Palm Sunday

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.”

In my priestly ministry I have come – all too often – across people who felt, like Jesus Christ, forsaken.  When Jesus spoke those words, he was talking with his father who, perhaps to make us realise how deep was his love, allowed him to suffer excruciating agony.

God’s plan, I believe, includes making us realise that how we feel is not the same as who we are.

Feelings are not objective facts. I may feel fine and healthy, yet have a cancer growing inside. I have come across people who felt they had failed an exam yet came out with flying colours.

There are people who feel unlovable and unloved: convinced that no one loves them yet - I know – they are beloved. Depression can twist perception into telling lies.

If  - perhaps when - you come across people who are depressed, be gentle and patient and encouraging. You may make a difference.

I may feel I am alone yet, using my intellect to override my emotions, I know that God  - whom I call Yesh, is with me – always.

When people come to me and say they feel they cannot believe in God, I say, ”Get a picture of the human ear and eye, think of how new life is conceived, and you will soon realise there must be a brilliant creative genius who created this. That creator is the one we call God.”

My Lord and my Love, I know you are with me, that you see me, that you hear me and love me and thus I want to help you, so that together, we can make this world a better place in my communities; including Kensington Square.