Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 10th December 2023

I apologise for the missing day, but as you know, I was delayed 24 hours in Amsterdam due to icy fog and snow, and so spent Friday flying down to Lima, a comfortable flight, though I never fail to be amazed at Dutch food. On arrival, everything flowed rapidly and in no time I was in the car with Fr Alex, making for the monastery. There doesn’t appear to be a Lima stamp in my passport: I wonder why that is. I found the community happy and well and in good spirits, looking forward to the First Profession of Br Antonio on Tuesday. Friday was also Br Miguel’s 24th birthday, while yesterday, 9th December, was the anniversary of St Martin de Porras’ birth in Lima in 1579 and the feast of St Juan Diego, with whom Our Lady of Guadalupe spoke and on whose tilma or cloak she appeared and remains to this very day.

Today is the Second Sunday in Advent, when John the Baptist appears preaching a Gospel of penance and conversion and baptising in the waters of the River Jordan. Our Gospel passage is the opening paragraph of Mark, (Mk 1: 1-8), which opens like this, “The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” He then goes on to quote the prophet Isaiah, “Look, l am going to send my messenger before you; he will prepare your way. A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.” So it is that Mark declares John the Baptist to be that voice, knowing that Jesus himself is the Word. John also confesses and says, “Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” Lord, may we your brothers and sisters, in the spirit of John the Baptist, prepare your way in the world today, for you come to every heart which is open to you.