a courageous choice. We do all have the opportunity to seek out your mercy by prayerful recollection that we are not the stuff of cinematographic unreality but we have the reality of being that you have given to us, Help me this day to continue to live knowing your mercy bolstered by the hope that I will not offend you in anything I do or think. May Mary lead all the saints in their prayers for all sinners on Earth and in Purgatory and may we all never forget that it is the sin of humanity that crucified the living body of Jesus and that the same body became not a vision but the reality of the Resurrection; your Promise to all of us.