Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 22nd May 2023

I apologise that my message yesterday was rather turgid and academic. Today I’ll try to make it short and light-hearted, not that I’m feeling that way! The real joy on Saturday afternoon was to be greeted by a lively group of house martins, that have returned to Belmont for the summer nesting season. Not enough to be a flock, nevertheless their screams of exhilaration at returning to Belmont were loud and clear and a joy to experience. I hope they have a successful stay with us and don’t decide to move on elsewhere to build their nests and rear their young.

 

​Our Gospel passage comes again from John, (Jn 16: 29-33), and sees the disciples thanking Jesus for no longer speaking in metaphors, but plainly and intelligibly to their hearing. They even tell him, “Now we see that you know everything, and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words; because of this we believe that you came from God.” They recognise the omniscience of God in Jesus his Son. Jesus rejoices that at last they believe, but warns them that soon they will scatter and abandon him when he is arrested and condemned to death.

“You will be scattered, each going his own way and leaving me alone.” Yet, he will not be alone. “I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” The Father is always with Jesus as Jesus is always with the Father. This is also true of ourselves. We are never alone, for God is with us. Jesus came to make this possible and to assure us of God’s presence in our lives. This is why Jesus goes on to say. “I have told you all this so that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world.” It is in Jesus that we find our peace, for he reconciles us with the Father and, through his death and resurrection, confirms God’s presence within us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.