Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 2nd December 2023

Yesterday was a glorious day for driving home to spend the day with my mother. It was cold, but sunny and dry. The beach was truly glorious and, as the tide was out, eerily silent. Coming back in the dark, we were accompanied by a moon that was excessively large and red, a looming presence that could not but remind us of the end of the world, of which our apocalyptic readings have spoken a great deal these past few days. So it is that with a deep sense of thanksgiving in our hearts, we come to the end of another year. For Christians, today is New Year’s Eve, as tomorrow, the First Sunday in Advent, we begin a New Year that will lead us through Advent to Christmas and the Epiphany, through Lent to Easter and Pentecost, then that long and varied period that will eventually lead us back to Advent and the beginning of another New Year.

 

​Today, then, we end the year with a short Gospel passage from Luke (Lk 21: 34-36), where Jesus sums up his teaching on the Second Coming and Final Judgement. He is speaking with his disciples and begins with a warning. “Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth.” The advice is clear. They are to be watchful of themselves and take care not to give in to the many temptations on offer that would result in a hardening of heart. Likewise, if they succumb to worry and preoccupation, they will not be ready when the day of the Lord comes. It will be like falling into a trap they have set for themselves. What then is the alternative? “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.” Stay awake, and keep vigil. This is exactly what Advent is, a vigil for the coming of the Lord. And how are we to keep vigil, but by praying at all times, continuous prayer. This really means focussing on God and being aware of his presence in our lives, not simply saying prayers, and praying for strength to face what is to come. That will enable us to stand in confidence before the Son of Man when he appears. In fact, the salvation, that Jesus offers us, enables us to stand with confidence before God, the total eradication of fear. Lord, grant us grace this Advent to stay awake and pray at all times for the strength to stand with confidence before you, rejoicing in the knowledge that you have saved us and given us your kingdom. Amen.

 

​I remind all those who would like to begin Advent in prayer and song that this evening at 7.30 we have our Advent Carol Service at the Abbey, which will be sung by Academia Musica. Everyone is cordially invited.