13/11/2024

"Enslaved by passions and luxuries" is hard to believe of St Paul. 

He had, as a student of "Pharisees", devoted his life before Damascus to the study of the Scriptures. When he stood by at the martyrdom of St Stephen it was not as an idle bystander but as one who thoroughly believed in the righteousness of the actions of those who threw the stones.

I have often allowed myself to be enslaved by emotions. I have often lost my self control and known at the time that I did so that I was not acting within the boundaries set by Our Father.

Jesus, the Incarnation, has come into the world not because there is anything we have done to attract his love. I have great difficulty in completing this thought but I have to say that it seems to be that Our Father could be regretting his trust in Adam and Eve.

There has to be a great enough reason for the creator to empty himself of "Godness" and take on to himself the pain of my sins and the sins of all the world and die. The learned and the clever tell us that the "Ever Greaterness of God" cannot be swayed by emotion.

Jesus at no time during his life on earth ever taught the "god of the Philosophers". Human logic and rationality can and do talk itself into a corner whereas Our Lord taught us to call God "Daddy", a Dad who knows each of us and wants only the best for us for he is IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT with arms outstretched on the Cross and open heart pouring out Love for each individual child known to him.

Dear Lord, I know that faith becomes hope and thus we have love that feeds our ability to live without sin. I frequently try to understand that you had to become man to be able to make a sacrifice sufficient to save us from our sins. We have always failed you, in the garden, in the Promised Land and in your Church but you still know that we can accept your Love to become sinless now. Help me to be an open heart to receive your Love and to return it to both You and my neighbour wherever he/she is to be found. May I join my prayers to those of Mary and the other Marys who stood with John aghast with despair at the foot of the cross that seemed to terminate your mission in failure. May our unified prayers bring the free gift of your mercy to us the undeserving sinners on earth and in Purgatory. May we be overpowered by the Love that is lavished like manna on the Chosen People and St Therese's rose petals on all the Universe to be accessed by those who seek out your way, truth and light. Amen