Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 7th March
Message from Fr Paul for Monday, 7th March 2022
It was refreshing and a welcome change, yesterday afternoon, to go out into the countryside with Toby and a monk companion to visit the lovely churches of Vowchurch and Turnastone, two of my favourites. This was Toby’s first trip out since his injury in mid-November. You could see the joy in his eyes once he realised that we weren’t going to the vet’s but out for a ride. He knew that at the end of the short journey there would be a graveyard and church with fascinating smells and a return to normality. In fact, we had an extra treat in store for him, for after visiting St Bartholomew’s at Vowchurch, we left the car there and walked the quarter of a mile to St Mary Magdalene’s at Turnastone: another graveyard and other delightful church. In one we sang the Ave Regina Caelorum and in the other the Pater Noster, a tradition he’s become accustomed to. It was a joy to see the Spring flowers: snowdrops on their last legs, primroses, crocuses, purple and white violets and the first celandines. May I recommend the superb jams, marmalades, jellies and chutneys for sale at St Bartholomew’s, all for the upkeep of that wonderful church?
In today’s Gospel from Matthew, (Mt 25: 31-46), Jesus talks with his disciples about the Last Judgement. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.” So far so good, exactly what you’d expect, but then Jesus, in the most transparent of all parables, informs his disciples of how God will judge each one of us, as though he were giving them the questions of their final examination paper in advance, which he is. We’ll just look at what he says to those at his right hand, the other half being the exact opposite. “Then the King will say to those on his right hand, ‘Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.’ Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?’ And the King will answer, ’I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.’” Who are these who are blessed from all eternity and receive the kingdom prepared or them? They are simply those who were charitable and generous to those less fortunate than themselves and in need, for God was in them. There is no other examination and no other proof that we love God and have given our lives to him. This is much less than we were expecting, but then it is only a person with a sincere heart and pure intentions who loves his neighbour, even his enemies, with unconditional love. St John proclaims that God is love. We, too, as sons and daughters of God, must become, like him, pure love, then we shall enter the kingdom of heaven. These are the virtuous who will enter eternal life. We are encouraged to pray: Lord, purify my heart and soul, make me pure love, as you are perfect love. That is our common vocation, to become perfect love.
