Wednesday 30th June Mass of the Day

 Jesus had similar trouble in his own town. They wanted to push him over a cliff and these gentiles on the other side of the lake  wanted to drive him out of their district. What had happened to this herd of pigs was too much to take. They understood nothing but knew that this person was dangerous. Were these pagans the other "great nation" promised to Abraham? They together with the descendants of Isaac both rejected their God who was in the flesh teaching and showing his power. 

In the collapse of religious faith that is happening all around us today we can be sure that Jesus is still being rejected. Even in the centuries of faith it was also the case that many cried "Lord, Lord" but in their hearts were filled with themselves and the love of this world. Today there are no pressures from the "world" to conform to the teachings of Jesus but there are still some who try in to understand that " In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God" for without God everything in our lives in this world is meaningless.

Dear Lord, let me always remember that the dust in the eyes of others could be a great rock in my own. Let your Holy Spirit be with me as I try to follow the "The Way, The Truth and The Life" with sincerity of heart and firmness of purpose.

 The declaration by St Peter of his belief in Jesus is reciprocated by the Lord with his gift of "The Keys". It is this gift that is the justification for our institutional Church. It is a commission from God directly to Peter and the other disciples and it tis the same commission that has been  dishonoured throughout history as the Church grew in numbers and the Clergy grew in power. Dissolute prelates, priests and popes fill the pages of history books. Even Peter who obviously believed his declaration would abandon the Lord on Calvary. But on Calvary would remain the beloved disciple and Mary our Mother with the other women and it is this group which forms the Church of Love.

Jesus is God and would know what was to be the result of his commissioning words. We who are struggling today in the grip of a plague of virus and the more serious  betrayal of Christ's teaching by many of his ministers know that God will save us and the saving Grace will not be a vision but the reality of Mary's prayers of Love in our hearts..

Dear Lord let the unwavering confidence of St Paul bolster me to do your will today and everyday that I will be here on earth.

 God listens to our pleas for mercy. Abraham was able to talk brazenly to the Lord and seemingly mollify the Lord's anger at the wickedness typified by the  behaviour of the people of the cities of the plain. God, knows , however that the guiltless cannot be found in those dens of iniquity. God's mercy is always just and those who whitewash their guilt are putting themselves outside God's sphere of mercy. We do not win anything from God by our own efforts; all is Grace. The sun shines on us all; we do nothing to win our lives but God is all Love and complete Knowledge of everything even of the virus which is blighting our lives; and so he gifts mercy all we can do is plead for it. Jesus is very much to the point. There is no bargaining with him. To follow or not to follow is his straightforward offer. He does know our weaknesses and our commitments. He is the same God revealed in the Old testament and offers us the choice to live according to the Law that he has come to protect. I have that choice and the complete freedom to say yeah or nay.

Dear Lord, our freedom to choose to live in the light of your love is sometimes a burden as the attractions of the world are so appealing. I can live this day without forgetting your Love for the support of your Saints and Your Mother are always present in Your Light of heaven.

 The first reading teaches that God did not create us to be only worldly beings. We are like God in that we will never end. That is the "image" of the "image and likeness". We are created to be with God for all eternity which means that we will become part of God's time. We will not be aware of this "Time" for we will see God as he really is and will so be the complete "image and Likeness". The Devil however has other plans for us and never ceases to try to take from us God's gift of Life. We need to use this earthly life in the service of God by being aware of him and loving him by following his commandments. We are not abandoned to do this on our own. Jesus is always with us and has infinite mercy to spread throughout the billions of humans who have ever lived and our now living. God knows us all and tells us to bend our will to the Truth he reveals to us in his creation. Jesus has brought the Saints to heaven even now. Heaven is not "another country" but is the living "Communion of Saints" led by Our Lady. We are saved. But we must actively participate in that redemption given to us by the torture of the Cross and the "sword piercing the heart" of the witness Mother of God.

Dear Lord, I pray that this today I will remain free of sin and be consistent in thoughts and deeds.

 The Oak at Mamre has inspired the painters of many icons. The visitors are seen as the Trinity our triune God who has revealed himself as the Father Son and Holy Spirit. Abraham receives him in the spirit of Bedouin hospitality; nomads take care of all they find wandering in the same deserts where they too may be lost and destitute in need of the same stranger's care as their own guests of today. Sarah has reason to laugh. She doesn't see the generations who will be descended from what seems to her to be a "daft" prophecy . Out of her descendent God  begets the Son who together with the Holy Spirit is taking rest in the shade of the tree at Mamre. It is hard to visualise these moments in scripture when the eternity of God is present in human temporality. It happens everyday when The Sacrifice of the Son is repeated in a lawful Mass and is our guarantee that the words of Jesus are absolute and nakedly True. "I am the Bread of Life" " I an the Way, the Truth and the Life".

Dear Lord, let me be aware this day of your Eternal present and let me do nothing to obscure your infinite goodness. Let me learn to habitually avoid sin, at least as habitually as I now fail to do your will.

 We can know of God because he has revealed himself. Scripture is the record of his revelation. We are the recipients. Much of what is read is not one hundred per cent clear. The length of life of the individual Patriarchs from Adam onwards is a huge question mark. What is recorded as God's promise to Abraham is with us today as a nation of Israel still exists although it too has lost the Faith in  God that is the sole reason for its existence. Science today strives to prolong our lives on earth but nobody seriously strives after a patriarchal length of days.

Jesus says "Of course I want to cure you". Then he tells the leper to show himself to the priests for it is they who can, according to the law of Moses, declare a leper free of his disease. Jesus throughout the New Testament shows his support for the organised religion as it existed in his days. In these days much is made by anti-clerics of Jesus' opposition to the scribes and the Pharisees even though he tells us that he comes to fulfil the Law ( established religion) not to change it. Our priesthood is founded by the Lord and has the huge responsibility of shepherding the people of God to the Truth that comes from God. That this responsibility is sincerely recognised and practised is not obvious in today's Church.

Dear Lord send your Holy Spirit into the hearts of your faithful and may the sincerity of belief found among your people be an inspiration to your Priests. Let us see holiness in the lives of your priests.

 The story of St John the Baptist is told in few words but most Christians remember his dramatic death at the behest of a dancing girl. His words " I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandal" though show that he was aware as were  the other prophets that God was speaking through him; he knew that his place in life was to bear witness to the coming of Christ. My place in life is similarly clear. I must be alive always in the presence of God. My witness has to be to the Father Son and holy Spirit and always to avoid sin. The prophets seem to have been given graces that we have not experienced. Is it possible that we are too tied to our lives in this world  and do not welcome the grace that would send us into the wilderness of a solitary life; but not solitary for God would be all in all. "Be holy" said Jesus, "for my Father in heaven is holy". This seems so beyond my grasp that I don't make anything but a cursory effort. "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" tells me that all efforts are supported The Son took on our weak flesh and suffered in mind and body to enable us to be pardoned  and to receive the Holy Spirit the  channel of all that is Good.

Dear God let me not forget that you are always with us and may this day be without sin for me and all tour people.