Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 25th August

Message from Fr Paul for Thursday, 25th August 2022

 On Saturday we will conclude our reading of Matthew’s Gospel on weekdays for this year. On Monday we move on to Luke. In today’s passage, (Mt 24: 42-51), Jesus warns his disciples to be prepared for his return in glory to judge the living and the dead and to recapitulate all things in himself. He says, “Stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” I’ve always read this and similar passages in a very personal way. Whilst in no way doubting the Second Coming of Our Lord, the Son of Man, at the end of time, I am very much aware that my own death is probably far more imminent than Christ’s return in glory. Hence, Jesus’ warning is very much for me, here and now. I must stay awake, for I do not know when the master, like a thief in the night, is coming to call me. It is I who must stand ready, for Jesus is coming at an hour that I do not expect.

 When Jesus talks figuratively of masters and servants, it’s meant to be an example that ordinary people in his day would understand. We must never forget that at the Last Supper, according to John, Jesus called his disciples friends rather than servants, as he revealed to them all that was in his mind and all that was going to happen as regards his Passion, Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, God is the creator and we are his creatures and he expects us to be faithful and wise in all we do in this life, so as to be suitably rewarded in the life to come. But, of course, we act with justice not for any heavenly reward but because we love him as he loves us and has shown us the depths of his love in Christ Jesus, Our Lord and Master. Jesus says, “Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment.” What is that employment if not the keeping of God’s commandments and the following of Jesus’ example, loving and forgiving others as he has loved and forgiven us?