As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew.
The scene is Capernaum, on the North West side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had recently been forced to leave the area of St. John the Baptist’s activities on the river Jordan, following John’s arrest and imprisonment. From St. John’s Gospel we know that both Peter and Andrew had been disciples of John the Baptist. So they too had headed North, and quietly returned home, because it would have been too dangerous for them to stay where they were.
St. Matthew tells us that Jesus deliberately chose this region of Galilee, and Capernaum in particular, precisely because of its unpromising reputation. According to the Prophet Isaiah, this was “the land of the shadow of death”, and its people were those who “walked in darkness” (Mt 4:15; Is 9:1ff). The preaching of St. John the Baptist about the coming of the Messiah had not been received here. This was the region of mixed races and religions; all unbaptised, impure, hostile, unprepared.
Well, we know that Jesus preached precisely here; that his first and most important disciples came from here; that Capernaum served as the main base of his whole active ministry. Still, in Chapter 11 of his Gospel St. Matthew rubs the point in further. Because clearly, by and large, in spite of everything, the people of Capernaum remained true to their evil reputation. Jesus worked so many miracles among them, but they refused to repent. They were not interested in the Kingdom of Heaven. So Jesus pronounced over them his terrible judgement: You, Capernaum: did you want to be lifted up to heaven? You will be flung down to hell.... I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on Judgement Day than for you (11:23).
I want to link this little reflection on Capernaum with Scotland’s National Day. Some of St. Andrew’s reputed relics, we know, came to Scotland: exactly when and how no one knows for certain. This country anyway came be honoured by St. Andrew’s Patronage, and in the Age of Faith a magnificent Cathedral, then a University, was built in his honour. So now, on Scotland’s glorious Patronal Feast Day, you want me to say something upbeat, positive and optimistic. Alas! I’m much more inclined to be instead gloomy, negative and pessimistic.
It seems to me that there’s some parallel to be drawn between Scotland and Capernaum. Like Capernaum, this country has heard the message of the Gospel. Some of its sons and daughters have been and still are notably faithful. But by and large people in our land have not repented and believed. As we look around, the surrounding darkness seems only to deepen. Our secular establishment is hostile to Christianity, because it operates according to principles that are different, often incompatible, and sometimes flat contradictory. The secular ideology now dominates every aspect of our public life: the media, education, politics, the judiciary, the police, the armed forces, the arts, the corporations. More and more, I say it with grief, it also invades and infects the Churches.
Now we stand on the eve of a general election, which many commentators say will be the most important since the end of the Second World War. The big issues before us, of our relationship with the European Union, or Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom, are certainly important. We remain free to make up our own minds about them, and to vote accordingly. But nobody in this election is discussing the de-Christianisation of our society. No political party is pledging to ban the indoctrination of our primary school children with gender ideology, or to end the killing of unborn human life, or to establish strong measures for the promotion and protection of marriage and the family. No political party will accept a candidate who is publicly opposed to what is euphemistically known nowadays as “equal marriage”.
Is there nothing we can do? On the contrary. We must pray with fervour that the light of Jesus Christ will shine anew here in Scotland. Today particularly we ask St. Andrew to intercede for that intention. We must pray that people who do not know Christ might encounter him, and allow themselves to be completely changed by him. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. On those who sat in the region and shadow of death, a light has dawned (4:16; Is 9:1).
You are the light of the world, said Jesus (5:14). Your light must shine before men. Or according to St. John, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness could not overpower it (1:5). And it’s true. We Christians and Catholics are a minority: few, small, apparently powerless. Yet there are all sorts of initiatives going on which do make a difference: which do hold up a light that can be seen, and that helps drive away the darkness. I think of so many pro-life groups and activities; pro-family organisations; of people who boldly defend Christians and Christian principles in the public forum. I think too of those who excellently proclaim the truth through the internet, and give encouragement and consolation to many who otherwise feel isolated and under siege. Then there are so many schemes of practical charity: people who quietly get on with helping their neighbour in need. There are too so many devoted witnesses of the Faith to children and young people; and those who evangelise the unevangelised. There are so many, too, who faithfully pray.
Yes, the tide is certainly set firmly against us. Maybe we will live to see the judgement of Sodom fall on this country. But Jesus is with us. In him we know we have the Truth, which is always better than lies. In him also we have Goodness and Beauty, and power at work for salvation.
Amidst it all, there is this monastery. For all our fragilities, we are, by our profession, a City set up on a hill, that cannot be hidden (5:14). Christ abides here at the centre. He is the object of our worship, and of our whole life; the only reason for our existence. May he bless us today with ever more radical conversion to him, and ever greater fidelity to our call. And may Pluscarden Abbey be effective in holding up his light for the salvation of our land.