Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 9th March
Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 9th March 2022
It was deeply moving last night to see and hear the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, address a crowded House of Commons and the whole British nation with such poetic eloquence and fierce defiance. How can we and the whole world not continue to support him and his people and the integrity of the Ukraine against such brutal and unnecessary aggression, destruction and absolute negation of human rights and justice? A brave man who is leading a brave people in the most just of all causes. President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people are fighting not only for their own freedom and rights, but for those of the entire free world. My prayer is that their foes who are our foes will be vanquished. Nevertheless, we are all aware that in Russia the opposition to this war is growing, brave men and women are standing up and speaking out against it, including many Orthodox priests. When the time comes and justice is restored, may their heroic stand be recognised and rewarded. It is not the Russian people who are at war with Ukraine, but a gang of criminals, who have hijacked a beautiful people.
In today’s Gospel passage from Luke, (Lk 11: 29-32), Jesus speaks to the crowds about the wickedness of the times in which they live. He says:
“This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement Day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached, they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.”
What is it that Jesus is saying? We sense a certain frustration on the part of Jesus, who is aware of the curiosity but not of the faith of many who follow him. They keep asking for a sign, as though the miracles he is performing and his words of wisdom were not enough. Only the sign of Jonah will be given them, his death and resurrection. At the last Judgement, he says, both the Queen of Sheba, who witnessed the wisdom of Solomon, and Jonah, who preached at Nineveh and the great city repented, will stand up to accuse those now asking for signs, for Jesus is greater than both Solomon and Jonah.
We can ask ourselves whether the quality of our faith and the attitudes we hold toward Jesus and his Church will cause us to be judged unfavourably. While we have time to repent and find conversion, let us turn to the Lord, especially this Lent, for he is truly merciful, compassionate and just. Amen.
