21/03/2022

Today we see Jesus faced with the disbelieve of his nearest neighbours. They had known him from childhood and here he was, in their Synagogue, presenting an alternative interpretation of the Scriptures they had known all their lives. God had brought rain and healing to foreigners rather than taking care of his favourites. The story of Naaman also has the very human element that we trust the more complicated solution rather than the simple. Sin is simple, it is opposing God. 

In today's world life has been turned into a complex  product of human thinking and technology. I do not want to be a man; change me to be a woman. In my country to treat children as boys or girls is close to being against the "diversity laws" and criminalising the teaching of the Bible.

Our Church has been weakened by the sinfulness of clergy and hierarchy and has not done enough to oppose modern societal norms. Bishops are proud of being associated with homosexual groups who flaunt their sinfulness, but cannot admit the corruption that is rife in their own Seminaries and Curia. Seminaries are ordaining and Curia are accepting as priests men who are flawed in their persons and who hide their sin under a mask of piety.

Jesus never evaded any issue. "Yes" to the Good and "No" to the Bad is his way. Bishops prevaricate and so loose credibility. Jesus never has anything to hide for he teaches the truth that is to feed humanity throughout our lives. Father, Son and Holy Spirit walked the earth in Jesus and on the Cross poured Love over the whole world. That love is still with us but hidden deep within the institution that "thou art Peter and on this rock I will build my church" has become.

Dear Lord let me continue to grow closer to you and your Holy Mother and saints. Let not the the scandals of your Church hinder my sincerity as I look to you as my final good. Save those who are dear to me and bring healing to all the sick of the world, even to those who are lashing out in their madness with terrible weapons of destruction.

 20/03/2022

Today Moses confronts the question which every human is faced with throughout the whole of his life. He sees a presence other than wood and leaves in a bush. God tells him that he is the "presence" "the fire" that fills not only the bush but the totality of the Universe for as long as it has been and is to come.God is "being"and everything that is now has been and is to come exists through the being that is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

We can't take that in and yet we all know that we are in "being" and find it easier to take up some other train of thought and occupation. All human knowledge is in reality a pastime no matter how intelligent and persevering the originators for they die just as I will. The revelation of the "Being" of God continues to be just the same now as it was to Moses and his forefathers.

The question asked of Jesus about the victims of Herod and of the falling tower has to be asked today about the many victims of war and terror throughout our world. The answer he gave before the parable of the barren fig tree is strange and appears to tell us that we have to look to ourselves so that unexpected death does not catch us in sin.

Pascal said that the existence of the Jews after so many thousand years is a proof of the existence of God. If the fig tree is the Jewish nation planted by God we see that it is still with us. If the tree is a man's soul he must continue to produce the fruits for which he has been created. 

Jesus is complete Love and by nature cannot wish for evil. The warning that he gives is that we take seriously our requirement for holiness for it is indeed the condition for our freedom to produce good and so avoid eternal destruction.

Dear Lord you know anyone of us can complicate your simple message of love for all men. Help us to overcome the doubts caused by the existence of evil in this world and to know that you teach us holiness and truth as you only want good for the beings you have created

 19/03/2022

Not much is told of Joseph in the Scriptures but what is told is of immeasureable  importance. Mary's "Yes" to the incarnation was first humanly accepted by Joseph who had to accept that a child was to be born of his betrothed, of which he was not the Father. He was not the father. He had to accept that for the rest of his life as he cared for Jesus the Son of God and Son of Mary. Joseph must have been inspired by the Holy Spirit for even shortly after the Nativity he had to escape with  Mary and the Child out of Jerusalem having heard the prophecy of Simeon

He returned with his family to Nazareth and just as we have no information about Jesus the Child until he was about 12, nothing else other than having Jesus known as his son is known about him.

Our Faith's founding story can esily be debunked and scoffed at. There is no need of a higher education to be able to mock. God knows that millions have. The simplicity of the Gospels needs a "yes" or a "no". Once we have accepted the "Incarnation"we, as did Joseph, have to be in awe that God, Father Son and Holy Spirit are present at the table of a carpenter in Galilee. The anonymity of Joseph continues thoughout his life until death when he could recall Simeon's;

                    Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise.
                 My own eyes have seen your salvation,
                 which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
                 A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel.

Dear Lord you know all your people in the same way you were known by Joseph. You are our Father, hear our humble petitions and let your grace build up your  bequest to us, the Church  which is crumbling for want of sincere human guidance in this world. May Mary Joseph and Jesus support those, known to you, who are facing death that they may in sincere repentance become aware of Father Son and Holy Spirit.

 18/03/2022

When we hear the parable of the vinyard, its significance is obvious to us. It was not so for the people who heard it from the very lips of Jesus. It would have been a tale well told and recognisable in its setting but only the priests could approach an understanding.

 They knew it was telling of an uncertain future for their status quo. It also frightened them because they knew that Jesus was accepted by the public as a prophet and a leader. Following the example of Joseph's brothers they wanted to have his dreams, the Good News the teaching to the poor silenced as they recognised the authority with which he spoke.

