Rob Colquhoun

One cannot serve God and money. But what degree of emphasis should be place on money and the maintenance of buildings, and what should be placed on other more important matters. God has the best property in heaven, but caring about buildings shows that you care about what happens in them, and give considerable importance to the activities that happen inside. However, many parishes seem to haemorrhage money and time merely keeping the roof on the building, having pointless extensions or changing decisions made 10 years earlier. Buildings say a substantial amount about a place but are not to be worshipped in themselves but be the place of worship.

Penny pinching can in fact be a form of the love of money. We are all called to be generous in order to imitate the abundant generosity of God and to demonstrate to all our love and kindness. Poverty is a virtue, but for a secular priest is not emphasized. Above all, spiritual poverty is the most abundant issue facing people in London and most clearly needs to be addressed.

The key to fostering vocations to religious life is understanding that each vocation comes from the family. Family attitudes towards vocations are important – for some parents the idea of a sibling thinking about religious life is unthinkable. Many parents impose their wishes, dreams and aspirations on their children. By every future priest must have had a mother and father, who had the responsibility for their upbringing – their role and opinion is vital in encouraging a new generation of priests. Above all families, friends and others should see that Priesthood is a generous and wonderful gift for the Church, which above all brings grace and leadership to the Church.

The Cardinal recently said many people in society are afraid of Christ. This is because they are afraid of a man who might change their lives and challenge them to be people they were born to be. They are frightened of the sacrifice of convenience and custom, the daring to be different. It is good and healthy to have a fear of God, to respect his decrees and to live by his commandments, but to be afraid in a cowardly manner is an entirely different manner. St Paul says that he is only able to boast in the Lord – precisely the opposite.

Coherent personal belief cannot but confront some of the most pressing questions on the meaning of life. Our answers to these questions determine our beliefs and actions. When does life begin? What happens when I die? Why is there something rather than nothing? Where is there meaning and purpose in life? What is the origin of love? Which is the correct path to follow and why do I have conscience?

These questions clearly show our chronic inability to understand the great mysteries of the universe and our relative insignificance. Aquinas said that “No philosopher has been able to grasp the being of a single fly.” Yet some humans have the arrogance to ignore and reduce theology and metaphysics to medieval folklore. The pride to presume definitive answers on any of these questions leads us into our own individualistic world, closed of from the mysteries and wisdom of God.

Yet we should be in wonder and amazement- a realisation that we are simply a grain of sand in the beach on the vast tapestry of life- and yet there is a great creator beyond who has willed everything into being and order. Rather than narrow our minds into agnosticism, the sheer wonders of the world should leave our hearts open to the mystery of God. The Church has the wisdom of centuries by her side and for thousands of years she has proclaimed the good news in and out of season.

Logic of the cross – profoundly illogical, unscientific and strange

The logic of God appear to be folly in the eyes of the world. Gods ways are not the same as ours – as what God is great as our God. We can only appear as humble servants in his presence, if we consider ourselves righteous then our pride can be our only source of reassurance.

Not the way of the king

Humility, suffering

No wonder you are so unpopular! St Theresa of the cross

The king of the universe subjected to human taunts and subjected to death

Redemption -      through death and resurecction

Many different groups of people decide to mix in their own story with that of Jesus of Nazareth. Christ came with his message, we are to do the listening, not the adaptation of his words to suit our own lifestyles. The sheer arrogance of being a consultant for God is a great manifestation of pride. The magisterium of the Church have the right of the interpretation of the scriptures. Human manipulation can easily steer us from the path that God has planned for us. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. But we must be on our guard, willing to discern good from evil and not to complicate or substitute one for the other. Many pseudo experts are happy to adapt the Gospel to their own needs, claiming that Christ married Mary Magdalene, stood up for womens’ rights or campaigned for environmental change. The beauty and the pain of Christ’s words are that they challenge us when we engage with them and they lead to fulfilment when we implement his suggestions.

Part of a journey towards God is learning to modify one’s ways. A life that is merely concerned with itself does not truly interact with others or with God, apart from in the context of selfish reason. Considering our bodies are temples of the holy spirit and that we were bought for a price – the attempt at imitation of Christ should bring us to a more selfless existence. In this existence, one is far more concerned about one’s neighbour and being a humble servant or the Lord, rather than filling one’s own desires. Ironically a selfish life constantly needs feeding. A voracious sexual appetite constantly needs to be fed just as a rounded stomach needs regular attention. A need to be constantly active gives little time for peace. A society based around gratification has little time for the most vulnerable members of society. The need for constant feeding means that in the inevitable periods of fast a great satisfaction occurs. When we cannot fill our desires in this selfish mentality we cannot be happy.

Through the path of self control, reflection, prayer and renunciation, we learn that our hearts can be orientated towards the greatest virtues of human existence- faith, hope and love. In fact constant gratification is a distraction from contemplating the mysteries of faith. The irony is that selflessness is in fact more joyful than selfish behaviour, as the self is so unconcerned about happiness, true joy can develop. Our concerns are based on others and our appetites need not always be fed. We learn to concentrate on what is truly important in life, rather than fickle fancy. Despite the fact we still think like man, our hearts become more reconciled to goodness, fruitfulness and compassion. Through losing our lives we save them.