29/10/2024

At the time St Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians there were still people living who had witnessed the Crucifixion. St Paul himself had been converted by the Resurrection but we who read/listen to the mass readings for today are far away from those days in time but have to live exactly the same as did those who first believed. 

Over the centuries, many people have complained about the place of women in the Church. St Paul has been blamed for his attitude to women. 

If we all live according to the beatitudes, the golden rule, the ten commandments there would be only the biological difference between the sexes and the absolute equality with which Jesus treats  us all. " In the Kingdom of God there is no marriage or giving in marriage". "You will be like the angels".

Over the last few years, I have complained about the state of the Church. I have been unable to avoid the unsolicited dissatisfaction that the steady stream of scandals revealing the hypocrisy in the heart of what should be Christ's Body on Earth brings to me.

We are not "as Angels" in this world. We all know that we are material bodies that have to be tended. The "Incarnation" is exactly that. It is not an image or figure of speech. Jesus is not an idea in the mind of God. He is the same as my living flesh that I can pinch now and feel a jolt of pain.

St Paul sees the relationship between Christ and all his converts like that of the ideal human marriage, Jesus is the bridegroom and we, the believing Church, is his bride. The Jews never completely fulfilled their part of the covenant and we too know that just as men and women can sin during their marriages, our church has often failed to be true to her marriage vows.

The historical failures of the Church are something that we the spiritual descendants of the Hebrews, Colossians, Galatians and all the other recipients of Paul's letters have to face in our faith are the same now after two thousand years as when Paul first corrected them. There is always someone in the authority of the Vatican who knows better than did Jesus or Peter or Paul and there have been many far more heinous traitors than Judas. The grace of God, however  has never left and will never leave the New Holy Family of Mary and John, founded, as he died on the cross, by the Living Saviour of all mankind through whom all that is Good is made.

His mother, Mary is Our Lady and our mother and Theotokos for ever.

Dear Lord, You know that I continue to struggle to remain without sin but you also give me the confidence to know that I am not misguided by ego as I always know that my words come from my heart and that there are now no false scruples resulting from self-delight. You know that I sometimes feel that what I was always meant to be is happening now. Help me to continue to prepare for my death which I hope to face without the despair that must be with those who realise that it is only you who are for ever. You know that my being is much more than these words and that my heart, body and soul are ready to do your will and pray that other sinners may also receive the gifts that I need to accept in humility. May Mary who is so much more than any other created being lead all creation from her place in heaven in the praise that is our joy in knowing the source of our being and the thanks for the forgiveness that was created by the death in flesh that is the forever Sign of our Times and hope of all sinners here and in Purgatory. Amen