Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 4th July 2023
Abbot Paul • July 3, 2023
A busy day yesterday with both Abbot’s Council and Trustees meetings to eat up half the day, so it meant missing my usual Monday morning zoom meeting with old school friends. Still, I was able to tick the ‘duty done’ box and, in truth, a lot was accomplished in a positive and amicable way, so no complaints.
Our Gospel passage today sees us with Jesus getting into a boat to accompany his disciples across the lake, although we are told by Matthew that he got in first and that they followed him, (Mt 8: 23-27). “Jesus got into the boat followed by his disciples. Without warning a storm broke over the lake, so violent that the waves were breaking right over the boat. But he was asleep. So they went to him and woke him saying, ‘Save us, Lord, we are going down!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again. The men were astounded and said, ‘Whatever kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him.’”
Just when they think that nothing is going to happen, “without warning” a routine crossing turns into a nightmare: so violent is the storm that huge waves are breaking over the boat. This might just be a lake, but strong winds can whip up a violent storm. Jesus is unaffected and sleeps tranquilly in spite of what’s going on around him. On the other hand, the disciples are scared stiff and wake him screaming, “Save us, Lord, we’re going down.” Why do they turn to Jesus at this stage of his ministry? Do they already believe that he has divine power, so as to calm storms and save lives? Even so, Jesus calls them, “men of little faith.” With that, he rebukes the wind and the sea, and all is calm again. Although they asked him to save them, the disciples are astounded and scratch their heads in wonder. They have witnessed a miracle and exclaim that, “even the winds and the sea obey him.” This episode is a call to prayer, that we pray more and see in Jesus the one who answers our prayers. Nothing should surprise us when we pray to Jesus.
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Good Shepherd, Good Priest “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed; I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” Those words, spoken by the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel, describe the heart of God, the Good Shepherd — but they also describe the life and ministry of a good monk and priest. They could well be written of Fr Stephen’s years of service as a pastor in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford, and Weobley. In each of those places, he shared in the Shepherd’s work: seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, strengthening the weary, and leading God’s people with quiet faithfulness. And like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came close to his people, Fr Stephen did not serve from a distance. He knew his people; he was among them. He shared their sorrows and their joys, their hopes and their disappointments. He bore their burdens with prayer and patience he brought the joy of the Gospel and the grace of the Sacraments. His mission amongst us is complete. He has served God’s good purpose. So today we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to take Stephen on his sacred shoulders and carry him home to the house of the Father. Bind up his wounds, give him eternal rest and lead him at last to the green pastures and still waters of eternal life.
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