Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 9th September 2023
Abbot Paul • September 8, 2023
In many ways Jesus led a perfectly normal lifestyle. Like others, he would go for a walk with his companions from time to time, especially on the sabbath, when Jews were not allowed to work. In today’s Gospel from Luke, (Lk 6: 1-5), we find Jesus taking a walk with his disciples through the cornfields on a sabbath day. Without thinking, as it’s what people do in a cornfield, his disciples begin to pick ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. It’s something we’ve all done, usually with wild grasses. We don’t think of it as work, but for an observant Jew is was something strictly forbidden on the sabbath. Little wonder that the Pharisees, on seeing this, complain. “Why are you doing something that is forbidden on the sabbath day?” We could ask what the Pharisees were doing on a sabbath, spying on Jesus and his followers, when they could have been taking a siesta or preparing another sermon for their poor congregations.
Jesus answers on behalf of his disciples, citing something we read about in the Old Testament concerning King David. “Have you not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the loaves of offering and ate them and gave them to his followers, loaves which only the priests are allowed to eat?” They must have known the story very well. Is Jesus implying here that is own disciples were hungry, in which case they had every right to seek nourishment in the cornfields? No law of God obliges a child of God to die of hunger. My mother loves to tell me how she and her sisters, during the war, when people were starving in Italy, would go out into the fields and woods even on a Sunday and come back with bagsful of leaves, flowers, roots, nuts and fruit and how my grandmother would transform any ingredients into the most delicious meals you could imagine. They were following the example of Jesus and his disciples. My grandmother would often quote the words of Jesus, “The Son of Man is master of the sabbath.” – “Il Figlio dell'uomo è signore anche del sabato”.
Abbot Brendan Reflects on Pope Leo's words to the Benedictines worldwide
July and August 2026: 3 workshops let by Fr Alex Echeandia, Prior of the Monastery of Lurin
9th to 11th January 2026 A weekend for young men to experience the monastic life and join in the prayer and life of the community.
28th November at 6.45pm You are welcome to join an informal service for healing prayer on the last Friday of November. No need to book.
Sat 13th December, 10.00am-12.30am We are delighted that the acclaimed Cistercian writer, Fr Michael Casey will be with us in December.
Monday 1st to Thursday 4th December 2025. Our first Advent retreat in our newly opened guesthouse
Good Shepherd, Good Priest “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed; I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” Those words, spoken by the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel, describe the heart of God, the Good Shepherd — but they also describe the life and ministry of a good monk and priest. They could well be written of Fr Stephen’s years of service as a pastor in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford, and Weobley. In each of those places, he shared in the Shepherd’s work: seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, strengthening the weary, and leading God’s people with quiet faithfulness. And like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came close to his people, Fr Stephen did not serve from a distance. He knew his people; he was among them. He shared their sorrows and their joys, their hopes and their disappointments. He bore their burdens with prayer and patience he brought the joy of the Gospel and the grace of the Sacraments. His mission amongst us is complete. He has served God’s good purpose. So today we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to take Stephen on his sacred shoulders and carry him home to the house of the Father. Bind up his wounds, give him eternal rest and lead him at last to the green pastures and still waters of eternal life.
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.