07/03/2021

Friday after Ash Wednesday 

In the first reading, the warning given to Jews long before the Incarnation is not only about ostentatious fasting but is fundamentally about how we should live lives that acknowledge that God is "Our Father" and that we live only to know, love and serve.

Jesus' teaching consistently confirms that we have to pray in our "private room" and condemns the behaviour of the scribes and pharisees whose self-derived and self-driven holiness is empty sham. Jesus does not condemn the whole of Israel for he knows that there are many who worship IAMIAM with pure hearts and undefiled bodies.

When some disciples of John the Baptist, the forerunner, ask why Jesus and his disciples do not fast as do John and the Pharisees, he does not attempt to explain but  as "Truth" he speaks only plain truth, as he did to Mary and his brethren when they came looking for him.

Isaiah's message is that Lent, "fasting", is not about "giving -up" something but about a complete self-conversion to live with the awareness that "Our Saviour Liveth". To know  that "now" is "the favourable time". It is only "now" that we can choose to be with the Incarnate Son. "Now" is the only opportunity we have to do the will of IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT.

We each have to make ourselves acceptable to Our Father by becoming the child that runs towards him with perfect joy and trust in the arms spread out over the whole world on Calvary.

Dear Lord, help me to become part of the only human generation that knows your living presence. The Church of Love, "Woman behold your son, son behold your mother". The people who walked behind you crumbled in the immensity of your pain, But you Our Loving Father strengthen us and them that when we seek you with sincerity it is you who overcome our weakness with the unseen Holy Spirit, IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT who accepts our prayers and forgives all sinners. May my prayers be joined with the prayers of Mary and all the angels and saints that we sinners on earth open our hearts by penance and so receive from the abundance of mercy that you create for the whole world and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

 06/03/2025

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

When, as a child, I first heard the words that close the Gospel of today "For what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose himself" the Douay version of the Bible in English was crystal clear in identifying "the soul" as the eternal part, hence the essential part, of the trinity of being that is the reality of each of us. Body, mind and soul.

That translation was one of the reactions by the "the learned and the clever" to the legitimate objections to the condition  of the Church founded on St Peter made by those whom we now know as "Protestants". We still know them today because they were able to gain control  of  "kingdoms of this world" just as had  the "Greek Orthodox" 900 centuries previously, and as the Roman Catholic Church did until the 19th century. The Vatican is the last remnant of that Papal Empire.

May the Lord save us from the "Learned and the clever" is a petition that should be added to all the Litanies. Jesus condemned no-one except the "Thinking Jews" of his day. The wise men whose "wisdom" did not extend beyond their own prideful, self-awareness. All the changes within the Church that I have witnessed over the last 70 years have been introduced by those who claim to know better than did their forbearers. And "'twas always so".

Jesus is the Incarnation. His eternal being has no end. Past, present and Future are all one to him. When we become part of his mystical body we become part of the only generation that knows "IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT" for it is out of us that will come those who will not pass away without witnessing the end of time. 

We have to be the "little children" who welcome Jesús as soon as we see him and know that all that is material will pass away. We live out our lives as material beings always aware of "Our Father" and know that the "my" of "myself" is the "eternal human being" that there is not any reason to not call "soul" as did the translators of the Douay Bible.

"From the snares of the wise and clever, Good Lord deliver us."

 05/03/2025

Ash Wednesday 2025

The readings for today are a record of the revelations received by Jews, the people chosen to reveal by their way of life both the being of our Creator and his Commandments.

Joel is an individual who is inspired to denounce the evil that has corrupted the community who have to be guided by the Books of Moses and worship in the Temple.

He knows that the people are guilty but IAMIAM is merciful.

I too am a sinner and have always been able to identify with the guilt that is revealed by the Psalm. David knew that he had personally received great gifts from IAMIAM but had chosen sin thus bringing more evil into the world.

He knows that he is guilty but IAMIAM is merciful.

St Paul knows the Resurrection. Jesus has lived, died been resurrected and returned to the henceforth for all time revealed IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT.

He knows that it is the intention of IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT for every individual to remain free and accept for ourselves the Loving Mercy, forgiveness that is ours from the moment of our creation.

Jesus' teaching is always directed to every individual, every "my" soul. Praying has to take place in our secret room and fasting with joy in "my" heart and and on "my face".

I hope that these thoughts on Ash Wednesday  are not considered to be the 2025 equivalent of a "a long-faced pharisee parading his virtue on the street corner or in the market-place. To follow Our Lord I cannot be ashamed and have to pray that this is not a light that should be hidden under a bucket, there are no bushels in my kitchen.

Dear Lord, you know that I will try to live without sin during Lent and will pray "The Stations" on Fridays in my private room. You also know that this is pretty much what I try to do every day. Help me to open my heart to your grace and join these my prayers to those of Mary, Angels and Saints that what is happening here in my material being on earth be  also an offering acceptable to You. All sinners are still in need of your mercy help us to access this by penitence both here on Earth and in Purgatory. Amen.

 04/03/2025

Tuesday Week 8 Ordinary Time

Tomorrow the Institutional Church begins the "fasting" that is her preparation for the great mystery of salvation that is Easter. 

Everything that we can know has its beginning in the Eternal Word, begotten of the Father before time began, Incarnate of the Virgin Mary 2000 years ago and still present to those who consciously choose to live guided by the Holy Spirit as part of the Mystical Body of Christ.

Each one of us has to know that  iam, no matter how tiny, has to become an offering pleasing to  IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT.

