Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 7th November 2022
Abbot Paul • November 7, 2022
There are many short prayers to be found in the Gospels. One of these, on the lips of the apostles, is, “Increase our faith.” It occurs several times and in different contexts, and is one that I often use, “Lord, increase our faith.” We note that, like the Lord’s Prayer, it’s in the plural. We don’t pray, “Increase my faith,” but, “Increase our faith.” Our prayer is inclusive; we omit no one from it. What we ask for ourselves, we automatically ask for all others, for prayer must not be selfish or self-centred. Were it to be that way, it would cease to be prayer. Jesus assures his disciples that if their faith were the size of a mustard seed, it would be enough to uproot the largest of all trees and order it to replant itself in the sea, an impossible request, if ever there was one. Yet Jesus wants to teach us, as he taught his disciples, that there is no power greater than faith-filled prayer.
We are reading Luke, (Lk 16: 1-6), where Jesus speaks to his disciples. “Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!” This is the first of three short sayings of Jesus. The disciples are not to put obstacles in the way of those seeking to know God and follow Jesus. They must not lead the “little ones” astray, but rather guide them and help them to become disciples of Jesus and so find the road to salvation. We are here to help one another.
Jesus then speaks of forgiveness and reconciliation within the Christian community. “If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’” Repentance and forgiveness lie at the very heart of the Christian faith, that way of life taught by Jesus to which he calls each one of us. Forgiveness is not an option, an extra, rather it is the very essence of the Christian faith, for Jesus himself came to forgive us our sins and reconcile us with our Father in heaven and with each other.
Finally, we end where we began. “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’” Let this be our prayer today. “Increase our faith.” Amen.
A homily by Abbot Brendan at a special Easter Mass for Pope Francis, attended by Catholics from across the Deanery.
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.
