Athaly Jenkinson, East London – I think perhaps God sometimes gives us a glimpse of connecting threads at the back of the “tapestry of life”.
Archaeologist Werner Keller (The Bible as History) feels that while the account of the visit of Alexander the Great to Jerusalem where, according to Flavius Josephus, he was received with ceremony by the people and the High Priest, and offered sacrifices in the Temple and granted favours, is probably only a legend, it may contain a seed of truth—”that the Greek conqueror tolerated the theocracy of Judah”.
And again, at the foundation of Alexandria in Egypt, “Alexander issued instructions which were to be of the highest future significance” — he guaranteed to the Jews the same rights as his own Greek countrymen.
When the Septuagint was produced, what was previously made known only in the sanctuary, the old Jewish tongue, and only to one nation, was available to the world.
The letters in The Southern Cross about Centering Prayer may encourage others to find out more and sow seeds of stronger faith.
Jesus said: “If you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry [sycamine] tree, ‘Pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea’ and it would obey you” (Lk 17:6).
Cecil Cullen’s letter about his struggle to uproot his mulberry tree (and bad habits) emphasises how much strength of faith, and prayer, we need to overcome the self-centredness of our basic instincts.
Jesus, the “human face of God’s mercy”, was aware of this when he taught us to pray with faith for God’s help in order to learn to “love one another” (Jn 13:34), “our neighbour” (Mk 10:21), and even “our enemy” (Lk 6:27).
Let us follow up the “tapestry threads” by praying, alone or with others, inviting them to pass on the invitation locally and overseas, for their country, continent and the world, saying the rosary and the St Francis prayer.
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