Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 3rd February
Message from Fr Paul for Thursday, 3rd February 2022
I apologise for the length of my recent messages. Today I’ll try to be brief for a change. As you know, in the monastery we all share the work to be done. One of those daily duties is to look after the refectory, keeping it clean and setting out the community meals, which we all take together, and then dealing with the washing up of plates, dishes, cutlery, serving dishes and serving area; setting out drinks, hot and cold, then washing cups, bowls and glasses. It all takes time and a fair chunk out of the usual daily routine. Yesterday was my duty day and so, by the time I started writing this message, it was already late. Fortunately, I only do this once every two weeks; others are not so lucky. I love serving the brethren, as St Benedict puts it, but some of us aren’t getting any younger and have other, often pressing duties, to perform. It takes some juggling. Dogs, of course, are exempt from such duties!
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Today’s Gospel takes us back to Mark, (Mk 6: 7-13), and the very first time that the apostles are sent out to preach and heal in the name of Jesus. Until now, they have accompanied him and seen what he has done. Now, they are sent out by Jesus to carry on this ministry. This is what happens:
“Jesus made a tour round the villages, teaching. Then he summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs giving them authority over the unclean spirits. And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, ‘Do not take a spare tunic.’ And he said to them, ‘If you enter a house anywhere, stay there until you leave the district. And if any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, as you walk away shake off the dust from under your feet as a sign to them.’ So they set off to preach repentance; and they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them.”
We note that at this stage only the Twelve are sent out and not singly, but in pairs for mutual support, correction and company. It’s also a safety precaution and an early form of safeguarding, you could say. Jesus gives them authority over unclean spirits, the power of healing. Apart from a staff, they are to take no luggage, at least that’s what we call it today: no food for the journey, no money, simple footwear but no spare clothing. They were to stay where hospitality was forthcoming and they were made welcome. We remember that who really took these injunctions to heart was St Francis of Assisi and his early followers. I did once know a Benedictine monk, not British, who had discerned that God’s will for him was to become a spiritual wanderer and beggar, following an ancient monastic tradition. He set out from his monastery, with the permission of his abbot, with nothing but a toothbrush in his pocket. I have often wondered whether I should write a book entitled ‘Saints I have known.’ Anyway, the apostles set out with Jesus’ blessing, doing his work, preaching repentance, casting out evil spirits, and healing, but here we notice something new: they anoint with oil, which soon became a custom throughout the early Church.
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Let us pray today, that we might all follow Jesus with greater simplicity and humility. I can’t help but feel that we need to take the complications out of the religious practice of our faith. Perhaps the Synod will help bring about a simpler, poorer and humbler Church for the salvation of the world.
