Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 12th December 2022

I’m not sure how things were where you live, but yesterday here in Connemara everything came to a standstill because of the subzero temperatures and the icy roads. So I spent most of the day like a hermit, apart from the middle of the day. I said Mass for the nuns in their house chapel, had lunch with them, then met with a sick sister, gave a retreat conference, then heard half a dozen confessions and had a meeting with another sister. Then I came back to my hermitage and fell asleep in an armchair. Then I wrote this short message, exchanged a few emails, rang my mother and made a spot of supper. The warmest place is bed, so I’m planning an early night. I did feed my robin friends, who were joined by pied wagtails, song thrushes and a rook.

In tomorrow’s Gospel passage from Matthew, (Mt 21: 23-27), we find Jesus preaching in the Temple and the chief priests and elders of the people demanding what authority he has to do this. In return, Jesus sets them a question, and one they do not expect. “John’s baptism: where did it come from: heaven or man?” They realise the question is a trap, for if they say it came from God, then people will ask why they rejected John, but if they say it was simply something human, the crowds will object for they believe John to have been a prophet. As a result they reply, “We do not know,” which leaves Jesus free to say, “Nor will I tell you my authority for acting like this.” Jesus comes as one who has authority from God, for the authority is his own, he is the Son of God, God incarnate. Let us accept that authority joyfully and listen carefully to what Jesus has to say.