30/04/2022

The Apostles decided that their preaching of the Word was more important than looking after the bodily needs of the destitute who had  professed believe. A lot of questions are raised by this. St Paul tells his flock that he has never accepted anything for his mission but has carried on working to provide for his own keep. The Church in Jerusalem has taken the first step in becoming the Institution she is today. We are told that many of the Temple priesthood had chosen to follow Jesus. 

These heredity priests must have continued in the service of the Temple and carried with them the consciouness of being different than the common people. All our priests are faced with this dilemma. They are to be servants in the manner of the washing of feet shown to them by Our Lord and they are to "priests for ever" having received the Sacrament of Holy Orders

Corruption amongst our clergy and hierarchy cannot be denied. Sinfulness of individuals cannot be ignored. We cannot save our Church by reverting to older forms of liturgy and dress. We have to save our Church so that there will be Faith on earth when Jesus returns. Total faith in the Lord, knowing Father Son and Holy Spirit and sincerity in prayer will keep us free from sin for that is what our God wills.

Is it really down to us to save our Church? I feel helpless and alone. "I will be with you till the end of time" are the words on which I rely. Is it possible to be in the Church as founded by the Lord but separated from the institution that has tainted his memory.? Is there really a "Church of Love" based on John and the Marys who remained with Jesus until the end on Calvary.?

Dear Lord you know everything including all time on earth; let me grow in my striving after the way of life you have revealed to all of us through your Apostles and Church. Let your Church become what you intended  it to be and may all your sacraments be confected with the true belief that you are doing the same for us in your eternity. May the prayers of Mary and all your saints bring peace and healing to all suffering souls on earth and in Purgatory.

 29/04/2022

There are some sayings from scripture that have stayed in my mind all of my life "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" is one of those that disturbs me as I cannot avoid sin no matter how hard I try. I need to avoid sin to prove to myself that I can live with God's forgiveness and avoid the burden of a guilty conscience which for me is far from light. How can Jesus say that the horror of calvary and the sins of the world are light for him?

St John tells his readers of so long ago and of all times that to live in the light we must avoid sin and this too has stayed in my mind. "Making God a liar" is something that I have no wish to do but listening to St John's words, I seem to be doing this continuously as even after confession I fall again into sin so easily.

St John tells us that the willing sacrifice of the Son has taken away the sins of the whole world; but I know that  I and the whole world still are unfaithful and continue to sin. Jesus tells us that he has reveaed the Father to us so we are abe to know Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We do not need knowledge and intellect to live our lives in the light of God but we must trust Jesus' "dad" in heaven as the little children he has created us to be.

Dear Lord each day I turn to you and you know that I still am not living in the security that is the result of sinlessness. Forgive me my sins and let the prayers of St Catherine who knew the same Churchly problems that we have today add her prayers to Mary's that the grace of God will be recognised by all ofus who are suffering on earth today.

 28/04/2022

The history of the first days of the Church continues with  the Apostles before the Sanhedrin. Peter's answer to the High Priest is the Truth for all times . "Obedience to God comes before obedience to man". Peter whose faith has been recorded in the Gospels; both his faith and his apalling weakness are recorded, is filled with the Holy Spirit as he answers his accusers. The Church was right then but as she grew and became the political force she was for centuries the conflict between human power and obedience to God was increasingly decided in favour of human politics.

So many failings by the Popes over the centuries are indeed grave sins and huge stumbling blocks confusing the faith of sincere worshippers and losing milllions of souls who were born ready to obey God but lead astray by the weakness of the  Church. Stalin's "How many divisions has the Pope?" signifies the complete ending of Papal Political clout but our Church has inherited "earthly" structure as a human institution and wealth, the preservation of both seems to have become more important than the the mission given by Jesus to distribute the saving grace won on the Cross by the loving humility of our All Powerful God.

John the Baptist's words are also true for all times in that he tells us that even if nobody agrees with us, the words from above are far superior to "earthly" values. We must be true in mind word and deed. Our creator's revelation of himself Father, Son and Holy Spirit can be refused by millions of souls but "Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life; anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life: the anger of God stays on him.".

Dear Lord I know that I am responsible for my own soul which is free to choose your grace. I have the will to do that but know that I have often failed and put the earthly vices of the flesh into the time that you have given me. The only thing that can keep me alive is the knowledge that your love for sinful humanity includes me and that you know me as I truly am. May Mary and the Saints in Eternity continue their timeless adoration and seek to share the graces that you have given with all the suffering souls here on earth and in Purgatory.

 27/04/2022

Nicodemus has been drawn to the Lord by what he has heard and seen. He is afraid because he knows that the Temple does not approve of this wandering rabbi from Galilee and so comes to Jesus secretly in the night. John's retelling of this event must be from Nicodemus or Jesus himself. Jesus tells Nicodemus directly that the Father sent the Son to enable humanity to be saved from its sinful nature and to live in the light of God.The words he heard that night must have stayed with Nicodemus for he it is who helps with the burial of Jesus' corpse. 

The disciples had been dispersed by the crucifixion but brought back together in witnessing the risen Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit to have the power to preach even in the Temple itself. The people who listened to them must have been convinced of the truth that they told as the Sanhedrin was afraid to move in public against them in the Temple.

