28/11/2021

As we begin the count-down to Christmas the season of Advent prepares us for the Nativity. But Jesus had been with us for 8 months growing as all humans, and mammals for that matter, in his mother's womb for he is begotten not made. He is now nearly ready for birth and becomes progressively heavier for his mother to carry and support with her body and she has to accompany Joseph and his family to Bethlehem to complete the censs ordered by the Roman civil power. Jesus comes into a place in the world as a result of rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and departs with the same humility.

To feed us with his Love and redeem us from the darkness of our sins God who is all powerful and evergreater accepts the basic things that all humanity has to face. Birth into a State. This is unimaginable humilty on the part of our God and its purpose is shown in the Resurrection after the torture of his death on the Cross.

Jesus warns us that human life can easily be corrupted. We have countless examples that we know in our own lives and to these are added examples on a daily basis from those even who have dedicated their lives to God. priests and Bishops continue to scandalise us by their failings and many of us, I am one, never go into into a church for we are afraid to support the cynical ungodliness of our pastors.

Jesus (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) promised to be with us until the end of time and we have confidence as always in his words.Would that our Church displyed the confidence to openly confess the sins of the clergy and to inspire us to believe that she  is striving after the holiness that comes from our God. 

Dear Lord; I try each day to raise my thoughts and heart to you but I am still held back by my attachemnt to self. May your Mother who carried and supported your life within her for nine months and then fed you throughout your infancy help us  to bear witness to your purpose for our lives.

 27/11/2021

Today Daniel makes it clear that the visions he sees are within his mind. This makes it more difficult for me to follow him. All our perceptions take place within our brains and I know that I think in words and I cannot imagine what it was to see such a vivid image and to interact with it as if it were part of reality.

Thank God for the words of Jesus. He knew this prophecy of Daniel and had discussed it with scribes and pharisees when he went missing in the Temple but, although enigmatic at times, his Word is straight forward without mystical cloudings.

"Stay awake" means what it says; that we should always be aware that what we are experiencing now is surely going to come to an end. "Praying at all times" means what it says; that we should always raise our beings to conscioness of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "Watch yourselves" means what it says;don't let the earthly life, bodily  pleasures and innocent wordly cares and woes, overshadow our purpose to know, love and serve God.

If we follow his word and life; if we accept his Grace, his Faith Hope and Charity then we have nothing to fear, not even the beasts of Daniel's vision.

Dear Lord let me stay true to your teaching this and every other day. Let me know your peace and let all the tumult within your Church pass away as do all things of this world.When I stand before you either on my last day or Judgement Day hold not my sins against me and let your Mercy preserve my soul in your Eternity.

 26/11/2021

The people who first heard and saw Jesus must have been familiar with what we call the Old Testament they were people who kept the Law of Moses who gave suuport to the Temple in Jerusalem. They met on the Sabbath in their local synagogue. Even the sinners were aware that their neighbours followed this way of life. Some of those who listened must have been"Greeks" or at least Hellenized. All of them were interested in the "gods" and of tapping into a supernatural form of life which would favour them during their lives and protect them from the unexpected dangers such as plague and invasion by foreigners.

The Jews who listened would have been as familiar with the sayings of the Book of Daniel as they would have been with the other Wisdom Books. This vision which is so alien to me that I think of invasions from Outer Space and other Holywood creations was not at all that to the readers of 2000 years ago. Did they accept it literally as many contemporaries accepted the stories about the Olympian gods?

It is an accepted part of our Scripture now and is presented to us as we come to the season of Advent when our Church asks to prepare for the Nativity by contemplating the Last Things. Jesus did promise us that he would return and that until he did the Holy Spirit would fill the hearts of the faithful. We have to accept God's word for what it is, not a vision of the night, but the Eternal Love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Maranatha

Dear Lord may my being always be aware of you and let my prayers be added to the thousands of supplications being made to you. Protect my family from all harm and let your grace turn them to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 25/11/2021

Daniel today demonstrates that God will not desert his people who in sincerity of heart of heart and with humility ask for his aid aganst the rulers of this world. Jesus words are a prophecy of the sacking of Jerusalem and less than 50 years after his resurrection this happened and Titus destroyed the Temple.

It is no wonder that the early Christians accepted the preaching of the Apostles and disciples. What about the Jewish priests and teachers of the scriptures? They were asked to reject all that they were and believe that what had happened on Calvary was an event planned by God. An event that had to replace Temple worship.

