Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 25th November

Message from Fr Paul for Thursday, 25th November 2021

           I must apologise if today’s message is rather brief, but it was late last night when I began writing it. Yesterday was a particularly busy and tiring day without a moment’s respite from work and prayer. I wonder if this is really what St Benedict had in mind when he wrote his “little Rule for beginners” long, long ago. I doubt it somehow. It strikes me that when you’re excessively tired, you end up doing nothing well. Even poor Toby got short shrift after his initial early morning walk. Let’s hope that today will be more peaceful with an opportunity to recover lost energy.

           Our Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 21: 20-28), continues with yesterday’s theme of destruction, but goes further. Now it is not only the Temple but the city of Jerusalem as well and the surrounding countryside with its towns and villages. People will be scattered far and wide as when the first Jewish diaspora was formed at the time of the exile to Babylon. Things will go further still, much further. He tells his disciples, “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.” He speaks of the Second Coming, when the purpose and goal of Creation and not only of men and women will be revealed in the light of Christ’s return in glory, the fruit of his Resurrection. They are not to fear and we, too, are not to fear. “Stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.” We were created to be free and hold our heads up high in the sight of God and to be with God in his presence for ever. We were created for eternal life. Let us hold on to that hope this week as we come to the end of the Liturgical Year and prepare to enter into Advent and celebrate this joyful season with hope and thanksgiving. Amen.