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.
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.
