03/03/2024

As I wait for the words I need to begin this day, to form in my head I know that God has direct access to my being and that he wishes only good for me. It is so for all the human beings alive. God knows us all and he has for each of us only good will. He helps us in our response to his will by the guidance he has been revealing consistently since the beginning of time.

All of mankind however has always tried to "improve" on what is shown to us in his creation. Adam and Eve knew better than God and they discovered that they were naked so tried to cover themselves with fig-leaves. The purity of God's creation was blemished and to this day all of us have to combat the tendency to sin, to deny God, that is the origin of all evil in this world.

The ten commandments given to Moses are the basis for righteous living. Jesus adds a lot more to this life plan. He tells us that all sins can be forgiven if we turn the attention of our being to  Himself, the Father and Holy Spirit and creates the Sacraments to help us.

God knows that it is impossible for creatures to understand their maker. Man-made and coded machines can never understand or become the freedom of "God's image and likeness". 

Throughout the world up to the first century God had done wonders for the Jews who, as St Paul tells us still asked for miracles even after the Resurrection preached by him and all the Apostles. The Sophisticated Minds of the Greeks pursued ideas with which to frame the awareness that they had of existence. "Resurrection" was to them just a word as it had been similarly without meaning to the Apostles when Jesus first used it.

It seems to me that we have only got part of God's revelation and that the "Second Coming"  which was the longed for hope of the first Christians has got lots more to teach us about Our Father and the New Heaven and New Earth that Jesus will bring at the end of Time. Marantha Lord Jesus, Please come soon!!

Dear Lord let the way, truth and life brought to the world in Palestine be open for all peoples of the world so that we all can strive to do your will. I know that even though I am a sinner you care for me as much as did Mary care for you when you were a baby and infant. May her prayers and the prayers of all the saints flood the world with grace so that each one of us can live without sin to praise your Name and do your Will. Please come soon.

 02/03/2024

Dear Lord, you know the turmoil that is filling me this morning. The turmoil that drives out the peace with which I am usually able to turn my heart and mind to you. My brain is messed up still by the medicines I take. Too many always leave my brain and  body not as you created me to be, but that will soon pass.

Most of all, however, is the fundamental problem that makes me despise myself by my lack of self-control. The Prodigal returned from his lifetime debauchery to the open arms of his father who welcomed him with the love that had never wavered, but confrontation in my world between human beings often takes on dimensions of hate that cannot be overcome.

The elder son was made bitter with jealousy. He viewed his Father with "eyes of Justice" . "It is not right that my father does not recognise my worth to him but makes such a show of joyful support for him who has wasted his share of our family wealth but been welcomed home by a huge  party."

I can understand and empathise with the elder son whereas the younger son leaves me cold. It is not that I haven't received mercy. My "eyes of justice" tell me that I have never deserved the forgiveness of Our Father, but there is always something that comes out of the centre of my being that is really fond of myself and has nothing to do with love or justice. 

Dear Lord me help to overcome this secret presence in my heart that is an open book to you. Help me to overcome this "devil" that is now sniggering at the success it has had in putting my soul in danger of again failing you. You are not the father of the prodigal son. That father did not treat his children equally and thus broke your law of mercy ( love your neighbour as yourself) which, as does the rain, falls equally on sinners and on just. May Mary and the Saints pray that you seek out all sinners such as me and help us to overcome the self love that still creates evil even when I know your loving presence and recognise the torments I continue to create for Jesus to endure on my behalf. 

 01/03/2024

St Paul certainly did not hide his light under a bushel. His letters all tell us that he never rested on his laurels. He continued in his mission right until the end even getting his dream of an untimely death in this world at the hands of this world as did his beloved master.

In his letters he never mentions his need of money. He never appeals for a "building fund". In fact the only "church" that he mentions is the "Body of Christ" although he does contribute to the poor in Jerusalem. His only concern in life is to build up what began for him on the road to Damascus. He saw the Glory that is the Resurrection and heard the voice of the Holy Spirit and from that moment onwards obeyed the Father and shared throughout the Empire, the joy that is a life lived in the Light of Father, Son and Holy Spirit .

Jesus tells us all that we have to shine out in this world. He tells me that it is only by my deeds that the effects of the salt of eternity can be seen. My reflections on the meaning of the Gospel readings are all very well and help me to see my sins but they are personal and my living days are not much better than they have ever been.

Salt preserves meat. It keeps it from decay. Our Lord warns us that even salt can lose its power but the light of his grace never fades.  At the worldly time the Incarnation was made manifest, the salt that is the "Law" as practised by the descendants of Abraham had lost its savour and the body of Israel had become corrupt.

