Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 24th July 2023
Abbot Paul • July 24, 2023
The evangelists record that Jesus had a rough time from the scribes and Pharisees and today’s Gospel is no exception. We are reading from Matthew, (Mt 12: 38-42). Nevertheless, it should be noted that they did have a certain respect for him and invariably called him ‘Master’, recognising that he did have authority to preach. Today they ask for a sign. By this stage in his ministry, Jesus had already performed many miracles, so what sign were they looking for? Were they undecided as to whether he was the Messiah or one of the prophets returned to life? Jesus replies by saying that, “It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign!” Does he regard the scribes and Pharisees as being evil and unfaithful? I shouldn’t think so. He says that he will give only one sign, that of the prophet Jonah, but then he goes on to give another as well, the sign of Solomon. Jesus often contradicts himself in that way, or the evangelists do it for him!
​What do the two signs mean? Although Jesus describes the three days and three nights that Jonah spent in the belly of the whale and the three days and three nights the Son of Man will be buried in the heart of the earth, it is not resurrection or new life that is the sign. “On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.” It is repentance as a result of Jesus’ preaching that is the sign, but Jesus is more than a prophet, for he offers forgiveness as well as the call to repentance. He then turns to the Queen of Sheba, who came to visit Solomon, so famous was he for his wisdom. “On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.” She came from Ethiopia, from the ends of the earth, to meet Solomon and listen to his wisdom. Do the scribes and Pharisees flock together with the crowds to the feet of Jesus to listen to his wisdom, for he is far greater than Solomon, the very Wisdom of God and the source of all wisdom.
​Let’s stop thinking about the scribes and Pharisees and apply the words of Jesus to ourselves. Does the teaching of Jesus lead us to repentance? Do we make every effort to listen to his words and do we recognise in them the very source of Divine Wisdom? What do you think?
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.
