Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 5th March 2023

Yesterday, I had the great joy of meeting up with an old friend I hadn’t seen for 34 years. He lives in Lima, so was able to come down to Lurin. We spent the morning walking round the farm, reminiscing on the past and commenting on the present social and political chaos in Peru. After lunch, which we took together in one of the parlours, as guests don’t eat with the monks and don’t enter the monastic enclosure, Br Wilmer kindly took us to Pachacamac to visit our old monastery. It’s a bumpy ride and I was surprised to see so many new houses and other buildings nearby. I was amazed at the transformation of our farmland with a good production of organic fruit and vegetables. Here at Lurin, too, all our farm produce is organic. Last week, for example, the brethren harvested 3,000 kilos of muscatel grapes, that they will transform into altar wine. The buildings at Pachacamac are being used for retreats, while the farm produces food for consumption of monks and guests, as well as for sale. The monks also support a number of local charities, such as old people’s homes and an orphanage. I really admire the intelligent use of resources by the monastic community here despite the chronic state of the Peruvian economy.

Our Gospel reading on this Second Sunday in Lent is Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration, (Mt 17: 1-9). When Matthew tells us that, “Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone,” in fact, he is taking us with them to share in their experience. It is there, in our presence too, that he is transfigured. What do we see? “His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light.” Then Moses and Elijah appear, and they are talking with Jesus, who is the heir and fulfilment of both the Law and the Prophets, for all Scripture points to him. We might want to join Peter in proposing that three tents be erected, should it be the will of Jesus. “It is wonderful for us to be here,” we say with him, yet words cannot express how we feel. Even while we’re speaking, a cloud covers us in its shadow and we hear a voice proclaim. “This is my Son, the Beloved, who enjoys my favour. Listen to him.” It is the Father’s voice. We fall to our faces with fear, but Jesus comes up and touches us. “Do not be afraid,” he says, and when we look up, we see no one but only Jesus. That’s how it will always be from now on. We will see no one, but only Jesus in all those whom we meet and see. As we come down from the mountain, prepared for anything as long as Jesus is with us, he warns us, “Say nothing about this until I rise from the dead.” It’s a day and an experience we shall never forget.