It is said that in the middle of the fifteenth century, when the Ottoman Empire was capturing Constantinople, the Church’s leaders and theologians were discussing the question, “Are angels sexual beings?” Later on, if church leaders are seen discussing trivial matters when there are around us serious problems going on in the world, such attitudes are ridiculed by the phrase: “They were discussing how many angels can dance on a pinhead at once?”

We read: “It is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness,’ and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’” (1 Cor. 3:20)

Ever seen children building sandcastles on the sea shore? By the time they have almost built it, a big wave washes it away. Just when you think everything is fine, a Covid pandemic or a digital media storm comes along!

Three days ago (on Thursday), seminarians, their formators and bishops from several dioceses of Spain, had come to the Vatican to meet the Pope. The Pope told those who had come from Spain, where floods had killed 230 people three months earlier, to bind the broken hearted and "be shaped by the pain of the people".

The Pope then added: "Our hope has a name - Jesus - a God who is not disgusted by our clay, who, instead of saving us from the clay, became the clay for us!"