Message of Abbot Paul - Monday - 15th April 2024
Abbot Paul • April 14, 2024
​On Friday, we read John’s version of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish. Today we begin the Discourse on the Bread of Life, which follows on from the miracle and in which Jesus explains its significance. We find ourselves at John 6, vv. 22-29. After the miracle, the disciples left by boat for Capernaum and, during a storm, Jesus appeared to them walking on the water. That is the Gospel passage we read on Saturday. This has left the crowds confused, as we shall see. John writes: “After Jesus had fed the five thousand, his disciples saw him walking on the water. Next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side saw that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that the disciples had set off by themselves. Other boats, however, had put in from Tiberias, near the place where the bread had been eaten. When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into those boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus.” The following day, then, the crowds go in search of Jesus. By this stage in his ministry, everyone knows that he uses Capernaum as his base. Why is it that they chase after Jesus so? Because he fed them when they were hungry, because they want to see further miracles or to hear what he has to say?
Possibly it was a combination of all three. Did they seriously want to become his disciples or were most of them simply curious to see what he would do next? It was probably all those reasons combined. I suppose it would be a bit like asking the crowds that normally gather in St Peter’s Square for a Papal Mass or Audience, “Why are you here?”
​Although they hoped to find Jesus in Capernaum, they are also surprised when they see him. “When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’” The answer they receive from Jesus is probably not the one they expected. He begins, “I tell you most solemnly” and then goes on.
“You are not looking for me because you have seen the signs
but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.
Do not work for food that cannot last,
but work for food that endures to eternal life,
the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you,
for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.”
With these few lines, Jesus begins to introduce the crowd to what he has to say concerning “the food that endures to eternal life.” The miracles he performs are signs that point to a deeper meaning that has eternity in mind. If you’re following me just for the now, just for the food I gave you on one occasion, then go no further: that is not why I am here. If you cannot recognise me to be the Son of Man, whom God the Father has sent and on whom he has set his seal, then you are working for the bread that does not last. They have the humility to ask him what they should do. “Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.’” What must we do? That is the question we must ask the Lord each day. What must I do today to do the work the Father wants? What must I do to be saved? Every day Jesus replies, “You must believe in the one the Father has sent; you must believe in me.” And what does believe mean? No less than to have faith, to trust, and to live in Christ. Lord, help me to do just that, today and always. Amen.
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.
