Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 22nd May
Abbot Paul • May 22, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 22nd May 2022
Yesterday was a busy day, to say the least, but, although it was a beautifully sunny day here in Herefordshire, there was no opportunity to go out and take a walk after Toby’s 9am slot. Fortunately, another monk kindly went out with hm a few times. It was good to go with him again in the cool of the evening on his last walk of the day. His capacity for exercise and sleep never ceases to amaze me. There’s a lot to be said for a dog’s life!
During Eastertide we read from John’s Gospel every day, other than for the feasts and solemnities of saints. I wish the lectionary didn’t jump backwards and forwards from Sundays to weekdays. Having read chapter 15 last week, we return to chapter 14 today, (Jn 14: 23-29), a reading we discussed recently. I’ll try not to repeat myself, though it will be difficult. Jesus loves challenging his disciples and, when he does that, he is challenging us as well. In fact, if the Gospel does not cause us to have a crisis of faith, then we are reading it superficially and not as the word of God, which always confronts our half-heartedness and lukewarm, lethargic faith. Please don’t think I’m pointing my finger at you, I am simply pointing it at myself. Just reflect on such a saying of Jesus as, “Those who do not love me, do not keep my words.” Now, these come after he has said, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him.” I often think that what Jesus is offering us and the Father is willing to give us is too much for our minds to grasp. Realising that another human loves us is difficult enough to accept and understand, but to be told by Jesus that he and the Father want to make their home in us and abide in us, is just too much to take on board, yet there it is in black and white on the page of the Gospel and they are the words of Jesus, given him by the Father.
Then Jesus promises his disciples the Paraclete, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to strengthen our faith and give us understanding and with that understanding the grace to do what God asks of us. We have all received the Holy Spirit, and in each Sacrament, which the Spirit makes possible, together with Christ we receive the Spirit. How could the Father and the Son abide in us if not through the Spirit? Together with the Spirit, we are given the gift of Christ’s peace:
“Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
This is the peace that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and souls, thus transforming our whole life. If God abides in us, then why should our hearts be troubled or afraid? Lord, help us to believe your word and trust in you. Renew our lives through the gift of your Spirit. Amen.
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