06/04/2022

Today the readings begin with a prayer for compassion and acceptance of our penance which leads us to devotion. Devotion is what I strive after but I am still missing the mark as I am full of the "self" that shuts out God. As I lie in my bed I try to pray but I am soon drifting off into some reverie of past or imagined sins. 

The main readings today both contain dialogues about God. The king who thinks he has all worldly power, for the world tells him so, is confronted by open rebellion that is based on a belief that God is "ever-greater". Jesus continues to explain to the Jews that he is "Truth", true liberty,  but his listeners are convinced that they have no need to be made free; they are descendants of Abraham and inheritors of a Covenant.Jesus tells them their inner wishes and that they only desire to kill him. Jesus tells them that "sin" is slavery but openenss to the Word, to God makes us free as only living with God can make us.

Nebucadnezzar is shocked by the reports of the happenings at the place of torture and amazed to see a fourth figure also surrounded by the flames and he makes praise to the God who has saved His holy ones.

Jesus' will is totally at one with the Father's and so he can say "I came not because I chose but because I was sent by him". His choice is  agony, torture and death as a "true man" to lead sinful man to the Way, the Truth and the Life of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord your words are Truth and they are Life let me sincerely clear my soul of sin and understand that you have saved us and forgiven our sins even though I/we continue to block out the graces that you have so freelly offered to all mankind. May Mary and all the saints continue to offer their prayers for all sinners and provide comfort to the sick and the dying here on earth and to the suffering Holy Souls awaiting final forgiveness.

 05/04.2022

Jesus continued talking to Pharisees and others in the Temple. God told Moses that "I am" and Jesus tells his listeners that "He is". He tells them that they will die in their sins if they do not believe that he is God.

I can realise that he is saying this because I have lived in this world always knowing that Jesus the Son is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit but what must it have been like for those listeners who knew this man as a carpenter from Galilee; uneducated, a poor man who had the temerity to stand in God's Temple and reprimand God's priests and scholars.

I can imagine the scene in the Temple but the raising up of the image of a serpent to cure snake-bite is a beyond me. The "raising up" does lead us to Jesus' own words "When you have lifted me up you will come to know" but did anyone there , including John, know that he was referring to the crucifixion. Why is it then that hearing these words many came to believe in him? What did they come to believe? 

Dear Lord that you are Father Son and Holy Spirit; that God is; is the centre  on which our faith is based. Let this faith increase together with the hope and charity we need to practise it. Let your ministers protect and increase their charges by sincere piety and selfless love. May Mary and all the saints pray for us especially those who are innocent and yet suffer in this world.

 04/04/ 2022

The story of Susannah is not accepted as a God's revelation by all who use the Old Testament. Biblical scholars are able to date the composition to the second century before the birth of our Lord although the events belong to the time of the  Babylonian captivity. Reading scripture becomes extrememly difficult even without the difficulties that the mind gets clustered with when considering text and historical details.

The story's core is a revelation and warning for us and our leaders. Accusation of sin in others is to be well avoided especially by leaders who have in their arrogance ignored the teaching of Christ and misled their charges. The cry " I am innocent of this man's death" is not heard at Jesus trial.  "Crucify him, crucify him" is the voice of the people. He was deserted by all even those who shortly before, had been jostling for a position in his Kingdom. 

Pilate is the one who cannot see the guilt attributed to Jesus by his accusers but he was the only one who could give a lawful sentence of death. Pilate judged by human standards but the High Priests who were the keeper of the Law, the examplar of God's revelation to his people pressured him, again by human standards "No friend of Caesar!" to give the verdict that their jealousy and malice demanded.

In the trial that we will all undergo we can be sure that the verdict will be perfect in Justice, Love and Mercy for it is Father, Son and Holy Spirit who examines us. We can only influence that verdict by being in our lives  true to the Word that is Jesus, our perfect teacher and redeemer,

Dear Lord help me to be ready for my death and judgement. Let my thoughts and words and deeds be without sin and responsive to "the one who sent you". May Mary and all you saints continue to obtain graces for us thy children on earth and for the Holy Souls still waiting for your mercy.

 03/04/2022

Our Christianity depends solely on the person of Jesus. Jesus during his time on earth taught his disciples the message of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He was then on earth true God and true man . He walked through Palestine giving evidence of his holiness. He is the Resurrection and the Life and is the Eternal being in which we can all share; it is the will of God that after experiencing life on earth we will come to see God's Glory as he really is. 

Lazarus is not resurrected in the way that Jesus is. Lazarus was dead and Jesus brought him back to this life. Lazarus' tomb can still be seen in Cyprus. He died again. Jesus is resurrected into the New Life that he distributes to all his people and to guide and help us to be true to his message of Love he has left us the Church in which can be found sacraments which convey to us the body and blood that was  God and man walking, teaching suffering and dying long ago in Palestine.

