Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 5th October 2023

I write once again from Greece, from the ancient, heroic city of Thessaloniki, where I am spending a week with old friends and enjoying abundant rest, peace and quiet. After a good night’s sleep, Mass and a long breakfast, we decided to go out and visit one of the many local war cemeteries. We drove over to Zeitenlik, the largest military war cemetery in Greece, a vast complex and final resting place of 20,000 or more allied soldiers, Greek, Serbian, French, Italian, British and Russian. Among the 2,000 Brits, there are men from the Empire: the Indian subcontinent, Australia and New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. There’s a separate Indian war cemetery not far from Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, but you need to obtain the key to gain entry. Our visit gave rise to a long discussion on war and the futility of war, then to fervent prayers for all who gave their lives or lost their lives in every war since time began and are still losing their lives now as wars continue.

Today the Church remembers St Faustina, the Polish nun, whose devotion to Our Lord’s Divine Mercy has spread throughout the world, bringing many to salvation in Christ. She died in 1938 at the age of 33. She was the first saint canonised in the Third Millennium.

Our Gospel today comes from Luke, (Lk 10: 1-12), and recounts the sending out of the seventy-two others, disciples and followers of Jesus, on the mission to go ahead of Jesus to prepare the way for his coming. He began by telling them, “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.” He gives them strict instructions as to how they should behave and conduct their activities. Essentially, their task is the preach the Good News that, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.” Wherever Jesus is, there is the kingdom. Wherever Jesus is, there is salvation. As we welcome Jesus into our lives each day, let us also pray for vocations and encourage any we might see.