Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 18th December 2023

As I write this message on Sunday evening before supper, we have just spent an hour in church for Solemn Vespers and Adoration. Everything is celebrated as beautifully as can be and the brethren take great care of every detail. The altar linen, for example, is always spotlessly clean and perfectly ironed and changed everyday, and there is no outside help. Everything is done by the monks. Another example is the meticulous way in which they pack and prepare their panettone’s and other products for delivery. Amazon could learn a lesson from our Peruvian monks. Just before Vespers, I checked in with Air France on my iPad and already have my boarding passes ready for this evening. I hope to arrive back at Belmont late in Tuesday night just in time for the Christmas rush.

Our Gospel today is Matthew’s account of the Annunciation to Joseph, (Mt 1: 18-24), such a beautiful and well known passage. Matthew tells us that, “This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” It can’t have been easy for the couple. They had not lived together and yet Mary was already expecting a child. Did anyone believe her story of the Annunciation and Incarnation? Were there any witnesses? Joseph appears to be unaware of the facts and has made up his mind to divorce her informally in order to “spare her publicity.” But at that very moment the angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream, explaining exactly what has happened and telling him what God wants him to do. Joseph is the epitome of charity and obedience.

The angel tells Joseph, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.” Joseph, then, is to be the protector of Mary and Jesus. Into his care are given God made Man and his mother. In many ways, given the precariousness of human existence, God’s plan of salvation is laid on Joseph’s shoulders, just as one day Jesus will carry the cross. Matthew comments that all this took place to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah, “The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means God-is-with-us.” When Joseph wakes up, he immediately does what the angel asked of him in his dream. Lord, grant us the obedience and the wisdom of Joseph.