14/11/2021

Jesus tells us that the endtimes will be revealed by certain signs and that "this generation will not have passed away" before he will have returned. Of course this was a great problem to the Apostles and first converts who had accepted Jesus', the Resurrection, with an urgency begotten by fear of an imminent end. 

Today we have two thousand years to look back on and we too are waiting of the Parousia. We are and have been Jesu's "this generation"for a long earthly time but, of course, God's Eternity has no such thing as time and the Infinite Intelligence contains all knowledge including knowledge of me. He has created me to have a purpose in this world. He has a purpose for creation. He has a mission for each and every one of us.

He has not left us alone and brought out of humanity qualities that reflect on his greatness and power. If creatures can build on from his creation in such a spectacular way what must be the infinite possibilities for our God who has humbled himself in atonement for our sins to the extent of accepting on the cross the annihilation that is death?

Our mission is to bear witness to God's Being by accepting his revelations and acknowledging our sins which still continue despite the gruesome sacrifice of Calvary. Our mission is to build up the mystical being that is Christ's body on Earth so that in it we may find the holiness that is available for us, in our created freedom. The Sacrifice of Calvary is repeated in a human version of eternity here on earth and in the Eternal Presence it is always there.God send us holy priests.!

We are still the first generation . Maranatha

Dear Lord you know that I am still struggling with myself over the Church which seems to have lost sight of your promise to be with her always even to the end of time. Help us all to to find in her the Love shown to us by your mother and the few who did not desert you both in the garden and on Calvary.

 13/11/2021

Today's Gospel gives us an enigmatic text that is surely aimed at all who have followed but not seen. It tells us that the  Lord knows we have had a long wait; that we must not lose faith and he will undoubtedly  return to earth, into human time; his feet on the earth yet reaching to the skies. Our Lord will then be looking for faith.

The answer to the engima is with us. Our human lives must be modelled on his and that before all we must put  God by whom we have all been created out of nothing for the dust to which we shall all return was not anything before the Word was spoken.

The people of God have been saved from the power of Pharoah and the materialism that worshipped idols of wood and stone. But that worship of idols has not been eradicated. Our Church's concern for its reputation and its wealth and its ignoring of the pain of clerical sin, which is felt by us all, has put the human structure of Christ's Body on earth before God. Where is the Faith in that?

Dear Lord, my prayer is, as always, that I may truthfully know love and serve you and that these moments of prayerful concentration stay with me throughout this day and that your loving care be with me and my family and all of your people.

 12/11/2021

The Gospels and the preaching of Paul are obviously inspired by the one whose words are recorded in John. Although the first Christians were filled with an anticipation for the imminent return of the Lord, Jesus himself speaks to us believers of the much later times and he asks us to think of this.

 The Father and He are One. It has been God's purpose for all eternity that we his people should witness the unity of God and take on that unity of purpose to be together. Together but still persons who individually have been called by God to not only follow the Way, the Truth and the Light but also to return our own gifts of talents with interest.

I have to ask myself how do I measure up. St Paul always knows that he is doing the Lord's will so following his example I have to say that I do try; but could it be a lot more? All of us are the objects of Our Lord's prayer to our Father "may they be one". We are all called to know the Love that comes from God; it is the Holy  Spirit working within us at all times and we need to repeat that Love first to Father, Son and Holy Spirit and then to our neighbours and ourselves

The body in which we are to find the unity that we all long for is now the Church, which although it is mishmash of egos each of whom has a different vision, is unified by the one Sacrament that should be protected and exhalted by the priesthood, which has the privilege and sacred duty of guiding us along the right paths to the wholeness with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that is holiness.

Dear Lord you know that sometimes I feel the joy of pondering your law but to maintain that delight I need the unity of your Church with the oneness of your Mother and Saints who have  maturity with the fullness of Christ.

 

 11/11/2021

The praise given to Wisdom is praise given to one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is the power of our consciences to know right from wrong. It is given to all mankind as the intelligence of man. If we hold on to it we will not be deceived for it is God's support for our beings. The writer believes that it is an emanation from God and this idea is latched on to by early intellectual heretics who did find themselves misled into a morass of knowledge, Gnosis. It was not Wisdom however that did the misleading but their own pride. Recognising their own abilities and knowledge surpassed the humility that Wisdom gives us to know how small we are in relation to God. We are small in ourselves but great in the Love that God gives to us.

