Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 15th May 2023
Abbot Paul • May 14, 2023
Today, in the monastic calendar and in the Orthodox Church, we keep the feast of St Pachomius (292-348), the Egyptian monk, who is the founder of Christian coenobitic monasticism. Born to pagan parents, he was conscripted against his will into the Roman army, where he came into contact with Christians. This led to his conversion and baptism in 314. Meeting up with hermits and ascetics and longing to follow their example, he also saw the need to organise monastic life in such a way as to help the large number of candidates fleeing to the Egyptian desert in search for a truly committed Christian way of life. He founded monasteries with a well-structured life and wrote a Rule for monks that would influence all subsequent monastic founders and legislators, such as St Basil and St Benedict. There is neither time nor space to write more here, but do look him up and read about him. You will find it a useful, interesting and entertaining exercise.
Our Gospel passage today comes from John, (Jn 15: 26 – 16: 4), where Jesus speaks with his disciples on the coming of the Holy Spirit, whom he calls the Paraclete or Advocate.
“When the Advocate comes,
whom I shall send to you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father,
he will be my witness.
And you too will be witnesses,
because you have been with me from the outset.”
The Spirit, like the Son, issues from the Father, yet is sent by the Son, and is sent to be a witness to the Son, just as they too are witnesses, since they have known him from the beginning of his ministry. The Father, however, has known the Son from all eternity and so is a witness in a very different way from the disciples. Jesus then goes on to warn them of what lies ahead.
“I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken.
They will expel you from the synagogues,
and indeed the hour is coming
when anyone who kills you
will think he is doing a holy duty for God.
They will do these things
because they have never known
either the Father or myself.
But I have told you all this,
so that when the time for it comes
you may remember that I told you.”
Here Jesus speaks of future persecution, even of death, for their fidelity to him and the truth that will be confirmed in them by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus does not promise to protect or save them from persecution. He simply wants to warn them that this will happen. The Spirit will give them strength to withstand and overcome all forms of persecution and in so doing they will conform to Christ in every way.
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