Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 20th May 2023

It’s hard to believe that we’re already two thirds of the way through the month of May. It’s that time of year when we keep in our prayers children and young adults who are facing examinations in schools, colleges and universities. May the good Lord send them the Holy Spirit to help them give of their best and may Our Lady hold them in her arms. Today in Herefordshire we keep the feast of St Ethelbert, King and Martyr, patron saint of the cathedral, city and county. He was brutally murdered on this day in the year 794, a pious youth and still a virgin, as he came to claim the hand of King Offa’s daughter, Eadburh, in marriage. The murder was arranged by Offa’s wife, Cynethrith, whereupon Eadburh escaped for Crowland in the Lincolnshire marches, where she lived as an anchoress for 40 years and died in the year 835. May St Ethelbert pray for us all today and especially for the people of Herefordshire.

 

​The Gospel passage for today continues our reading of John, (Jn 16: 23-28). We notice how in this short passage Jesus uses the term “the Father” to speak of God no less than six times. He begins by promising his disciples that whatever they ask in prayer in his name will be granted them.

​​“I tell you most solemnly,

anything you ask for from the Father he will grant in my name.

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.

Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete.”

Until now they have not prayed in the name of Jesus, but now Jesus encourages them to do so, telling them that whatever they ask in his name will be granted them by his Father in heaven. He also promises no longer to speak with them in metaphors, but plainly, so that they can understand. Prayer, however, must be accompanied by love and faith, the prayer itself being the expression of hope.

“When that day comes you will ask in my name;

and I do not say that I shall pray to the Father for you,

because the Father himself loves you for loving me

and believing that I came from God.”

Our prayers will be granted by the Father, who loves us for loving his Christ, believing as we do that he comes from God as Saviour and Redeemer. The time has now come when Jesus will leave his disciples to return to the Father.

“I came from the Father and have come into the world

and now I leave the world to go to the Father.”

Although Jesus leaves this world, he will return in the power of the Spirit to be with us for ever. Then our joy will be complete.