Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 3rd November 2023

Today the Church keeps the feast of St Martin de Porres, who died on this day in Lima, Peru, in the year 1639, aged 59. He was canonised by Pope St John XXIII on 6th May 1962. The most loved of all Peruvian saints, it’s well worth reading a good biography of his life and his influence of many aspects of the Church’s life. His feast day brings back so many happy memories of my years in Peru, for which I am so grateful and which have deeply marked my soul. Please pray for our brothers in Peru and for the people of Peru today.

 

Our Gospel passage today comes from Luke, (Lk 14:1-6), and tells us of a Sabbath, when Jesus was invited to a meal at the house of one of the leading Pharisees and the discussion as Jesus healed a sick man. This is how Luke recounts the event: “Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. There in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees. ‘Is it against the law’ he asked ‘to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer.”

 

The religious authorities were already keeping a close watch on Jesus. For details on what dropsy might be, do look up the internet or a Bible Commentary. Suffice it to say, it was a serious condition. What is interesting here is that Jesus consults the lawyers and Pharisees before healing the man. “Is it against the law to heal someone on the Sabbath or not?” Why do they remain silent? Are they afraid that Jesus might get the better of them in any discussion on the matter? Had they heard him speak before on the matter and know in their hearts that he was right? Seeing their cowardly reaction, Jesus heals the man and sends him away. Then he challenges them in such a way that leaves them speechless: they have no reply. They know in their heart of hearts that what Jesus is doing is God’s will, that the Law only exists to extend God’s mercy and loving kindness towards his people who look to him for healing and forgiveness, for the gift of life.