Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 4th June

Abbot Paul • June 3, 2021

Message from Fr Paul for Friday, 4th June 2021

It was good to visit my mother again yesterday. The weather was perfect and there was little traffic both going and coming back. The weather was just right, not too warm, to go out for a long walk with Toby after a wonderful lunch. My mother seems to have taken on a new lease of life since the easing of lockdown in Wales, making two visits to the dentist and one to the hairdresser. She would want me to point out that, at 94, she has her own teeth and only two fillings! She’s pleased that I’m following in her footsteps. Instead of the beach, we met an old school friend in the village of Cwmafan and took a long walk up the valley on the Afan Trail to Pontrhydyfen, the small village now famous as the birthplace of Richard Burton. At strategic places on along the way, you can stop and listen to recordings of Burton reciting the poetry of Dylan Thomas. The River Afan is the fastest flowing river in Wales and is now crystal clear, a delight to the eyes. Needless to say, with so many new sights and smells, Toby was delighted with this change of venue.

Today’s Gospel passage is very short, just 3 verses, (Mk 12: 35-37), and is somewhat enigmatic and not easy to understand at first sight. Jesus has been in the Temple preaching and the religious leaders, the chief priests, the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, have all had a go at him, trying to bring him down and break down his spirit. They have also been trying to turn his followers against him. It is now Jesus’ turn to ask a question of them, a question that goes unanswered other than the reaction of the crowds: “the great majority of the people heard this with delight.”

Here is the passage in full: “At that time while teaching in the Temple, Jesus said, ‘How can the scribes maintain that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, moved by the Holy Spirit, said: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand and I will put your enemies under your feet. David himself calls him Lord, in what way then can he be his son?’ And the great majority of the people heard this with delight.”

It’s a tricky question that Jesus puts to them. Jesus asks why Israel's theologians constantly speak of the Messiah as the son of David. Their constant reference to the Messiah as a descendant of David implies that David has precedence over the Messiah, as if the Messiah's authority is equal to, or even less than David’s. To show clearly that they are wrong, Jesus quotes the first verse of Psalm 109/110. Here David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, speaks of the Messiah as his Lord, the one who has authority over him. David describes the Lord as God, addressing the Messiah as his Lord. So, the Lord, the Messiah, may be a descendant of David, but he is something more than just a descendant. In the end he sits, not at the right hand of David, but at the right hand of God, where he will bring everything under his subjection. David's Lord, then, is equal to God the Father.

To return to the crowds, they heard this with delight. Lord, may I, like them, listen to you in this way, relish your goodness and insight, and nourish myself daily on your words. To you be glory for ever. Amen.

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