Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday - 18th May 2024

​So, we come to the Vigil of Pentecost and wait longingly for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. That has been our constant prayer, not only since Ascension Day, but throughout Eastertide and the day we celebrated the Lord’s Resurrection. We long to be renewed by the presence of the Spirit in our hearts and yearn to be reconsecrated as temples of the Holy Spirit. It’s important for us to realise that this is exactly what our heavenly Father wants too and for that he sent his only begotten Son into the world to redeem the world. As Jesus said to Nicodemus, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through him it might be saved.” (John 3:17) It’s good to know that God is on our side and that he loves us with an infinite and unconditional love. I always think of the words addressed by Juliet to Romeo, “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.”

 

​This morning’s Gospel passage follows on from yesterday’s conversation between Jesus and Simon Peter and is the conclusion of John (Jn 21: 20-25). To begin with, there is the question of the unnamed disciple, often referred to as the Beloved Disciple and probably John himself. He must have been the youngest of the Twelve. “Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them – the one who had leaned on his breast at the supper and had said to him, ‘Lord, who is it that will betray you?’ Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to stay behind until I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me.’ The rumour then went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus had not said to Peter, ‘He will not die’, but, ‘If I want him to stay behind until I come.’” Jesus teaches Peter the lesson that he must not be concerned about the end of a fellow apostle, rather he must obey the word of Jesus to follow him. He must focus on what is essential. All that really matters is that Peter should follow Jesus faithfully. The apostles haven’t been called either to compete with each other or to be envious or jealous of one another. What is important is what follows. We are told that, “This disciple is the one who vouches for these things and has written them down, and we know that his testimony is true.” The beloved disciple is the source and witness of what is written in this book and “his testimony is true.”

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​Finally come the concluding words of John. “There were many other things that Jesus did; if all were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not hold all the books that would have to be written.” This book only contains a rough sketch, as it were, an outline with a few examples of the life and ministry of Jesus, his teaching and miracles. Not even the whole world would be large enough to contain the books that would need to be written to tell it all. And there we have it. The Gospel continues to be written today in our own lives and our friendship with Jesus and our common discipleship. As we come to the end of each day, it’s a good idea to look back over the day and read the pages that have been written about Jesus Christ and his relationship with each one of us. And remember, the last page will only come to be written on the Last Day.