Message of Abbot Paul - Easter Friday - 5th April 2024
Abbot Paul • April 4, 2024
​You might have heard that my dearest and most faithful companion and gift of God Toby passed away suddenly this week. He had been particularly lively and happy over Holy Week and Easter, enjoying his visits to Leominster and Bromyard, in fact, until Wednesday afternoon, when he had difficulty walking and collapsed onto the carpet. The vet and her nursing assistant came at once and were absolutely wonderful in caring for him, doing all they could to make him comfortable and at peace and also looking after me. Over the past eleven and a half years he has been the most loving companion, intelligent, humorous and playful. What he most enjoyed was just to see me sitting in an armchair doing my lectio or mental prayer. He always made sure I was faithful to my monastic life, as well as instigating and encouraging exercise and fresh air. No matter what the weather, we never missed a walk or a visit to the kitchen, his favourite spot, to see the chefs. His ashes will be buried next to Bertie and Badger, my two earlier canine friends, and not too far from where I too will be buried one of these days, hopefully many years ahead.
​Our Gospel passage today comes from John, (Jn 21: 1-14), and recounts in some detail the third meeting between the risen Christ and his disciples in this Gospel. In fact, the passage ends with the words, “This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.” Seven of the disciples are back in Galilee, on the shores of Lake Tiberius, when Simon Peter suggests that they go fishing. Although we know that Jesus sent a message to his disciples to return to Galilee, that he would see them there, it seems strange to see them back on the lake working as fishermen again. Still, they were following Jesus’ instructions. The others reply that they will go too, “They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.” Having no success, the night’s fishing sees them return without a catch. “It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.” Typical in John, when Jesus is not present, it is night, but when he appears, it is day. Even so, they fail to recognise him. “Jesus called out, ‘Have you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered, ‘No’, he said, ‘Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they dropped the net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in.” He calls them friends, as he had done at the Last Supper, yet they fail to recognise him. Then, one of them twigs. “The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ At these words ‘It is the Lord’, Simon Peter, who had practically nothing on, wrapped his cloak round him and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net and the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.” It’s the beloved disciple, who accompanied Peter to the tomb, he who “saw and believed,” and at the Last Supper asked Jesus who was it that would betray him, who now recognises Jesus and says to Simon, “It is the Lord.”
​“As soon as they came ashore, they saw that there was some bread there, and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, ‘Who are you?’; they knew quite well it was the Lord. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish.” Jesus is preparing breakfast for his disciples. They see bread and fish, already being cooked over a charcoal fire. Jesus suggests that they share some of their catch with him. So it is, they break their fast with Jesus on the shore of the lake. The words used by Jesus reflect those spoken at the Last Supper and the Eucharist. Although they are not bold enough at this stage to ask Jesus anything, they know deep down that this is indeed the Lord.
​Lord, you are with us in our daily work, you are with us in our every need, you are with us whenever we call upon you, you are with us wherever we are. Like the disciples, we usually don’t recognise your presence within and among us, but you are there, you are here. Lord, you come as a stranger, but you remain as a friend. May your Name be blessed for ever. Amen.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully last night. He served this community well for many years, not least Abbot of the Community and before that Headmaster of the School. He was then asked to serve the wider church as Bishop of Menevia. May he know eternal happiness with God whom he served. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
A homily by Abbot Brendan at a special Easter Mass for Pope Francis, attended by Catholics from across the Deanery.
Pope Francis RIP Pope 2013-2025 Born 1936, Died 2025 We are deeply saddened at the passing of Pope Francis. As the successor of St Peter he has been a spiritual father and shepherd to the church in our day, challenging us, and calling as to reach out to those on the peripheries. He was the first Jesuit Pope, but took the name Francis after the Poor Man of Assisi who modelled for him a closeness to the poor, a concern for those on the margins of society and a care for all of creation In his preaching Pope Francis always spoke of the joy of the Gospel and encouraged us to reflect the joy of our faith in our lives. He showed the compassion of Jesus to everyone. He worked tirelessly for the unity of the church and travelled even to non-Christian countries promoting a message of peace. He has left a great legacy. With the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio with the community over Easter we were able to express our closeness to the Holy Father in his final suffering. There will be a special Mass at Belmont this Thursday 24th April at 11am to pray for Pope Francis as he makes his final journey to the house of the Father. On the day of his funeral, the Office of the Dead will be sung, and Mass that day will be a Requiem. May the angels lead him into paradise; may the martyrs receive him at his arrival and lead him to the holy city Jerusalem. May choirs of angels receive him and with Lazarus, the poor man grant him eternal rest." (The In Paradisum, words from the Funeral Liturgy)
We were were honoured and delighted to be joined by the Apostolic Nuncio to celebrate Easter. His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía is the representative of the Holy See in Great Britain, and therefore of the Holy Father. His presence on Easter Sunday morning brought us more consciously in communion with Pope Francis, the successor of St Peter, as we heard the Gospel story of Peter running to the tomb. His patron saint is St Michael, so afterwards, at a festive lunch we were able to present him with some Belmont cufflinks with the monastery coat of arms - very similar to his as Archbishop. We were able to pray for him and his work in this country.
