Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 15th December

Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 15th December 2021

           It’s good to be able to give a brief update on Toby. We were worried at how slowly his operation incision was healing, but yesterday were assured by our vets that this was due to the position of the wound on his knee and the need to cut down, yet more for the time being, on his exercise pattern, slow down his usual trot to a slow walk and rest even more than he is already doing. And, of course, he must wear his Elizabethan collar at all times, other than when eating, drinking and walking. So, dear Toby, a little more patience and perseverance are called for. He’s not quite a perfect Benedictine yet, but neither am I.

           Our Gospel reading today takes us to Luke, (Lk 7: 19-23), in which John the Baptist sends two of his disciples to ascertain for sure if Jesus is the Messiah or not. They are to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or must we wait for someone else?” Let’s take up the story at that point. “When the men reached Jesus they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you, to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or have we to wait for someone else?”’ It was just then that he cured many people of diseases and afflictions and of evil spirits, and gave the gift of sight to many who were blind. Then he gave the messengers their answer, ‘Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the Good News is proclaimed to the poor and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.’” The one who is to come is always John’s way of speaking about the Messiah. It’s Old Testament language, where that title The One refers to God alone. John expects to see in Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, God made man, Emmanuel, God-with-us. Jesus is already performing many miracles, precisely those miracles associated with the Messiah in the writings of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus is able to point to these as proof of his messiahship. He has come to preach the Good News to the poor, bringing them hope of salvation and God’s eternal love. Those who keep faith will be blessed for God will be with them and they will never be alone or rejected again. Let us take these words of Jesus to heart as we progress through Advent and get closer to the great feast of Christmas. Christ is born for each one of us. Alleluia.