20/12/2021

We have to know that it is scripture that is God's Word. We have to know that the Word of God is not some product of man's imagination no matter how cleverly thought out and intelligently displayed.God's ways are not man's so the repeated story of the incarnation of God in the womb of Mary is just what it says it is.

God is with us from that moment long ago in Nazareth. With us in the Eucharist the gift given us by the Passion Death and Resurrection and in the Church he left us through Peter and the other Apostles. 

We are human and of course we have to use all our talents to worship and serve God but we also have never to forget that power of our thoughts is nothing compared to God. Theologians have taken themselves into all sorts of weird and wonderful places that exist only in their intellects and although greatly interesting their ideas cannot be against Scripture.

Our daily readings are God's word and cannnot be bettered.

Dear Lord protect thy Church from the schism that arises first in ideas and then in prideful hierarchs and sinful clergy. Protect us by your Incarnation, Nativity, Passion. Death and Resurrection and let my prayers join with the prayers of all mankind in heaven and on earth.

 19/12/2021

We are getting closer to the Nativity and the readings emphasize this. The Micah knows that the presence of God will not be alive to the Israelites until the woman gives birth to the Son who will be Peace for the whole world and not just to the least of all of the sons Jacob.

The Letter to the Hebrews is an explanation of the meaning of the previous few years. The years of Jesus'active ministry, walking the highways and byways of Palestine, which culminated in the Passion Cross and Resurrection. This one willing sacrifice of the Son to the Father completes God's wishes for mankind. No more bulls, fat rams, goats or even pigeons. Jesus' death has ended all of that tradition and his resurrection has brought a new-life to share with all humanity not just with "Hebrews" to whom this letter is addressed.

The unborn Jesus is blessed and praised by Elizabeth who is sure that her son too has his part in God's redemption of humanity. We are getting closer to Christmas and the Church's preparations help us to concentrate. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are visible in Immaculate Mary who is truly Theotokos. 

Dear Lord may your peace fill all the hearts of your people on earth with that peace that comes from knowing and worshiping you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The peace of heaven is what you have destined for all human beings may we all live lives that do not resist this your will for us.

 18/12/2021

The Lord is with us. What is there for us to lack. The story of Jesus birth has never been glossed over except by sinful mockers. In Nazareth Jesus was always known as the woodworker's son. Both Mary and Joseph knew the truth for both had said "Yes" to God. 

God takes on the humanity of the "The House of David", a royal line, and the humility of a manual worker for God makes no distinction as regards to class; we are all his well beloved and we all have equally been saved by his Incarnation leading to his Passion and Resurrection.

Today we are living through the darkness of  a Northern winter but waiting joyfully to celebrate our Saviour's birth. How can it be that his own people who have been returned after centuries to their homeland not only reject the Son but most of them deny the Father from whom they have been given so much of the proof their ancestors demanded from Jesus the man in Palestine so long ago.

Dear Lord let this day and all my remaining days proceed in a way pleasing to you. Please accept my worship of Father Son and Holy Spirit and accept the prayers of Mary, Joseph and all the saints in heaven and on earth.

 17/12/2021

Jesus humanity is proven by the geneology given here by Matthew. Joseph is the husband of Mary, not the father of Jesus. The 52 generations that can be quoted are mostly of the "known only to God" variety as are most of us in the world now. After another generation today's famous, the celebrities beloved of the Social Media, will also become the " known only by name"of most of the names listed by Matthew.

There is a famous anecdote whereby the purchaser of a jewelery item is asked whether or not he wants one with the little man on it.

The sadnss of that story is that it is becoming more and more the reality of the world that I live in. In an attempt to not offend potentential non-Christian customers, marketing is increasingly trying to avoid the word Christmas and wishes us "Happy Holidays" completely missing the origin of "holiday"in "holy". It is a sad truth that our faith has been crumbling for at least two generations and it is the previous and my generation that have largely contributed to this loss of faith.

I feel guilt to have been part of the decline and can only rely on God's mercy when I will be asked what I did other than to  moan about it.

Dear Lord the human freedom of my being only exists to make right choices. Let the prayers of humanity be heard and this day be without sin for me and the whole world.

 16/12/2021

The rich imagery of Isaiah leaves us in no doubt that the Israelites had been a wandering tribe living in tents. The favoured ones are to grow rich in the cities abandoned by their enemies. Truly the ways of God are not man's ways. God chose the Jews and there is no answer to the "why". In the Middle East there were many other tribes and nations. All were human and growing in skills and knowledge but without the open guidance of God. 

There is no answer to "Why the Jews?" And the question grows even more answerless when we look further to the East where India was beginning to team with human growth andso to China, Japan, South East Asia and across the Pacific to Peru and Mexico. Africa too was peopled with human descenants of Adam. God's human creation

God chose the Jews to be his people because God is. With hindsight we can see that from outside of human time Father, Son and Holy Spirit knew that the Son would be incarnated in Jewish flesh, born of an immacultely conceived woman and cared for by that woman and her husband throughout his infancy.

What about the millions of souls who are living or have finished their worldly lives without hearing the truth that comes from God? What about those who should know better have heard and not listened?

Dear Lord you know that we all are your creation and completely in your hands to do with as you wish; let my thoughts become prayer to you beseeching your Mercy for all humanity and especially for my friends and family.

 15/12/2021

The readings today continue the Advent themes. Isaiah calls the Jews of his day to recognise that God is the Evergreater and that there is nothing that exists that does not have its ultimate source in Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For the Old Testament God is  "I am What Is" and so God is also the source of tribulations. 

For Christians, however God is always the source of good and "Calamities" are created by the Sin that Adam introduced into the world. This teaching has tested the Faith  of millions of us throughout history and the doubts and confusion created cannot be swept underneath the carpet. We have to face up to the fact that natural disasters, curtailed lives famine, plagues, wars are more than calamities and could have been prevented by our God.

Today Jesus tells us that he is to be recognised by his deeds. He cures the sick and proclaims the Good News. Blessed are the poor in spirit. We who know that we are sinners and totally in need of God's mercy have received the Good News. Jesus' miracles are signs to draw us to him who is the Good News in person and thus his Resurrection completes his revelation with the greatest miracle of all.

Dear Lord let me respond to your guidance throughout this day. May your blessed Mother and all the saints aid me in avoiding sin and let me find in your Church the holiness you created her to have.

 14/12/2021

I have missed two mornings' reflections and am having trouble to get back to the habit of prayer. St Bernard's rule was to bring his monks to righteousness and to avoid distractions. Jesus chides us to be like the sinners who listened to John. To be like the first son who protested but did do the will of the Father.

Holiness has many enemies in the world today. The streets are packed with people who are dashing about. The roads are jam packed with vehicles. Television screens never lack their ability to mesmerize the millions who are glued to them. I am distracted from my prayers by family matters.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit know what it is for us to be human. We are God's creation to be his witnesses in this world. We are to live our lives but not become engrossed by their success or otherwise. We are to prepare ourselves for the glory that has been prepared for us. All the billions of us breathing today will one day be seen as we truly are and have to face God in our nakedness of soul . Can I do that? Only with Mercy for the naked Truth about myself does not bear thinking about.

Dear Lord let me be safe in your care today. Let my being be focussed on your grace and let those I know and love come to know that you are the begining and goal of all creation.