Today the first reading proclaims that it is by righteous obedience that we can become the sacrifice that is pleasing to Our Father.

In the Gospel Jesus confirms that life in this world is not straightforward for us the ensouled highest of creation, the image and likeness. 

Material creation cannot veer from the paths that are the laws of science known and always discoverable by human intellect but we are completely free to choose how we will respond to the "life" we all know that we have. Peter begins to appeal for more enlightenment but Jesus' answer surprisingly confirms only that a life dedicated entirely to him can have benefits in this world, in human time and that this does not preclude the Eternal Life of the World to Come.

This "Good News" helps us to accept the material and social benefits that some of us are born into in the time of this world but the words of Jesus that we read this morning are concluded with an enigmatical warning which we ignore at our peril.

"But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

 03/02/2025

It is pointless to use weedkiller in greater amounts than the amount required to kill the intruder.

The grace that forgives us our sins, however also maintains us in the "blessedness" that is the support that is made available for all of us who pray.

Our relationship with Our Father begins when we kneel in his presence and continues when we show by our deeds that we have been converted by His words and deeds.

In this morning's Gospel the disciples were appalled by the stark "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!". 

Jesus is and always reveals the truth that comes from God. His Resurrection confirms that living in the the physical universe is not the purpose for which we have our being. 

Prior to his final visit to Jerusalem Jesus prepared those who would become the first witnesses of the Resurrection by his words and miracles. Today, as usual, Jesus never fudges truth and hammers in his basic message that the kingdom, "IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRT" is everything and material wealth is always a hindrance to our progress towards Life Eternal with the familiar image of camel and eye of the needle. 

There are many of us who today are trying to excuse ourselves by denying our possession of the worldly goods of which we are enjoying the use. " We are devoting our life to "prayer" and taken a vow of poverty". Others, such as myself, enjoy a life that is "normal" and "wealth" is something that others have to overcome.

Our sins have been eradicated by the Cross. The garden that is my soul, however, is ever more in need of the grace that can wipe out sin and promote growth but, as Our Father already knows, I am sore afraid and have never been able to walk away from my possessions.

 2/03/2025

Sunday Week  8 Ordinary Time.

It is hard for me, a sinful man, to believe  the words of this morning's Entry Antiphon and yet I do for "he saved me because he delighted in me" produced an instant reaction that was my human joy to be known by "Our Father".

It is my filth that is revealed by the sieving of my conscience. I have to follow the paths revealed by the grace of God in my own thoughts and reasonings.

It is I who have to sing praise in the morning and strive for holiness throughout today.

I am the one who can confidently respond to "be steadfast, immovable" and ultimately "know that my labour is not in vain".

It is Jesus, IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT, who warns me to respond to him with my whole being, body, mind and soul to become the perfect vessel thrown by his hands on his potter's wheel, the whole fruit that will become eternal delight in his kingdom that is not of this world.

Dear Lord, you know that I am sincerely afraid of hypocrisy. You know that I can always smell it out in others. I always am aware of the potential plank in my own eye. You also know how I am afraid of turning my conscience into a sieve so fine that it becomes filter paper that results in despair at the evil I have been party to at many times in my life. I keep on saying "you know" because I know that you are complete knowledge, total perfection, total love and that iam  because you are our creator God and also our loving Father who enables us to rejoice with Mary, Angels Saints secure in the love that can forgive even my sins and the sins of the whole world. Help all sinners to accept your grace and discard the sin that blocks the meshes of our Consciences and let your grace pour into our hearts to become the delight that it is to know, love and serve. Amen

 1/03/2025

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Patron Saint of Wales, St David.

St Paul in the first reading tells us that he has come to the understanding that the only thing that matters in our lives is knowing and following Jesus Christ. It is by our aiming to become an embodiment of faith in Jesus that we can be brought closer to the human perfection that is our goal in life.

In the psalm another David, King of Israel, sings of the joy and the peace that complete faith in God can bring to us even in this world. Our Father supports those who faithfully devote themselves to him. Each one of us is able to accept the grace that is the eternal being of IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT. He loves each one of us in our complete human identity, "warts and all".

In the gospel Jesus commends his followers as the "Salt of the earth". We are to reveal in our worldly lives the Light of the Eternal IAMFATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT to those who lose themselves in the sham of this world.

Yesterday the "sham" of this world was completely revealed by the President of the USA who acted out in front of the whole world, every bit as successfully as any professional wrestler the "kayfabe" (the false narrative that gives fake emotive authenticity to the characters who fight in the ring) the lie of "face" (Putin) and "heel" (Kelensky) himself becoming the alternating heel/face "Mr McMahon".

There we all witnessed an event that was lies, all lies and nothing but lies deliberately fabricated for the cynical./Satanic purpose of deceiving the whole world.

Dear Lord, It seems that our world is still beyond redemption. Jesus paid the supreme price for our sins but we have continued to serve idols of our own making rather than devote ourselves, know, love and serve, to returning your love. I cannot forget my own sinfulness and hope that I can do only your will throughout the rest of my life. Have mercy on all the little ones, children and adults whose lives are defined by suffering and death and may those whose self-belief is their doom come to the understanding that their freedom is your gift to enable us to avoid creating any more of the evil with which we drive out the "Good" you see in your creation. May Jesus soon return and begin the end of time that is  God All in All. Help me to remember to pray always for all sinners on earth and in Purgatory and to never forget that we can all choose to be bound by the Love you created for all on the Cross outside Jerusalem. Amen.