30/04/2026

The places mentioned in today's mass readings are still there although much changed in appearance. I have lived through much of the acceleration that characterizes most  of those changes in modern times

When I first visited Cyprus more than fifty years ago the site of St Paul's scourging was pretty dominant in Lower Paphos, but now it is lost within the "developments" of Jet-age" tourism.

Perga too is an Archaeological attraction site in the tourist destination that is Antalya in modern Turkiye. Psidian Antioch can still be found in the Isparta Province also in Turkiye. Jerusalem is not named but is the place where all the events of the Gospel took place. It too is much changed.

All the things of this "world" are subject to "time" which we "know" but never see. St Paul speaks to the Synagogue of Perga about the history he and all God's "Chosen People" share and all is well until he begins to proclaim the Resurrection as the visible sign of the Reset of Salvation that Jesus, God Incarnate had recently completed in Jerusalem.

I am writing this 2000 years after the events and know that I am a sinful man, certainly an executioner of Christ but also "a lost sheep" that IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT, the GOOD SHEPHERD, never gives up on and it is always from Scripture that I will receive "rod and staff" to guide me.

On the night before he was betrayed Jesus took bread and broke it to become a new way of being, the Sacrament of HIMSELF that would be entrusted to his friends in this world to be the guardians thereof. He founded his Church on Peter but before so doing he told us all that we should never put our own self before any other person, He lived selflessly and so must we. 

St Paul could remind his listeners that IAMIAM had directly supported his people Israel many times over many centuries. At his trial before Pilate Jesus declared "My kingdom is not of this world". 

This tells us that after the Resurrection it is only in our souls, our being that is not of this world, that IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT reveals his purpose for mankind and that there is no longer a "\This Worldly Chosen People". 

The "Things of this world," are not part of the Kingdom of God revealed by INCARNATE SON in the Roman Province of Palestine 2000 years ago.

To live according to the Will of the Father, it is each individual that has to cherish  the WORD, Jesus, who teaches us how to live a life of service and prayer by humbly "washing the feet of others" and being  open to the SPIRIT, the Love that is revealed as the New Holy Family, the Church of Love, in the mission of mutual care entrusted to Mary and John on Calvary.

                                            "Woman behold your son. Son behold your mother."