Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 18th October 2022

 Today we keep the feast of the evangelist St Luke, author not only of the Gospel that bears his name but also of the Acts of the Apostles, the Good News that continues in the life of the disciples and apostles of Jesus. The Gospel passage designated for his feast is taken from his Gospel, (Lk 10: 1-9), and contains the instructions given by Jesus to a large group of over seventy disciples he sent out on their mission to prepare towns and villages for his coming. “The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit.” This number reminds us of the seventy helpers chosen by Moses in the Book of Exodus. Their task is to prepare their hearers for the coming of Jesus. The Word always prepares for the coming of the Sacrament.

 Having thus set the scene, Luke then shares the instructions given to the seventy-two in great detail. “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, ‘Peace to this house’ And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, ‘The kingdom of God is very near to you.’” Essentially, they are to trust in God and not worry about the difficulties to be encountered. They are being sent as sheep among wolves, God knows that and will protect them. Their greeting should always be one of peace and they should accept humbly whatever is offered them. Under no circumstances should they be demanding or greedy. God will provide for their needs. Above all, they are to assure people that the kingdom of God is very close to them, thus encouraging them in their faith. God has not forgotten them, but is already among them. The harvest might be rich and the labourers few, but the Lord has sent them to gather in the harvest and they should not lose heart, and neither should we!