The Light of the World walked and talked with us for three years. He taught us by word and deed and his Apostles walked in his footsteps. Can I truthfully say that I have ever reflected the Grace that supports every second of my life.? When has the institution that is the Church ever shone with the Glory that is the Light of God, the pure source of all being and the only way to Eternal Holiness.

Dear Lord, these thoughts with which I begin each day are important to me and I am grateful that my life did not end in the Red Sea, tangled up in that abandoned net, without the free gift of these years for atonement. Help me to hold onto the control, grace, that comes from you into my being so that I can continue to seek out your Mercy for me and for all sinners on Earth and for the Holy Souls who now know how they went wrong during their lives and deeply regret it.  May the triumphant Church of Mary and all the Saints share the grace of Heaven bringing sinners on Earth to repentance and let me stay part of the Christ preached and defended by St Paul throughout the Empire and in Wales by his successor, Dawi Sant.

 29/02/2024

The parable of Dives and Lazarus is pretty foundational for all who try to follow Jesus along the way, the truth and the life. Death is the moment that tells us all that there is nothing more that we can do for what we will face then is the judgement that determines our existence. 

The poor man at the gates and the rich man in the palace; fine linen or dog-licked sores.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit certainly condemn the wealth of Richman, Dives. They do not condemn the poverty of Lazarus but Dives in his torment can pity the fate that awaits his brothers if they do not change their ways. We are not told the reaction of Lazarus to the reversal of their earthly lives.

We have to ask ourselves on this the miserable "extra day"of the year's morning, whether or not Jesus condemns wealth for itself alone. The rich young man went sorrowfully away because he was a man of great wealth. Passing through the eye of a needle is easier for  a fully-laden camel than it is for a rich man to enter Heaven.

In this 2024 many of us are living in environments which retain in form of buildings and goods wealth that was being created at the time Jesus walked on earth. Many of us are richer than former kings and emperors but throughout Europe and USA  there are millions fleeing from societies where there is no peace in which to set about the acquisition of wealth or think about one's place in creation.

There are millions of Dives and millions of Lazaruses but only one of me. Rich and poor alike are one with me in that we have to know that wealth and poverty are both of no value in our quest to align ourselves with God's will.  

Each one of has to do the will of Our Father regardless of the  world's economy and our place in it for "Heaven and earth will pass away but my word will stand." God does not have favourites and even the poor have the  freedom of will to say "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven " or ignore Our Father and his revelation of Mercy. This is within the freedom of all of us. Without the will to serve God, poverty alone will not bring about redemption.

Dear Lord help me to truly know that it is your will that I am seeking out and truthfully atoning for my sins. It is only by my deeds and sincerity of heart that I can approach your altar in Heaven and confess the wilful corruption with which I have marred my life. May the prayers of your Mother and your Heavenly friends never fail in bringing your Mercy to me, my family and to all sinners especially to the Holy Souls.

 28/02/2024

The mother of James and John is one of the few voices that come out of the "multitude" that surrounds Jesus and the Apostles. The typical voice is asking for a cure either for themselves or a relative. The mother of the "Sons of Thunder", however, is asking for power to be given to the "fruits of her womb". There is nothing spiritual about her request. She wants her sons to be "top dog" in the only sort of kingdom that she can envisage, an Empire in the here and now.

The prophets of the Old Testament were all of them expected to reveal the greatness of IAMIAM in this world and they made no proclamations about life of the world to come. The "milk and honey" had to be now and thus it was so. Even today Theologians can still make a living by discussing whether the Chosen People had a concept of "soul", spiritual life, or not.

The Resurrection overcomes all the mysteries of the Old Testament and the First Fathers built up their understanding of Jesus' message by searching the scriptures which had shaped the Apostles devotion to IAMIAM in such a way that Jesus' "Follow me" did not promote an argument but rather instant obedience.

Of course, we do not know whether the events in this mornings' Gospel reading really do follow the timeline recorded by Matthew. If they do, we have to ask ourselves how anyone could ask to be part of the "Kingdom" foretold by Jesus. We are told elsewhere that the Apostles could not understand what Jesus could mean by "rising from the dead".  

Today, Jesus' has informed his followers that they will be going to Jerusalem where he " will be handed over to the Chief Priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the pagans to be mocked, scourged and crucified and on the third day he will rise again". 

