Message of Abbot Paul - Holy Tuesday - 26th March 2024
Abbot Paul • March 25, 2024
​Last night I had the joy of taking part in an ecumenical celebration of the Stations of the Cross at St Joseph’s Church, Bromyard, where local Catholics were joined by their Anglican and Methodist brethren. It’s interesting to note that the Via Crucis has become a very popular devotion among Christians of all denominations. As we follow Jesus through his Passion, Death and Resurrection this Holy Week and Easter, most surely we will grow closer to him and become more like him, our loving Lord and Saviour, who gave his life for our salvation and that all people, without exception, might come to know him, who is the image of the living God.
​The Passion and Resurrection narrative in John takes up a third of his Gospel. Today, (Jn 13: 21-33; 36-38), we hear some of the discussion between Jesus and his disciples, two predictions or prophecies: that Judas would betray him and Peter deny him, two similar forms of infidelity to his friendship and love. “While at supper with his disciples, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, ‘I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, wondering which he meant.” They are conscious of the fact that anyone of them could possibly be the one who is to betray Jesus. We, too, know that we are capable of betraying Jesus. The disciples want to know who it is. “The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus; Simon Peter signed to him and said, ‘Ask who it is he means,’ so leaning back on Jesus’ breast he said, ‘Who is it, Lord?’ ‘It is the one’ replied Jesus ‘to whom I give the piece of bread that I shall dip in the dish.’ He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus then said, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’” Jesus knows what Judas has in mind to do, which he why he offers him the piece of bread that has been dipped into the dish. Judas understands at that moment that Jesus is aware of his intentions and leaves. The other disciples fail to see what is going on and remain confused. “None of the others at table understood the reason he said this. Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some of them thought Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’, or telling him to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. Night had fallen.” That short sentence, “Night had fallen,” indicates that the powers of evil are at work and appear to have the upper hand. The light of the world is about to be snuffed out.
​Yet, once Judas has gone, Jesus feels he can say: “Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified. If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon. My little children,
I shall not be with you much longer. You will look for me, And, as I told the Jews,
where I am going, you cannot come.” In John, Jesus’ passion and death are his glorification for they lead to his glorious resurrection from the dead. Peter, however, is mystified. “Simon Peter said, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus replied, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow me now; you will follow me later.’ Peter said to him, ‘Why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ ‘Lay down your life for me?’ answered Jesus. ‘I tell you most solemnly, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.’” Poor Peter, he wants to follow Jesus and lay down his life for him, but Jesus warns him that before the cock crows he will have disowned his Lord three times. How tragic this story would be, were it not for the fact that we know what lies ahead. Perhaps knowing that makes it even more tragic.
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.