"The Kindom of God is with us" is Jesus' answer to the Pharisees. Jesus the eternal Word and Son was before the eyes of his questioners. We continue to ask the same question. Jesus still gives the same answer. Our Church is largely built on coping with that first disappointment; disciples longed to see him again, They had to wait for their own deaths. Many millions of us have lived lives filled with hope for the return of the Lord and now know the Eternity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Last Day will come in its own time and there will be a New Creation. Wisdom tells us to listen to God's Word in hope and know that he has prepared rooms for us and all his faithful discples in Eternal Being; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord let me listen to your Word and let me not succumb to prideful and sinful thoughts. Care for all your world and bring comfort to the sick of my family who are all known to you.

 10/11/2021

The words of Wisdom are adressed to all in authority. Kings and presidents, CEOs and executives, mothers and fathers and to me too for I have the authority to act in the human freedom that was created for me in my being. It is better to be small in this world for the Lord judges those in power more strictly. Or does he? I have the responsibility to use my free will to choose what is from God and reject the devil and all his works and all his pomps. The Sacrifice of the incarnate Son was for us all to be able to acquire the forgiveness in the mercy of the Father. The Holy Spirit is the inspiration and support burning out of the Trinity to be here for all; powerful as well as me.

The lepers outside the Samaritan village obeyed Jesus specific comand. They made their way  towards Jerusalem and became aware of their cure The one who came back to thank and honour the giver of the gift was a Samaritan. Was his gratitude greater because he was an alien? Jesus knows the answer to this for he brings the lack of gratitude on the part of the nine to our attention. The cure of the Samaritan was completed by the faith he showed in his gratitude

We all have to cooperate with the Lord. Some of us are rich and poweful in this world and some are  poor and weak. It seems the leaders of our Church have locked themselves into the trappings of wealth and power. The Catholic Church's  £200,000,000 loss in London yesterday was it as the 18 deaths when the tower at Siloam collapsed? Can it be counted as warning to forget the wealth and material things of God's mission to his Church and to concentrate on the truth? All sins are known to the Lord. What suffering he underwent to save us from them! The Institutional Church has to let out the Church of Love that is somewhere imprisoned within it and then we may all hear the words. "Your faith has saved you ".

Dear Lord you know the confusion that has beset me today and I thank you for the clarity that always comes from silencing myself and opening to you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Let my will alwys co-operate with yours.

 09/11/2021

In the readings today we have the Temple, the Church and Jesus and, of course, ourselves. Over it all is the creation and the Will of God. God gives Ezekiel a vision of the temple and exact instructions of how to build it. St Paul sees himself as an architect building up the Church founded by Christ himself. We today are still that body. Jesus knows that ahead of him there is what is truly an ordeal even for God to have to face.

The image of Jesus clearing the Temple of businessmen is an easier one to picture and bring into understanding than what we sometimes have from Jesus. We are not told whether or not the merchants, even the pigeon sellers, returned the following day but the image of death and resurrection was beyond the comprehension of those of us who heard the words. 

Each day and everyday the mystery of Jesus, his words and body, his being are celebrated in Masses all over the world but does that mean that if he returned today he would find faith on earth. Can I be sure that the Body of Christ on earth is pleasing to our God. The Church has to keep the door to the Way, the Truth and the Light always open and unblocked by sinfulness and misguided teachings so that sinners such as I have access to the Gift of Mercy that she has the keys to.

What a magnificent building is St John's but as dust in comparison to St John's beloved and devoted being.

Dear Lord give me the toleration to meet with Charity the onslaught that I have to receive. You alone my God know what I am and I ask that you give me words that are true but  will not cause offence.

 08/11/2021

Althoigh the reading from Wisdom begins by personifying wisdom as an independent being which can be sought after to give strength to our beings and understanding, by the end of the passage it is clear that the writer is addressing the Holy Spirit. The Trinity was not known at the time this was written but God's various qualities were recognised and worshipped. God's knowledge of us all is what makes me always aware of my own sin which although known to God, I do not want to shout it from the rooftops. The pardoning of sin comes directly from God and not by some Human and crafty explanation. 

Truly Jesus is speaking to our leaders in today's Gospel. All our clergy need to be stirred up by this Gospel. There is a narrow way that leads to heaven and one thing is certain. Offering the Mercy of God to unrepentent sinners is not being Christ-like in any respect. "Go and sin no more" is a categorical command from the Son of God. 

The Sacraments instituted by the Lord need our co-operation to be effective. The Sacraments are not  a magical form of words that need to be repeated in a dead language by a man dressed in extravagant clothing; dripping with lace. They are a deserted naked broken body bleeding to death on a cross. A body full of despair with only his mother and best friend to witness and suffer with him.

Dear God you know that I do not want to be led into blasphemy by unthinking adherence to sinful clergy. Please protect me as only you can do. Please let me have touches of your grace that fills the eternity of heaven.