The only human who could seek out to follow this road is the Son of God, Jesus, the only Son, begotten not made, born of the Father before time began, God from God, Light from Light and he chooses to suffer in this world so that we can follow him not to worldly "thrones" in Cathedrals/ Palaces but to the Eternal Life that Father, Son and Holy Spirit offers to all of us if we choose to accept it.

Dear Lord, help me to become prayerful this day. I am helpless as a rag-doll and can only live when the Holy Spirit keeps the sparks of your Love smouldering within this carcass over which I have never had control and thus sinned in the grotesque ways that still trouble my conscience. You have taken away the sins of this world but the tiny speck that I am still knows that  what I have done wrong in my life has been by my choice. May the prayers of Mary and all the saints help me to grow strong in your love and may the Holy Spirit confirm that we should all, fathers and mothers, pray only for the gift of righteousness be given to all our children. 

 27/02/2024

It is always easy for me to agree with Jesus' words but today he asks me  whether I have  ever lived my belief in my actions. I can read the Gospels and thus search for truth. I can wallow in Theology understanding probably less than ten per cent of the leading lights of my generation. I can read the lives of Saints but know that I am far behind in my dedication to Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Jesus' condemns hypocrisy. IAMIAM looks for dedication of the heart not for gifts made from his own creation. We all have to  look for the warning signs of both these faults in our selves before we proceed with the very easy task of recognising them in others.

Jesus is straightforward in his command to the twelve. He tells them that they should never feed their egos out of the results he brings about through them. Each of our bodies has one human father but in the Church, Christ's Body on Earth, there is only  "Our Father" and he is not of this world.

Even though there is nobody else who reads these words of mine I am a teacher trying to teach myself how to live my life. I try to keep my being open to receive that Grace without which there is no salvation. Many of us created in the Image & likeness have been so overcome by the wonder that is our being that the Father has been forgotten. Even nonentities such as myself can have an inner core of overweening pride.

The bleeding and broken corpse hanging on the cross is our only teacher. Jesus our teacher's foundation lesson is that all virtue can be possible for each one of us if we have the true humility to admit that "I" am totally dependant on God. I am nothing without him.

Dear Lord help me to be sincere in all my thoughts, words and deeds. Help to remember always that all humanity can be saved as your mercy is for all who choose to accept it. Even the perpetrators of the inhuman violence that still disfigures your creation are my brothers created to do your will and accept your mercy. May my prayer be united with the those of Mary and all the Saints that the peace of heaven be brought to life on Earth. Let these moments spent searching for you remain with me throughout this day and may I learn how to forget myself in the humility that teaches us all the way, the truth and the life.

 26/02/2024

I need to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit if I am not to lose myself in the vast sea of knowledge and experience that is available without even moving out of this chair. Our computers are truly amazing and we are now able to turn over to them tasks that used to need our personal attention.

In the first centuries of Christian worship some became so intolerant of the demands made on on their personal attention by the Good News which included the care for their neighbour as they would for themselves, that they left their congregations and sought the lonely places that enabled them to raise their minds and hearts to God in peace and solitude.

Jesus too, often went into lonely places to be with his Father but he never remained separated from his companions for very long. His whole mission is to give the people of the world the grace to be able to live within the will of Our Father. For this reason " Thou art Peter and on this rock I will build my Church." 

Jesus did, at his trial where he was judged by both the State and the Temple, affirm  to both these institutions and for all time that his Kingdom was not of this world. The difficulty for us now and for the apostles then is that we are living bodily lives in this world and although at death we cannot take anything with us our goods do remain. 

The unintentional created wealth of the Church has promoted avarice and ambition throughout the ages and wealth has brought with it all the vices of any Human Institution that we can find in abundance within the Church which seems to be decaying today.

The body of Our Lord never decayed. Father, Son and Holy Spirit has compassion for humanity and revealed the Resurrection as the first fruits of the new creation that will begin with the end of time. We are all created to share in that new beginning but we have to follow God's teaching to become blessed of Our Father and to remember that our receiving of compassion is reciprocal; "the amount you will receive is the amount you have given out".

Dear Lord, help me to feel compassion for all victims of clerical vice and also to know what the world cannot acknowledge that the perpetrators can feel remorse and feel truly sorry for their sins. Each one of us, however, must be aware first of all of our own sinfulness and seek the Mercy that is the very being of You whom we know as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Let me beseech you that the prayers of Mary and all the saints are heard in the souls of all who turn to thee and that that glimpse of Love can be turned into the good works that we all need to do to fill our own cup of compassion. Amen.