Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 4th February 2023
Abbot Paul • February 4, 2023
Don’t you find that some days are more difficult than others? Yesterday I woke up feeling tired and things just got worse as the day wore on. I fell asleep a couple of times at my desk and even, embarrassingly, during an important meeting. Fortunately, another monk was present to take over from me. It’s good to know I can rely on the brethren. I was also saddened to receive news that one of Toby’s friends had passed away, a dear Jack Russell aged 16 ½ called Alfie. We’ll both miss him, but he will live on in our hearts and in the heart of God, for whom even the hairs of our heads are counted and not a sparrow dies but he is aware of it.
Today’s Gospel reading from Mark, (Mk 6: 30-34), in which the crowds follow Jesus wherever he goes, even if he’s searching for a little quiet and solitude in order to rest and pray with his disciples, reminds us of the vast crowds following Pope Francis on his pastoral visits to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, two divided and war-torn countries in the heart of Africa with large Catholic populations. Let us always keep Pope Francis in our prayers, a sensitive pastor and a man who is the very image of Jesus and the great saints of history. There’s something very special about Francis. When he speaks, we hear Jesus speaking. His words always come from the heart and speak directly to our hearts. It saddens me deeply when I hear some Catholics malign him and reject him. Are they above the Holy Spirit who chose him lead and guide the Church? I feel profoundly hurt by their words and attitude. There is no greater sin than to sow division in the Church. It is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Let us keep the people of the DRC and South Sudan in our prayers, not just today but in all times.
​Let us now look briefly at our Gospel passage. “The apostles re-joined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat.” The apostles are rather full of themselves and what they’ve done on the mission they were sent by Jesus to accomplish. Jesus can see that they need to rest and pray. There is so much going on, so many people coming and going, that they can’t even sit down for a moment and have a bite to eat. “So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them.” It was bound to happen: Jesus was so popular and people wanted to see and hear him and just be where he was. In fact, as Mark states, they got there before him! “So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.” Jesus didn’t get angry, as some people do if it’s their day off, no, he had compassion on the crowds because he could see that they were like “sheep without a shepherd.” And that’s how so many people in the world are like today. Perhaps, we could introduce them to Jesus. It is Jesus whom the world needs today and we know him. Could we not share him with others. Why keep this treasure for ourselves?
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.
