Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 18th November

Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 17th November 2021

           I hope you will forgive me if I am somewhat brief today, but yesterday was a particularly difficult one for me what with the arthritis in my hands. I found it almost impossible to type with my left hand and I kept hitting the wrong keys. I thank the kind reader who gave me some invaluable, practical advice the other day. Both readings are long today, that from Maccabees and the passage from Luke’s Gospel, (Lk 19: 11-28), which contains the Parable of the Ten Minas or Ten Pounds, which is similar to that of the Ten Talents found in Matthew, (Mt 25: 14-30). That in Matthew has always struck me as being more straightforward and less confusing and complicated than that in Luke. Although similar, many scholars believe them to be two quite different parables, but such technicalities don’t matter to us in these simple, practical daily messages. Essentially, we must remember that, as stories, the parables often don’t add up or make much sense and that they are obviously exaggerated to impress and cause us to think.

           Stripped down to its essentials, what is this parable asking of us? How does it lead us into crisis, i.e. make us think more deeply and encourage us to change for the better? Do I want Jesus Christ as my Lord and King? Even if I say that I do, what am I prepared to show him that this is the case? Would I risk everything for him? This is a parable about risk, the risk of faith, trust and belief. Ten servants were given money to invest, yet we are only told about three of them, the first two rewarded because they took the risk, the third rejected because he did not. Having received the precious gifts of life, faith, forgiveness, reconciliation with God and with my fellow travelling companions in this world, and finally the grace of the Holy Spirit that has conformed me to Christ, what effect have I allowed all God’s precious gifts to have on me. Have I actually taken the risk of stepping out in faith and living by faith? Or am I scared of God and hidden it all away like the man who was given the one pound? None of this is meant to scare or frighten us into living the Christian life, but there are serious questions we need to ask ourselves, when preparing for Confession or when making our regular examination of conscience. The scriptures are here to help us and God’s word always shows us the way and leads us into the light.