Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 28th January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 28, 2023
The bitterly cold weather seems to be improving and becoming more springlike and the dawn chorus these past two days certainly gives the impression that Spring is on its way. The snowdrops are now accompanied by primroses and daffodils and there’s a feeling of hope in the air. The days are lengthening and you get a sense of light at the end of the tunnel. Toby really enjoys going out for his walks, particularly if there are canine friends to walk and play with. Next week we’ll celebrate the last of the Christmas feasts, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple or the Purification of Our lady, also known as Candlemas, and we’re already planning our Lenten parish programme.
Today we keep the feast of St Thomas Aquinas, the great Dominican philosopher and theologian, the saint who wrote the beautiful texts for the feast of Corpus Christi. We commend to his intercession all those who are studying or teaching philosophy and theology, as well as the Synod process that is taking place all over the world. May his writings and prayers illumine our deliberations.
Today’s Gospel from Mark, (Mk 4: 35-41), sees Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee for the first time with his disciples. I wonder how many times he’d crossed previously. “With the coming of evening, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind they took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him.” It’s not said how far they were planning to go or even their destination. Was it just to get away from the crowds for some well-earned peace and quiet? It looks as though they took nothing with them and there was more than one boat. But things didn’t go to plan. Jesus was in the stern fast asleep, leaving the sailing to others. He was a carpenter, not a sailor. A gale begins to blow. “Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, ‘Master, do you not care? We are going down!’”
The boats were small and precarious in bad weather. The disciples are frightened and wake Jesus, hoping he has the solution to get them out of danger. They’re looking for a miracle and a miracle takes place. “And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?’ They were filled with awe and said to one another, ‘Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.’” Jesus rebukes the wind just as he rebuked the unclean spirits of those who were possessed. He questions the faith of his disciples that has proved lacking. If they really believed he was the Messiah, then fear of the elements should have no place in their lives. The calming of the storm causes them to ask each other. “Who can this be?” Can we think of events in our own lives that have led us to ask the same question?
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.
