Abbey News

Sunday, January 13, 2008

BAPTISM OF THE LORD

The sources of water were made holy
when Christ appeared in glory.
O world, drink deep of the waters
flowing from the fountain of the Savior!
For on this day, Christ our God
made all things holy.

With this antiphon for today's 2nd Vespers we will bring the Christmas Season to a fitting end. Tomorrow, down will come the decorations and we will begin the 1st week of Ordinary Time, Year II. With Christ our God having made all things holy by his Incarnation all time thereafter seems anything but 'ordinary'. But in this, as in so much else, words prove inadequate.

Here we see Br. Peter stoking the fireplace located at the church's entrance.

Normally we use it on special feasts during the Christmas Season.

Mepkin Woes
Our brothers at Mepkin Abbey, South Carolina are being forced to close down their egg farm operation, their main industry and primary source of income. It seems that the folks at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have caused so much publicity for them that they can no longer continue the operation. The decision to close the operation is posted on Mepkin's web site.

Group Visits
From the very beginning of our foundation we have been able to welcome groups coming to visit the Abbey for a presentation on monastic life. In order to accommodate the growing number of groups wishing to visit we constructed Merton Hall, a meeting room with space for about 40 people, several years ago. As the number of groups wishing to visit increased the availability of brothers to meet with them decreased. Due to the increased work load within the community we have to begin limiting somewhat the number of groups we are able to accommodate and when we can do so. You'll find some guidelines for visiting groups on our Visit the Abbey page.

In the Gospel account of the baptism of Jesus, the mystery of death and Resurrection, sin and redemption, sin and forgiveness is prefigured: Jesus descends into the depths of the Jordan. Being submerged in the river is a symbolic representation of the process of death.

An old life is buried, so that a new one can rise. Because Jesus himself is without sin and has no old life to bury, his acceptance of baptism is an anticipation of the cross, whereby he begins to share in our lot and to take upon himself our sins and our death. At the moment when he comes up out of the river, the heavens part, and from them is heard the voice in which the Father acknowledges him as Son.

The opening of heaven is a sign that this descent into our night is the dawning of a new day, that the barrier between God and man is being broken down by this identification of the Son with us: God is no longer inaccessible; in the depths of our sins, and even of death, he searches for us and brings un into the light again. To this extent the baptism of Jesus anticipates the entire drama of his life and death and at the same time explains them to us.

Benedictus
Pope Benedict XVI