Did they think that Jesus' words came from God? Did they think that they came from the devil? Why were they afraid?

The person of Jesus with his power to cure the sick, with his authority to drive out devils with his charism to attract multitudes to listen to his words was simply an offence to the priestly class. They suffered from that very human defect, jealousy and they plotted to silence him for ever but their "for ever" lasted only three days.

God's ways are not man's. The all powerful Father, Son and Holy Spirit has created us to inhabit creation in freedom not as animal with preprogramming to control our every move. Our consciousness of being is completely free and to this wonder has been added love for us to share following the example of the Son who emptied himself to become as we are and accepted the pain of being completely dead and in that horror of Godlessnes we call Hell.

Dear Lord may I be this day open to all the promptings of my conscience which has been formed by a willing attention to you. Let me find a way to confess my sins and receive the sacrament of forgiveness created by your pasion and death. May Mary and all the saints support all who are facing difficulties of life in this world especially those who are known to me.

 17/02/2022

Today begins with St Peter telling us to recognise the tasks that Father, Son and Holy Spirit has  assigned to us. St Peter knew that this call was not as easy to follow as the "light yoke" would lead us to believe. Jesus fell under the weight of the cross; Peter denied the Lord the same three times. How many times have I failed ! 

In his letter Peter confirms that the first Christians did expect that we would not have a long wait for the return of the Resurrection. "Everything will come to and end soon"seems to be an answer to us who are becoming despondent as the End Times are still awaited with longing and disappointment that  the World and sin are still the reality that we know with our living minds and bodies.

The wonders of the Lord have been proclaimed among the people from Adam through Moses and the prophets and by God himself. Jesus was pressed about by people on the shingle shore and climbed into Peter's boat to preach and teach to the background noise of lapping waves and creaking ship's timbers.

 What were his very words at that moment? Very few of the recorded sayings of the Lord can be the exact words that were spoken. The final words from the cross were from the psalms and we can suppose that from the boat the teaching was also scriptural. Jesus was truly man speaking to us personally and he proclaimed and is himself  the wonder of God among the Peoples.

Dear Lord you know the falseness that is today covered by green and St Patrick's breastplate. Let us all return to the state where we worship the Glory that you are and not be fooled by hypocritcal assertions of piety and commitment to self-satisfied untrue narratives that refuse to accept you and your teaching. 

 16/03/2022

That mothers always want the best for their children is true of all ages.The "pushy" mother is a figure known to all mothers from the kindergarten onwards. In Palestine 2022 years ago when Jesus was going up to Jerusalem amongst the disciples there was an immediate grabbing of the main chance and the counter reaction. Anyone who has worked under a boss knows the instant reaction when a promotion is in the offing. Me me me! Choose me.

Although Jesus is quite clear about what will happen in Jerusalem amongst his friends and disciples there was still the misunderstanding about the Kingdom. Jesus offers us a paradox and the "greatest shall be the least". Jeremiahs' adversaries are sure that the world would suffer no loss if he were got rid of.

Jesus in his time on earth has heard "the slander of the mob"and knows how his companions have not yet understod his true mission. Can we say that today we do really know the significance of the events in Jerusalem long, long ago. One thing I know and of this I am sure, the evidence for " anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant and anyone who wants to be first must be your slave" is not to be found in the "Bishops' Conference of England and Wales"nor in the Vatican itself.

Dear Lord teach us how to be the "disciples" that you created us to be; teach us to understand your way of being honest to Father, Son and Holy Spirit and help us to overcome the problems that we create or come to us out of the nature of life. May my prayers be added to those of Mary and all your saints to seek comfort for the suffering and the strength to bear the pains of illness, knowing that on Calvary human pain is completely real to you in a way that we cannot imagine.

 15/03/2022

Jesus is again instructing us  and we are with him in Palestine. We all know of the sorry state our Church is in today. Clergy who preach well we have in plenty but their words are lacking in their practice. Jesus of 1st century  Palestine is still with us and he has not changed since the time he walked our earth with those who were to become his priests. He has not changed and his words still stand.

The dangers of judging others is still, as always, in my mind but what I have seen and heard during the last 20 years is the reality of the instruction to call "no man "Father" in this world". Our priests are chosen and ordained and so Father, Son and Holy Spirit are with them as much as they were with Peter and the 12 chosen ones.

The Apostles all sinned and were forgiven. They were inspired to the extent that they were killed for their faith. As they and the disciples died off so did the human closeness of God. The Body and Blood of God were/are still with us in the Liturgy and Jesus of the Sacraments will be with his Church even to the end of time. 

"But how can you recite my commandments and take my covenant to your lips, you who despise the law and throw my words to the wind?"

Dear Lord save me from the evil that I have let take your place in my life. You know each one of us. Let the killers give up on death. Let the dissolute give up their perversions. Let the arrogant seek to do your will and let me always be ready to accept and show the grace that you have prepared and have ready for each of your creation. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."