Celebrating the feast of St Benedict

 

Today's readings bring us an important teaching about how God works in our lives and about our relationship with others. In the Genesis reading from Chapter 46, God tells elderly Jacob not to be afraid to go down to Egypt because he will go with him to protect. Jacob does go to Egypt with his whole family and he is well protected because Joseph comes out in his chariot to meet his father and escort him into Egypt. God protected Jacob through the people he sent to look after him. In Brasil, I was a prison chaplain for many years. One day the mother of a prisoner asked a Brasilian priest for money to pay for a lawyer to get her son released. Antonio told her that he was unable to help so she decided to get revenge on me because she knew that I was Antonio's close friend. We often took parcels into the prisoners so she gave me one which contained brandy and marijuana. She then told the prison officer to search me. He did so and I was put in jail. I wasn't worried about being with the prisoners whom I knew well and trusted that God would look after me. He did by getting a lawyer to talk to the judge and I was released. Just as God works through others to help us when we are in need, so he is calling on us to bring his care and compassion to others when they have difficulties. Today is the feast of St. Benedict who lived in Italy from 480 to 547. He is considered to be the father of western monasticism and is the patron of Europe. Many people wear his medal as a sign of their trust in God's protection through the intercession of the saint. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. As you have consoled me through the presence of my friends, may I seek to console others in your name. Amen.

 

Don Hornsey