







It’s hard to believe that we are already in the second quarter of 2022 and April Fool’s Day, a custom that appears to be almost worldwide and goes back to the Middle Ages. It’s good to have a bit of innocent fun once in a while, even in Lent! You will be overjoyed, as I am, with the good news that Toby has now been signed off by his veterinary surgeon. He has recovered well from his operations and is now free to return, provided he doesn’t overdo things, to his usual routine of walks, exercise, games and outings. So, on Monday, he will be moving back into the monastery to share my accommodation, which will include going up and down the staircases six or more times a day. He was awarded a certificate of bravery for the way in which he faced surgery and convalescence and photographs were taken of him for the Surgery Facebook page. We are deeply grateful to the surgeons, nurses and staff at the Belmont Veterinary Surgery for the care and affection shown to Toby over the last five months. The Lord has been good to us; may his Name be blessed.
Our Gospel reading from John, (Jn 7: 1-2; 10; 25-30), finds Jesus returning to Jerusalem from Galilee for the feast of Tabernacles, also known as the feast of Booths or Sukkoth. It was instituted by Moses to commemorate the fact that the Israelites lived in tents during the Exodus. It was one of three pilgrimage feasts when the Jews tried to visit Jerusalem. Jesus was no exception, although he was aware by now that the authorities were out to kill him, hence the need to go privately, without drawing attention to himself. Nevertheless, he was noticed and people commented. “Isn’t this the man they want to kill? And here he is, speaking freely, and they have nothing to say to him! Can it be true the authorities have made up their minds that he is the Christ? Yet we all know where he comes from, but when the Christ appears no one will know where he comes from.” There appears to be the usual confusion of news and false news, the crowds not really knowing what to make of the situation and the attitude of the authorities, who allow him to go about and speak freely. He is even allowed to teach in the Temple. Jesus responds to the comment that they know where he comes from, meaning Nazareth in Galilee, the last place in Israel that the Christ should come from.
“Then, as Jesus taught in the Temple, he cried out:
‘Yes, you know me
and you know where I came from.
Yet I have not come of myself:
no, there is one who sent me
and I really come from him,
and you do not know him,
but I know him because I have come from him
and it was he who sent me.’
They would have arrested him then, but because his time had not yet come no one laid a hand on him.” Jesus knows, but they do not, that his coming goes beyond the town where he was brought up to the heart of the Trinity, to the very depths of the mystery of God. He has been sent by the Father: he comes as God, not only as man, for he is true God and true man, both Creator and Redeemer. These readings are really preparing us now for Passiontide that begins this Sunday, so let us rejoice that Jesus has come into our world and into our lives to save us and reconcile us in himself with God. To Him be praise and glory in and through our lives. Amen.
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