Surprises in the our journey

The opening lines from the Book of Sirach in the Roman Catholic Lectionary offer praise for the godly men in the history of Israel. Edward Morse comments on the Gospel from Mark with a suggestion that Jesus surveyed the situation around the Temple on first encountering it and returned the next day to make the difficult and strong decision to expel the buyers and sellers from the holy place of prayer. In our prayer, Jesus calls us to forgiveness of others. The day ended yesterday in Rome in two Churches in the vicinity of Santa Marie Maggiore. The major basilica itself and Basilica di Santa Prassede nearby where Saint Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, minister to the poor and reformer from the Council of Trent was Cardinal and Priest. Our visit to Santa Marie Maggiore was planned to conclude with Mass in one of the side chapels but we were forced to leave the Major Basilica by security guards because the Vatican Secretary of State was using the Church for an important gathering. This set back brought us to the minor basilica nearby where our Mass in one of the side chapels contained a table from Milan which Charles Borromeo had used to feed the poor. This minor basilica contains mosaic from the 4th Century which visually draws us back to the images of Jesus and the Holy Family which offered contemplation and education in a simple and sincere way. The contrasts and conflicts of Church history are metaphors for the challenges we face with our own self agrandizement and lack of fruit for others. Jesus directs us to forgiveness as we approach prayer. We consider how forgiveness changes the disappointments of life into moments to treasure