Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 14th May
Abbot Paul • May 13, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Saturday, 14th May 2022
Today we keep the feast of St Matthias, who was chosen to replace Judas as one of the Twelve Apostles. The first we hear of him in the New Testament is at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, (Ac 1: 40-46). “‘We must therefore choose someone who has been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was travelling round with us, someone who was with us right from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us – and he can act with us as a witness to his resurrection.’ Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias, they prayed, ‘Lord, you can read everyone’s heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.’ They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.”
The drawing of lots in a spirit of prayerful recollection and asking God to reveal his will for the Church was, and continues to be in some churches, one of the ways in which priests and bishops are chosen for ministry. There are many differing traditions concerning his ministry and death. Some of his relics are venerated in the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Justina, Padua, Italy. Then there is the Benedictine Abbey of St Matthias, Trier, Germany. In the East it is believed that he was martyred and laid to rest in Georgia. We ask his intercession today that we might be faithful disciples and apostles of Jesus, for we are all, in one way or another, called by Jesus and the Church to proclaim the Gospel by the simplicity and integrity of our lives.
The Gospel chosen for the feast comes from John, (Jn 15: 9-17), again from the discourse of Jesus at the Last Supper. He is talking about the love he has for his disciples and how this love should be shared with others.
“You did not choose me:
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you
is to love one another.”
What an immense privilege it is for us to have been chosen and called by Jesus to be his disciples, although his favoured word was friends. Jesus is our friend and we are his friends. What he asks of us is that we love one another. With his help, it’s not impossible, but we must have the humility to ask for that help.
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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.
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