26/09/2024

This morning's mass readings begin with the writer asking us to face the question asked by all human philosophers. In his age there were and had been many who asked this basic "WHY?" question and we all seek to answer it as we turn ourselves to God in our morning worship or self-assessment of our place in the world.

I have answered the question of what it means to be alive by trying to turn myself over to God. This means that "Vanity, vanity. All is vanity" reinforces the framework for living that I have constructed for myself out of Biblical revelation.

I can now sit comfortably in front of this screen and continue my train of thought by selecting letters on the keyboard. There are billions of other humans who cannot do this. 

"Vanity, vanity. All is vanity" is itself a meaningless "vanity" for those hiding from violent men. It does not feed the starving. It does not raise sinners addicted to their own way of  escape from the futility that we all recognise at the bottom of our beings unless supported by God. It does not help the abused nor the abuser. I feel secure in "the way, the truth and the life" but for the child dying from hunger, milk means much more than any words.

Jesus has not bequeathed to us words but the Truth for living never for ourselves but always for others as he did, "pro nobis" on  Calvary. It is God's will that we live our lives dedicated to his revealed will for us not in the "Vanity of vanities" that is displayed by the shallow "anxiousness" to see Jesus of the man who had ordered the decapitation of John on a whim, but in our deeds that show to the world, and to ourselves, that we truly are "desperate" to know, love and serve.

Dear Lord, you know that I am really aware that my love of life comes about from the comfort with which I am able to live my life. Words are easy and can hide the reality of thought. I am secure that you really do know the core of my being and can awaken my love for you by your Love for me. I implore your aid for all those who are dying by the violence that comes about from not following your Will on Earth and becoming blinded by the delights of our material being dwelling in a material world. Mankind is a pathetic creature if not truly dedicated to you and all of us need to know that the only "real-life" is to live according to your will on earth and so find the place reserved for us in the Eternity that is Heaven. May my prayers and those of Mary, Angels and All the Saints bring the Mercy that can forgive and guide away from sin all sinners on Earth and pardon for the Holy Souls. Amen