Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 19th October 2022
Abbot Paul • October 18, 2022
It was a great joy to visit my mother yesterday and spend part of the day with her. The heavy morning mist didn’t go further than the Welsh border and Pontrilas. From there onwards it was hot sunshine all day long. In my mother’s garden, we basked in the sun after lunch at 22C. It was just like a fine summer’s day. I didn’t go down to the beach with Toby as there was a problem with the car, but we went up into the woods behind my mother’s house. It was cooler there.
In today’s Gospel passage from Luke, (Lk 12: 39-48), Jesus tells his disciples a short parable as a warning that they should be prepared for the Second Coming and Judgement. He says, “You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” I love the way Jesus often compares the Son of Man returning at the end of time with a common burglar breaking through the wall of a house. Only Jesus himself would dare do that. Peter is confused and wants to know who the parable is for, so he asks, “Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?”
Jesus then goes on to expand the parable, making much more of a story out of it. As he talks about stewards, servants and masters, it would appear that it’s specifically for his disciples, but as he doesn’t actually reply to Peter’s question, let’s say it applies to us all. We can pick out a few phrases to get the gist of what Jesus is trying to say to his disciples. “Blessed that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns.” In other words, if the disciple fulfils his duties faithfully on earth, he will enjoy even greater friendship with God in the life to come. It is a call to fidelity, duty and service, but all for the love of God. Jesus goes on to say, “When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.” What more have we been given on trust than the gift of life itself and that is what we will offer back to God on the day he calls us. Let us pray that we will all give to God on that day what he expects of us and even more. Our life is his; may his Name be blessed and glorified.
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