The message of St Leonard was clear; the gospel of Christ was not only transformation of the inner spirit of humanity, it was provision for the complete fabric of their being.
When faced with the opportunity of personal wealth he chose, instead, the provision of a forest. It was this resource that enabled starving villagers to create income, houses and personal value. It was the gospel seen in Matthew 25.
Yet, Leonard preached the word of God uncompromisingly; prayed for the sick, witnessed prisoners’ chains fall to the ground when confessing Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Our message this Advent season is one of an holistic gospel: mind, body, soul and spirit.
We are called by St Paul to be a ‘new creation’ by allowing the Holy Spirit to create a ‘clean heart’ within us, and ‘renew a right spirit’. We have access to God and relevance to humanity.
This Advent sees a world engulfed in uncertainty and worry. Creation itself yearns for the Second Advent, a new heaven and a new earth.
We Christians do not retreat to the desert hermitage hollows, we stand in the City Gate and declare the future year of Jubilee.
A time of total restoration, freedom from the slavery of sin; we do not bemoan the present, but by faith we declare the time when the lion will lay down with the lamb. Nations will turn their swords into ploughshares.
We preach not the destruction of the world, but a new heaven and a new earth.
We are not escapists, we are realists. “If I go, I will return for you, in My Father’s house are many mansions” – the words of Jesus to His Church!
May we know the power that those who still sit in darkness can still see a great light. As we walk in that light as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another. If we don’t, the light is not in us!
Our nation enters this festive season divided: politically and spiritually. May the wisdom of God prevail upon those who lead us through these troubled times.
May this Advent time break forth with joy, may this new year enable OSL to grow in favour with both God and man.
Blessings
++ David
Order & Community of St Leonard