With the help of God we will see the beginning of the end for this pandemic with the coming of the new year. Christmas will be very much part of the experience for this year. So it is a very important time. Sin in its truest, deepest nature is recognised in the doctrine of original sin, otherwise expressed as the sin of Adam, when an evil fallen nature became part of our inheritance. Jesus gave us its focus, and a measuring point for our human behaviour “by their fruits you shall know them, good trees bear good fruit”.
Recently, those in authority in the Catholic Church are trying to make renewed attempts to make atonement for the grave sins that were endemic in the church on account of the paedophiles, who were part of the establishment. Some Bishops have made public penance as an acknowledgement of the injury and damage done to the lives of the faithful. The slowness of the response adds to our grave difficulties.
Now we are presented with a great challenge, and with the help of God’s grace a new window of opportunity. We need to identify with Christ, when after the crucifixion he called upon His disciples as He tried to impower them for His mission to bring God’s salvation. Forgiveness is a key component of His mission. When St Peter returned to his day job, after the shock of the crucifixion, they had fished all night and caught nothing. They were so confused and at odds with life; they did not recognise Him. After the miraculous catch of fish, Peter recovers and Jesus anoints him: “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church”.
Today we return to Peter in the person of Pope Francis; his successor, and pray for him. Some have been very disappointed with him, especially with his visit to the church in Ireland, we must look forward to a new era in the life of the church. From morning prayer in the divine office today the scripture reading from Romans 8.35, 37 “Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking clothes or being attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph , by the power of Him who loves us”. As we begin the first week of Advent, let us sow the seed of hope and trust in our hearts. Let us be prepared for a new era with life in it, and it is only all of us together that can bring that life. Please God, bring us the grace to begin again.