Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 21st January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 21, 2023
Today’s Gospel passage is very short, one of the shortest in fact, just two verses from Mark, (Mk 3: 20-21). Here they are. “Jesus went home, and once more such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal. When his relatives heard of this, they set out to take charge of him, convinced he was out of his mind.”
Where was the home of Jesus? By this stage his centre of activity had become Capernaum, so this is the home Mark refers to. We know that crowds followed him wherever he went and that it was difficult, if not impossible, for Jesus and his companions to have any time to themselves. Mark emphasises this fact by telling us that they didn’t even have time to take a meal, so great were the crowds at the door.
Mark isn’t one for beating around the bush. He invariably tells it straight. His relatives thought that Jesus was out of his mind. Even Mary, who had so much to ponder in her heart, must have been mystified at this stage, but neither she nor Joseph are mentioned by name. Mark simply speaks of relatives. We are not told of the outcome of this visit, but it’s clear that they were unsuccessful in their attempt to take charge of him, for Jesus continues his mission uninterrupted. Jesus, like many young people, was not understood by his own family and was often misunderstood by his disciples. Little wonder we often find him difficult to understand!
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.
