Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 11th May 2023

We all look forward to the May Procession each year and last night’s was one to remember, as the great number of pilgrims snaked their way around the monastery gardens praying the Rosary and singing beautiful, traditional hymns to Our Lady. I’ll attach a few photographs I took myself, but no doubt far better ones will appear online in the next few days. Archbishop Mark spoke movingly of Our Lady’s involvement in his own priestly vocation and of how she shows us the way to respond lovingly to God’s will for us, which applies to all Christians at every stage and every day of their lives.

 

​Our short Gospel reading today comes from John, (Jn 15: 9-11), and is the continuation of the Parable of the True Vine. The words might be few, but they are of the deepest significance.

“As the Father has loved me,

so I have loved you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments

you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father’s commandments

and remain in his love.

I have told you this

so that my own joy may be in you

and your joy be complete.”

In and through Christ we receive the Father’s love and Jesus longs for us to abide in the Father’s love. This we will do if we keep his commandments, just as Jesus has done his Father’s will and so abides for ever in his love. God’s love is eternal as God is eternal. Christ shares his words with us, so that his joy might be with us and so our joy be complete. What greater joy can there be than that of knowing that God’s love fills our hearts?