Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 30th October 2023

How did things go for you yesterday? Did you remember to turn the clocks back on Saturday night? Toby was somewhat confused, at least first thing, as he always sticks meticulously to his daily routine. By the end of the day, he’d got the hang of things. I’ll attach a photograph of the scene that greeted us when I opened the front door just before 6am. I’ll also attach two photographs of stained-glass windows at St Ethelbert’s, Leominster, taken from outside around 5pm, the Annunciation and Blessed Roger Cadwallador.

 

​Jesus faced a lot of opposition to his teaching, even so, he was still invited to teach in synagogues wherever he went, as he was renowned for his preaching and would always attract a large crowd to hear what he had to say. Even if the Jewish authorities didn’t agree with what he said, nevertheless they were still keen to hear him speak, if only to disagree with him. He usually got the better of them, which drove them wild and determined to capture and imprison him. Luke relates such an episode in today’s Gospel, (Lk 13: 10-17). “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.” You would think that the official would have been delighted to have such a miracle take place in his synagogue, but no such thing. Not even doctors were allowed to work on the Sabbath. Healing was forbidden according to their strict interpretation of the Law. But would a loving and merciful God allow one of his creatures to continue suffering on the Sabbath when an opportunity came along for healing? Clearly, Jesus does not share the views of the synagogue official.

 

​“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.’ But the Lord answered 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.” We note the odd reaction of the official. Instead of criticising Jesus, he gives his congregation a ticking off. It is they who should not seek to be healed on the Sabbath, but the woman had not asked to be healed, it was Jesus who called her forward and healed her. However, it is Jesus who answers the official by giving the example of an ox or a donkey that needs to be untied and led to the waterhole on the Sabbath. How come that is allowed but not the healing of a sick woman bound by her illness. The official, like the scribes and Pharisees, is put in his place, confused and without an answer, all this to the joy of the people, elated, in fact, at the miracles of Jesus. Think carefully of what this story might mean for us today and for the Church. Are we too much like that synagogue official? In what ways does Jesus want us and his Church to change, to become more like him in manifesting the loving kindness of God? 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.