12/12/2024

I have ears and I am ready to hear and ready to listen with the ears of faith.

John the Baptist is the greatest of all human beings but he is not as great as the least of those in the kingdom of heaven.

I have to ask the Lord again what is this "kingdom of heaven"?

Jesus' first listeners do not know a lot about him. 

He is ostensibly the son of a carpenter from Nazareth. His family have been embarrassed by him as he has claimed to be the fulfillment of "Today the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, he has anointed me  I have been sent to set captives free". 

He has thus announced himself in the local Synagogue to be the complete re-set of life and economy (slaves were freed, debts were cancelled and leased land was returned to its owners) that had been the literal "year of liberty" or "Jubilee" for  Ancient Israel in common with other Middle-Eastern Civilizations where it was often declared at the beginning of the reign of a new king.

It is no wonder that his family thought him to be mad.

He had thus first come to the attention of the Synagogue congregation  as a "blasphemer" but had gone on to cure the sick and preach a message that had attracted a number of adherents. He had accepted "John's Baptism" and John had saluted him as "Lamb of God" and proclaimed himself to be not worthy enough to perform even the action of a slave for him.

John and Jesus are contemporaries and yet Jesus says "From the days of John the Baptist until now" as if there is a gulf of time between them. That gulf has been filled with violence against  "The kingdom of heaven and the violent take it by force." 

We with 2000 years of hind-sight can understand that there is a vast spiritual gulf between John, the last of the Old Testament Prophets and Jesus, the incarnate Son of the Trinity. Calvary is certainly violence against IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT, but who are they who "force themselves into the Kingdom of God"? 

I remember yesterday's "my yolk is easy and my burden is light". I am sure that we do not have to break our way into the Love that is freely given but I have to accept Jesus' words as even his "hard sayings" come from the mouth of God

Dear Lord you know that I sincerely listen to your words with my mind tuned in to their meaning. Help me to understand what I read. Help me to remain faithful to your teaching and thus do your will on Earth which is always for us to target holiness and keep ourselves open to accept the "Grace" which you do not force upon us. It is in our freedom of will that we can find your image and likeness in our souls. May my soul be in communion with all who seek to do your will and may our aim for righteousness be supported by Mary and all Saints as we worship the Lamb of God who takes away all sins by the acceptance of the violence that mankind continues to inflict on the body of humanity as it did on yours on Calvary. Have mercy on me dear Lord, have mercy on all our world. Amen May the Holy Souls have the aid of your Mercy and may I remain this day consciously awake in the Love of IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT.