Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 10th December

Bishop Mark marked the 21st anniversary of his consecration as a bishop this week.

Message from Fr Paul for Friday, 10th December 2021

           As we progress on our Advent journey, I can report that Toby continues to make progress on the road to recovery. Although his walks are few and very short in comparison with his former timetable, he is beginning to enjoy them at bit more. He has also taken to standing in the doorway of his living quarters, watching the world go by and breathing in the fresh air. His appetite has now returned, but his two meals lighter than before. The problem of medication has now been solved by the vet, who suggested we wrap his antibiotics and pain killers in butter, an excellent piece of advice! This evening he returns to see the vet for a check-up.

           Today we carry on reading where we left of yesterday in Matthew 11, (Mt 11: 16-19), where Jesus is speaking with the crowds about their reaction to John the Baptist and to himself. Let’s hear what he has to say.

“What description can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place:

‘We played the pipes for you,

and you wouldn’t dance;

we sang dirges,

and you wouldn’t be mourners.’

For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He is possessed.’ The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ Yet wisdom has been proved right by her actions.”

Although he speaks of “this generation”, his own in Palestine, nevertheless Jesus’ words apply to all times and places, our own included. Perhaps we are that generation. People tend to be fickle, restless and indecisive. They can never be satisfied, for they are always looking for something new and the illusion of satisfaction. They can be like children playing games in the street or town square - not that they do that sort of thing in this country anymore, but we did when we were children and were free to roam and have fun. Happy, carefree days they were! John was criticised for his austere lifestyle, Jesus for his more relaxed attitude towards those who needed him, especially sinners of all kinds. And yet, if they rejected John and are now rejecting Jesus, who do they want and what sort of new life are they seeking? Why search for a Messiah and a Saviour, if they don’t really want one? Nevertheless, Jesus, by doing the actions he does, shows himself to be the Wisdom of God.