Message of Abbot Paul - Ascension Thursday 18th May 2023
Abbot Paul • May 17, 2023
Throughout Eastertide we have celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus, reading wonderful Gospel narratives, singing glorious Easter hymns and meditating on the central mysteries of our faith. So many images of our Risen Lord come to mind when we think of Easter: the empty Tomb, the women and the angels, Mary Magdalene, who mistakes Jesus for the gardener, Cleopas and his companion, who fail to recognise him on the road until he enters into their home and they recognise him in the breaking of bread, the disciples in the upper room and the meeting with Thomas a week later (Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe) and the encounter with his disciples on the shore of Lake Galilee (Do you love me more than these?) Then, reading the rest of the Gospel in the light of the Resurrection and beginning to see what it all means. Eastertide is a spiritual whirlwind! The final event is recounted in today’s Gospel. “’Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.’ So the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.”
Today we celebrate his Ascension, but what is it that Jesus takes up into heaven? His body, born of Mary, a body like ours, that was scourged and crowned with thorns, crucified, died and buried, that lay three days in the sepulchre. A body that rose victoriously on the third day and appeared to the disciples, showing them his hands and side, a body whose wounds were still open when he invited Thomas to put his finger into the holes in his hands and his hand into the wound in his side. The body that Jesus takes up into heaven is risen, glorified and transformed into a new reality, yet the wounds of his Passion and Death, by which he redeemed us, reconciling us with the Father, are still open and will remain so until the last soul is saved, such is the depth of his love and mercy. They show the humility of the risen Christ.
Pope Francis often has unusual insights into Scripture. On one Ascension Day he said, “When Jesus returns to the Father, he shows him his wounds and says to him, ‘Look, Father, this is the price of the forgiveness that you give.’ When the Father looks at his Son’s wounds, he always forgives us, not because we are good but because Jesus paid the price for us. Looking at Jesus’ wounds, the Father becomes more merciful. This is the great work of Jesus in heaven today: showing the Father the price of forgiveness, his wounds. How wonderful this is, because it moves us not to have fear of asking forgiveness. The Father always forgives because he looks at the wounds of Jesus, looks at our sin and forgives it.”
Today’s Gospel also reminds us that, just as Jesus sent out his disciples to preach the Good News and to share with the whole of creation the joy of God’s loving mercy, so he is sending us out as missionaries today. That’s the real meaning of, “Ite, missa est.” There is nothing optional about the command, “Go out to the whole world: proclaim the good news.” We cannot call ourselves Christian if we keep the Good News to ourselves. If we truly live in the presence of the Lord and the power of his Spirit, then we must be filled with missionary zeal. We thank him for calling each one of us to be a missionary, even from the heart of the family home or monastic enclosure. It’s a big challenge. Are we prepared take it up?
Good Shepherd, Good Priest “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed; I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” Those words, spoken by the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel, describe the heart of God, the Good Shepherd — but they also describe the life and ministry of a good monk and priest. They could well be written of Fr Stephen’s years of service as a pastor in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford, and Weobley. In each of those places, he shared in the Shepherd’s work: seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, strengthening the weary, and leading God’s people with quiet faithfulness. And like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came close to his people, Fr Stephen did not serve from a distance. He knew his people; he was among them. He shared their sorrows and their joys, their hopes and their disappointments. He bore their burdens with prayer and patience he brought the joy of the Gospel and the grace of the Sacraments. His mission amongst us is complete. He has served God’s good purpose. So today we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to take Stephen on his sacred shoulders and carry him home to the house of the Father. Bind up his wounds, give him eternal rest and lead him at last to the green pastures and still waters of eternal life.
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
