6/11/2024

There have been many ways throughout the two millennia since Jesus challenged his disciples and us  as he did with the "hard saying" preserved in this morning's gospel, that we have tried to accommodate Jesus' use of words into our Christian Faith. "Hate" is not "Love" nor is it "Honour". "Love thy neighbour as thyself." "Honour thy father and thy mother". 

Our instant personal reaction is to try by interpretation to find a way out of the warning that living our lives according to the teaching of Our Lord requires us to hate both our families and ourselves. 

Our reactions to the Word are always personal. God is not an abstraction. He is three persons that are separate beings but are identical with each other. 

The Trinity is not some human thinking. It is a "hard fact" of reality revealed to Mary by the announcement of Gabriel. When we say "God" we acknowledge that the IAMIAM revealed to Moses and followed by Mary is FATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT. This is He whom we love and serve.

St Paul tells the Philippians that they must shine in this world by being virtuous in contrast to those who form a "deceitful and underhand brood". It would be easy to "hate" those thus described but to hate those we have known since childhood, our family and our literal neighbours has got to be informed and clarified by the total New Testament.

As for hating myself, that is easy for me but knowing that Jesus died to rescue me from the clutches of Satan has to tell me that there is something about me and all of us that can respond to such great Love and become persons that welcome and accept the revelations of Our Father. 

O Lord, may we all be strengthened by your loving infinite mercy. May we never be led into temptation by  those who should be leading us along the path to the personal Calvary that we can endure because you first showed us the way. Let us be secure in your teaching and totally aware that there is nothing in this world that is powerful enough to block the grace that I seek in prayer. Your grace has never forced itself upon us but is always ready to answer our supplication. May the prayers of Mary and the Holy Ones of Heaven, both human and Angelic, include my family and me in their pleas for your Mercy to be showered down as the rose-petals beloved of St Therese and may the Holy Souls receive their punishment with loving gratitude, Amen.