Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 9th January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 8, 2023
As you know, the Ukrainian Liturgy is usually celebrated in our church on the first Sunday of every month from 3 o’clock onwards, but this month we had the celebration today, for in Ukraine, as in Russia and several other countries, 7th January was Christmas Day. It was lovely to see over 100 local Ukrainians present and a delight to hear them sing their carols in the course of the Liturgy and afterwards at the “agape” celebrated in the Parish centre. Tragic and horrific as the war in Ukraine is, sowing death and destruction for no purpose but the fulfilment of irrational human pride, nevertheless they hope and pray that soon the war will come to an end, occupied lands be restored to Ukraine and their country rebuilt with the help of the international community. I have always admired the Ukrainian people, intelligent, hard-working, peace-loving and long-suffering. Let us make it one of our chief objectives this New Year to pray for peace and justice throughout the world.
As we enter into Ordinary Time, which will take us up to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent on 22nd February, we start reading the Gospel of Mark on weekdays, whilst continuing with Matthew on Sundays. Today’s passage from Mark, (Mk 1: 14-20), sees Jesus beginning his ministry in Galilee, following the arrest of John the Baptist. Jesus’ message is similar to John’s, but with greater urgency for with Jesus the kingdom of God is already present on earth. “The time has come and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.” Mark’s Gospel is very short, just 16 chapters, so it often reads like a summary. Hence, the need to pay attention to every word. Jesus himself is the Good News, so repentance leads us to Jesus and faith in him.
The first thing Jesus does, according to Mark, is to call his first disciples. Recently we read in John’s Gospel how Jesus originally met these men where John the Baptist was baptising and how they had been disciples of John. However, like Jesus they were Galileans, which accounts for Jesus walking along by the Sea of Galilee, where he meets up with them again. He could not have been a stranger to them, for they accept his call to discipleship immediately, no questions asked. The call like the response is radical. “Follow me!” he says, qualified by the famous phrase, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark comments, “And at once they left their nets and followed him.” Next, he calls James and John, who were actually in their father’s boat mending the nets. Their reaction is the same as that of Andrew and Peter. “He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.” These were not poor men: they owned boats and had employees, at least their father did.
What if Jesus came by today and asked you to follow him, what would your reaction be and how radical your reply?
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