Jesus told Nicodemus that in this world we have to believe to be able to share in the eternal life of God. Our lives do not end with death. Jesus has shown us the way to live in the light of the Love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit but there were many then who preferred the darkness of evil. 

In today's world,  Jesus' words seem to have been reversed for it is evil that boasts and flourishes in the light and the good that has it head down. I have not made the efforts that I could to bear public witness to God's truth and although I record these thoughts and prayers I am too nervous of criticism to really publish them out loud.

Dear Lord let me always be ready to receive your grace and to do your will in this world. Let me not be afraid and have the courage to challenge the lies that this world abounds in. Please show me the way and let evil be rebutted. Let my prayers for the sick and suffering join those of Mary and all the saints and may the Holy Spirit calm the inward turmoil in which many of us live.

 26/04/2022

The Christian warrior whose feast day has been transferred to today, has been given the name St George. I remember that when the calendar of saints was reviewed and renewed some 50 years ago there was a great public outcry that the authenticity of the patron saint of England was questioned. This outcry came mainly from those who neither then or now believe in God.

John's vision of God's timeless universe continues with a proclamation that evil has been defeated. We all know that evil is still with us in our hearts, in our neghbourhoods, in our nation. Men "marry" men, bodies are adapted by whim; babies are forcibly removed from wombs. God looked on his creation and saw that it was good, but not good enough for modern man who knows better than our Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The early church was prepared to be hated by political authorities and the pagans amongst whom they lived. The Church today is despised for the deceptions perpertrated by the prelates and clergy over the centuries and particularly today as this device I am using means it is hard to conceal anything.

John's message to Christians of all time is that  we must not falter in our faith in God but always stand up for the Truth as revealed to us in Holy Scripture. We are to be judged by God and not by "likes" in social media.

Dear Lord how can you continue with your love for sinful man? My own sins mock your passion and cruel death. Our world to which your Church seems to have subjugated itself is monstrous in its deeds and in its standards. Let my thoughts, words and deeds be worthy of the salvation you have won for us and let the prayers of Mary and all the saints begin to bring about the changes for the better that this earth is so greatly in need of.

 25/04/2022

The scriptures that are read at mass everyday are the true record of God's revelations to mankind. That is why we read them. St Mark tells us that Jesus gave his Apostles the mission of spreading his Good News to the whole world. I wonder how many of the "signs" of believers are to be seen this morning around the world. We all know that with  a few clicks  of the mouse we can be anywhere in the world and without moving I can find out what the weather is like in any place on earth. Will anybody today  be reporting the handling of snakes, drinking deadly poison, speaking with tongues?

I had never before thought of the Epistles read at mass as being real letters. I treated them as general instructions to the early Church. Today I realized that St Peter is writing to his friends. He is a real man and so are the recipients  with friends in common. They are personal messages which today would be via Twitter or Instagram. Paper has stood the test of time and these ancient "e-mails" are still with us and their messages are still true guidance for all the peoples of the World.

I do not know of any of the letters that have been preserved in the canons of scriptures that speak of the signs as recorded by St Mark. I have no doubts about  "Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven", I welcome the mercy that comes to us through the Sacraments of the Church but am I ready to try drinking "Domestos"?  Is this lack of faith or normal self-preservation?

Dear Lord I know the sins that I have committed and relive the shame when I remember them. I know my sins but only you can judge my faith, hope and charity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit strengthen my resolve to worship you from the deepest part of my being and let all my deeds be done in the knowledge of your presence. May Mary and all the saints add my intentions to theirs as we come together in praise of your glory.

 24/04/2022

The acts of the apostles begin in the Temple. They meet everyday and many listen but are afraid to join them. The sick  are brought in the hope that being in the presence of the Apostles will bring them to health. 

John has witnessed most of the events of Jesus public life. He, faithfully following the commands of the dying Jesus, has cared for Mary as if she were his own mother and he has been tortured and exiled for his Faith. 

His vision begins with the command to record it all. What we read is the result of this command. It is very diffficult for us to know the meaning of all the otherworldly sights and symbols John does see; just as it is difficult to understand other Old Testament similarly prophetic experiences.

John's eye-witness account of Jesus appearances in their midst in the upper room is also beyond my understanding. This is not a vision, which could take place in the consciousness of the visionary and be unobserved by others. Jesus is a body; he is the same body that had been laid in the tomb transformed to another level of being. St Thomas touches and feels the wounds that had been received so painfully to bring the grace of salvation to us all. We do not need to see but we do need to believe. Jesus blesses us for Faith; he knows the limits of our understanding.

The resurrected Jesus, his life and death,  the Acts of the Apostles, the mystical visions of John, the Good News, all are from Father, Son and Holy Spirit with the loving purpose of enabling us to use our freedom to live lives pleasing to the Lord of All and to found his Church to administer his sacramental grace here on earth. 

Dear Lord let my soul be filled with love for you with all the sins driven out. Fill your priests with the holiness you breathed on your Apostles and let us the sheep feel confident in our pastors. May Mary and all the saints please help those in my family and in all the world who need curing and comfort..