As Easter approaches I am praying for the sincerity that is all I can offer to my Lord; that my will be truly aligned with his and that I am ready to do penance for all my sins.

Dear Lord you know that I am making efforts to know your will; you also know that my heart is not yet pure and that unloving thoughts are often in my mind and unkind words on my lips. May Mary and all the Saints continue to support your people on earth and place those of mine who are all known to you in your special care.

 02/04/2022

Nicodemus is blamed with listening to the words of Jesus simply because he pointed out the need for Authority to follow its own rules. The Temple guards who are reporting on the disturbance to the Chief Priests are most definitely impressed by Jesus'words to the extent that they indirectly criticize their bosses by insisting that they have never heard words spoken so convincingly.

The Leaders will not listen to the report or to one of their own who only reminds them of their own rules. Their minds are closed to anything other than a condemnation of this Nazarene from Galilee that hotchpotch of Jews Samaritans and Pagans. We are one up here for we know that Jesus is indeed Mary's Son who is of David's line and born in Bethlehem, although in a cattle shelter.

Can we condemn the priests and temple authorities for their iron-necked opposition to God; to Jesus, Father Son and Holy Spirit? They were well versed in scriptures; they knew the "suffering sevant" songs and God had supported them for centuries. Now they refuse to believe even the physical miracles worked by Jesus. God has given us all freedom to decide within the constraints of the 10 Commandments. The continuing persecution of Jesus was based on their interepretation of the Law which Jesus was bringing to fulfillment.

 His are the only words for us and them. "God forgive them for they know not what they do".

Dear Lord we know that you know everything and are all poweful and we but sinful men. We all ask ourselves why it is that evil still exists in our world when Salvation has been won for us. We find it hard to keep on facing this same problem. Let my heart and mind be open to all that you teach us through your Life on Earth and hear our prayers together with your Mother's and all the Saints' that all men might be saved and come to the Eternity that is your promise to us.

 31/03/2022

Moses is faced by an incredible sight when he returns to the camp. For some reason the people have  decided to make their own "god". How can it be that those who received the Word of God through Moses felt that they were lacking a divine protector? God is ready to accept this challenge to his Glory and will confer his blessing only on Moses and his descendants. Moses pleads on behalf of the the degenerates his people are showing themselves to be; he is answered by the Love of God.

Jesus as remembered and written by John can tell us more about our place with God in his Creation. His listeners have studied the Scriptures. They know the history of their ancestors. They are familiar with the cycles of righteousnes followed by backsliding, punishment, remorse and forgiveness but have not yet learnt to love God in their hearts.

It is good to hear his words today. It is good to ponder them in our hearts. They are addressed to Jews, God's favoured ones to whom he has revealed himself, by Jesus a Jew in his humanity but before the touch of eternity that shatters historical continuity. We have even more to ponder for we are living after the Cross and Resurrection. We know that Jesus' words are uttered by Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that they really do bring life.

Dear Lord send your Holy Spirit into the hearts of all your people so that by pondering your Way Truth and Life we will be able to withstand the temptations that surround us all in Godless societies. Evil is being done everywhere as I write this. Forgive us so that You become our only goal on earth that we may behold your revelation in the world to come.

 01/04/2022

The passage from Wisdom was written long ago but it is still true today. Skipping through the internet there are to be found many sites where virtue is condemned, where true comments are scorned and the makers of those comments vilified. There are many sites where the bloggers and commentators praise themselves for having "come out" claiming that their sinfulness is not condemned by God.These sites are all alike in that one man/woman writes them as if they are the only opinion in the world.

I too am one man writing this. I am writing so that I have a remembrance of my prayer; not to praise myself and leave a record of me behind. I am trying to turn my life to God and to avoid the sin that crucifies my Saviour and offends the Holiness that is Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

Jesus went back to Jerusalem alone. He was not with the disciples but  still taught in the Temple, where he was recognised. The Rabi from Nazareth. In front of many listeners/witnesses echoing their thoughts and words, he proclaimed himself to be "sent by God", "the Messiah". Jesus shouted this out but he was not taken by the guards. His time had not yet come. The Father was not yet ready to accept in our time  that sacrifice made in the eternity of Father Son and Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord, let me be true to you and to your will for humanity. This prayer is me in my secret room trying to do what you have shown to be the way to holiness. There is nothing that I need except your love for all sinners to show the way to Mercy that will modify your perfect Justice. May Mary and all the saints support thy children who today are directly attacked by Satan and his human agents.