Last Sunday’s readings reminds us, that if we truly want to recognize and praise the good others do, we need wisdom not to judge a book by its cover.

The first reading teaches that the true worth of anyone, including ourselves is seen when a trial by fire shakes us up and makes us show our true colours and how we live.  A person’s words are an accurate measurement of their faults or virtue. Appearances are not enough.  A sieve sifts out that which is undesirable and lets the desirable pass through.  When an item of pottery is fired, it adopts its definitive form and strength, or its definitive deformation and flaws. When one cultivates a fruit tree, it is easy to see if you are successful or not by abundant fruit or a withered tree with little or no fruit. In all three processes, it is the result that matters. The process doesn’t automatically produce a good outcome, just like we or others are not automatically good or evil.

St Paul, in the second reading encourages us to never give up, never admit defeat, but to keep striving for holiness. It is our common vocation.  It is important to remember the reality of the four Last Things: Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell. This reminder helps us to stay on track not to become worldly.

Last Sunday’s Psalm is a good reminder of the purpose of our words, to give thanks to God. Do we grumble and complain? Do our words contribute to an atmosphere of negativity or do they promote peace and harmony? The Psalm teaches us to use our words to praise God. Our Lady’s prayer of the Magnificat at the site of Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth is a wonderful example for us: 

My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. 

Let’s try and make Our Lady’s prayer our own:  

My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. 

These words flowed out of the most-pure heart of the Immaculate Virgin. More prayer is desperately needed in the world today. If all Catholics prayed the Rosary every day, there would be more peace, the activity of the devil would be restricted. The horrors of abortion, euthanasia, human trafficking and LGBTQ indoctrination in schools, would reduce and come to an end. The reason evil seems to be triumphing in the world is because of the Great Apostasy, or loss of Faith and the fact that few people pray. The less prayer there is, the freer Satan is, to advance his agenda of destruction of Christian family and society.  As Christians we must fight back as St Paul urges us to do. Never think it is too late to change the world. It has been said that we get the Government we deserve. Let’s pray that God’s Will be done in the WA State Election next Saturday. The party which ticks all the boxes for supporting of our Faith and morals is the Australian Christian Party. However, each person must follow their own conscience in casing their vote.

Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever.