Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 14th July

Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 14th July 2021

           Although on Monday evening the government announced an end to lockdown restrictions from July 19th, nevertheless we were advised to use our common sense as circumstances demand. However, as regards the conduct of worship in our churches and the use of other church buildings, the bishops will be giving us detailed instruction and advice towards the end of the week. I should imagine that that the Catholic Church, in line with other Churches and Faiths in England, will take a more cautious view and implement a gradual opening up in the way we use our buildings in general and gather for worship in particular. In all this we must exercise prudence, patience and, above all, common sense. Things are not likely to change dramatically overnight!

           Our Gospel reading from Matthew, (Mt 11: 25-27), is short but of a piece. As you can see, it forms part of that block of sayings of Jesus that began in Chapter 10.

“Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’” It’s a prayer of Jesus addressed to his heavenly Father, but which was probably meant to be heard by his disciples as well. Hence, they are able to repeat it word for word. As with all his prayers, he probably said this one on many occasions. After blessing the Father, he thanks him for revealing the meaning of his teaching, the mysteries of the kingdom, to “mere children.” This is how he compares his disciples to the scribes and Pharisees. We remember St Gregory the Great’s description of St Benedict as being “learnedly ignorant and wisely uninstructed.” Jesus then goes on to speak of his intimate relationship with the Father, who has entrusted all things to him, and the task he has been given of revealing the Father to those whom he, as Son of God, chooses, as no one knows the Father except the Son. This is precisely what Jesus has come among us to do, to reveal in his person the face of God and the love of God. A fundamental aspect of that love is his mercy and his desire to bestow on us in Christ the grace of the Holy Spirit. In this little prayer we can find a great deal for our spiritual benefit and for the strengthening of our faith.