Message of Abbot Paul - Friday - 23rd February 2024
Abbot Paul • February 22, 2024
I did enjoy my birthday. It was such great fun in so many ways, starting with the dash down Commercial Road in the pouring rain to the railway station for the train to Cardiff for the health and safety meeting. Among the priests was an old friend, Canon Nicholas James of Monmouth and Ross on Wye. He asked me, ”Can you remember where you were 50 years’ ago today?” I couldn’t. Then he reminded me that we had gone from Rome, where we were both studying, to Subiaco and had lunch together. How we enjoyed that day and each other’s company. He brought back many happy memories of long ago, another world, another age. Truly there is so much to give thanks to God for at this time of year.
Today’s Gospel passage comes from Matthew, (Mt 5: 20-26), again from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus, like Moses on Sinai, gives the New Law to his disciples, who form the New Israel of God. Not that the Law of Moses is abrogated or cast aside, but given a fresh interpretation in Christ who is the Way and the Truth and the Life. He says, “If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.” We find no criticism of the scribes and Pharisees here; rather Jesus recognises that, essentially, they are good men who observe the Law. He is asking his disciples to go much further and become perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect. He then explains how he expects his disciples to keep the commandments. “You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill, he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire.” How are we to be more virtuous than those who are already law abiding? Jesus teaches us that it’s not enough simply to keep the letter of the Law: we must apply the Law to cover every situation and so overcome our sinful passions. We must plunge into the very depths of our being and treat the roots of sin, thus healing mind, soul and body. Anger, hatred, a spirit of revenge and much more are forms of murder, likewise destroying a person’s character and good name.
Jesus goes on to teach us always to seek reconciliation with our enemy and with those who have something against us. We are not to offer sacrifice at the altar unless we are reconciled and at peace with our neighbour. “So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering.”
He advises us to settle with an opponent before going before the judge in a civil court. St Paul will go on to say that, among Christians, it is unseemly to go before a civil court when they can settle out of court as brothers in Christ. Jesus wants us to live in peace and not to get further into trouble. He wants to spare us more trouble than is necessary. Above all, he wants us to live in peace with our neighbour and to love our neighbour. So let us pray for that intention today: that all men and women all over the world might live in peace and harmony with their neighbour, seeking only to love them as God loves them.
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.
