Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 24th October 2022
Abbot Paul • October 23, 2022
I apologise for the brevity of yesterday’s message, but as we all know, there are occasions when we run out of time and have to admit to ourselves that we can do no more. On Saturday night our Parish Quiz Night was a great success, immensely enjoyed by everyone, including the monks who were present. Likewise, the supper was of exceptional quality and appreciated by all. I must thank all those who worked so hard to make the evening an enormous success. God reward you!
Today’s Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 13: 10-17), tells us graphically what happened in a synagogue on the Sabbath day. “One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.” Although we rejoice to hear of this miracle and to see the poor woman, who had been severely crippled for 18 years, suddenly healed at the hands of Jesus, not everyone was happy with what Jesus did, for a miracle involved work that was forbidden on the Sabbath day. Jesus laid hands on her and she was healed. Although she glorified God, the synagogue official was angry and came forward to reprimand Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. “But the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he addressed the people present. ‘There are six days’ he said ‘when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the sabbath.’”
Having heard what the synagogue official has to say, Jesus can see through the man. How come we are not allowed to heal on the Sabbath and yet we are allowed to do a certain amount of farm or domestic work? Jesus says to the synagogue official and to those who agree with him, “‘Hypocrites!’ he said ‘Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked.” Jesus easily sees through their hypocrisy and tells them so in no uncertain terms. An ox and a donkey can be untied on the Sabbath and taken out for water, yet on the same day it’s forbidden to untie a poor woman who has been chronically ill for years from the bonds of her suffering? What sense can there possibly be in that? Whilst his adversaries are covered with confusion, ordinary folk rejoice and are overjoyed not only for the miracle he wrought, but also for the authentic message that Jesus brings them from God their loving Father. The message is clear: we are always allowed to do good, even if at times it might contradict custom and tradition. Goodness will always win the battle against suffering and evil.
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