Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 5th November 2023

Sunday tends to be a rather busy day for me with little chance of a moment’s rest. This has become even more the case since I took on the pastoral care of the parishes of Leominster and Bromyard two months’ ago. It also means driving in all weathers and trying to fit everything in, including my monastic duties with the brethren and caring for Toby, my faithful companion. In addition to the usual three celebrations of Mass and a few sick visits, tomorrow will also include an ecumenical remembrance service at Leominster Cemetery for the Polish soldiers buried there. It will, of course, be a great honour and privilege to take part and I commend our departed brethren to your loving intercession. We must never underestimate the Polish military contribution to the British war effort during the Second World War.

 

​In today’s Gospel (Mt 23: 1-12) Jesus openly criticises the scribes and Pharisees. This can only lead to trouble, but Jesus is not afraid. These are his words, “The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they!” The accusation is one of hypocrisy and of imposing exaggerated and unnecessary burdens on the backs of their followers. He also criticises them for their love of attention and adulation, the fact that they insist that people honour them and call them Rabbi (Teacher). He then goes on to warn his disciples, “You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ.” No one should put himself in God’s place, usurping his authority, but recognise that all we have, all we teach and all we are comes from God as his free gift. We have no right to be called by names that should be given to God alone.

 

However, we do use these words, but only in the sense that people represent a higher authority. Because I’m a priest, people usually call me father, but that’s only a courtesy title, so to speak. Everyone knows that God is really our Father and that I am no more than a servant. That fact leads us on to the final words of Jesus in today’s Gospel and these words apply to us all. “The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.” We must never pretend or presume to be more than what or who we are; we should rejoice that God has called us to work alongside him, whether as parents or priests, or in whatever position we have been called to serve and nurture his people. That very fact should be enough for us, to know that we are doing God’s work for his glory and not ours.