Jesus truly did bring division and not peace. This certainly is true of those first years long ago when there were witnesses to the resurrection still living on this earth. Each convert was faced with the imminent expectation of the return of Jesus. The Apostles knew their task and did wander from city to city in the known world first to bring the "Good News" and then to support the groups who had first believed. 

The political structures of their times were based on first Greek and then Roman power. Philosphers knew the teachings of their Greek predecessors. There was thought but wealth and power were the objects of all the states. Jesus too had recognised the power of the kings of this earth. He had divided the things of Caesar from the things of God and his first Disciples had been forced to recognise that his Kindom was not of this World by the events on Calvary. God was not Caesar but the Resurrection proved that God was ever greater. Darius learnt this but we are still learning.

Dear Lord let me remember throughout the length of this day and every day that may be left to me that you are ever greater than any human structure and that your Church on earth is your crucified but resurrected body not some human thing as it has become.

 24/11/2021

Daniel continues;  the hand writes; the king reads and Daniel interprets. We must not put our faith in kingdoms and empires. In Jesus' days on earth the Old Testamen recorded the rise and fall of Israel and Judah. There were other records of Chaldea and the Greeks and mysterios Empires in the east.Alexander is still remembered in central Asia.

Two thousand years later many other powers and kingdoms have risen and fallen. Our Church too has been through a long  period where our Bishops were part of the political structure of Europe and never willingly gave up sovereignty even as the Papal States dwindled. 

There is no doubt that Jesus told his disciples not to seek political office. Our Church today in its hierarchical structure owes more to the Roman Empire than it does to the carpenter of Nazareth. The Structure is the enemy of many who humbly try to understand the Word. Jesus never said anything about Artistic Heritage; beautiful buildings or spectacular liturgies in Foreign languages.

He gave his body as bread; his blood as drink;and his Word with the express commandment to remember him in the Mass. We only need the Sacraments all else is human frippery.

Dear Lord help me to put away all sinful acts and thoughts and let my words offered up in prayer be heard and corrected as needs be. Let my inner "pharisee" be silenced and let all my being strive to do the will of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 23/11/2021

Jesus warns us against false prophets. Daniel tells the king that all political power will collapse for it is all built on clay. Jesus tells us that the Temple will be no more. Daniel tells us that the "stone" will not pass away and that God's Kingdom will last for ever.

If we take God's Kingdom to be another political system we are led into an undecipherable maze. Jesus saves us from that for his message is clear. "My kingom is not of this world". Jesus teaches us that all creation will continue as it is with all the events that happen then and now to continue for we "do not know the day or hour" of his coming.

Jesus teaches us that we must remain in his Love during our lifetimes. We do that by following his commands and we must never forget that his is the perfect Life. He is the Word of God. God's presence in our humanity. Tempted as we are but never sinning. Dying to rise again, Jesus the perfect man stands on feet that are roooted in Eternity. The perfect Love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit showing us that God in abandoning the Son to death cleanses us of our sins and offers us in the Resurrection supported by the Holy Spirit, the only way to Eternal Joy. Everything else in life is  built in the clay of creation and is totally insecure without the support of God.

Dear Lord again I turn to you to put myself in your hands. Thankfully I am aware of my own weakness but you who are conscious of everything know how much I need your grace to live in the way you want me to. Mary your mother is mother to all of us may she help those who do not think that Grace can be theirs.

 22/11/2021

I don't know what to make of the reading from Daniel .It is certainly history that is being told to illustrate the power of God's actions in this world. That comes later. At the present point of the story it is as it were a propaganda piece for vegetarianism. It is needed to prepare the way for the main points which leave us in no doubt that God guides his favoured ones. The Hebrews have sunk yet again to their lowest point and have been taken in captivity to Babylon. It is in these situations of abasement that the Lord shows his mighty hand and saves us from the results of our sins. 

When we are lowest it is as if humility is forced upon us and if we accept our situation and turn to the Lord for the very littlest of comfort he can provide for us, then he wil listen. The world, however, is always the same as when Jesus was asked whether the tower fell and killed the 18 because they were more sinful than the other people in Jerusalem. Were the Jews more sinful than the rest of mankind or was more asked of them because more had been given?

The poor widow was destitute but was able to offer her all to the Temple, that treasure house of Wordly and Heavenly riches. The widow is well known throughout the world but we know nothing about her except this act. The Gospels are full of people about whom we know nothing but they and we are all known to God.

Dear Lord let me listen to your scripture with an open mind and heart and find your truth in the most unlikely places. We are so far from your time on Earth and hampered by possessions and knowledge help me to obey your rules for life and know that the widow is with you in the Glory of Heaven known to you as only a faithful soul can be.