Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 22nd August
Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 22nd August 2021
Today, in Herefordshire, we keep the feast of St John Kemble and this afternoon many will take part in the annual pilgrimage to his grave at Welsh Newton. He was martyred in Hereford on this day in the year 1679 in his 81st year. He gave witness to his Catholic faith and to his love for Christ and his Church by accepting a savage death after 56 years working as a missionary priest in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. His only crime was being a Catholic priest and celebrating Mass. We ask for his prayers for our county and country and for Christians all over the world who are suffering persecution today for their faith in Jesus Christ and his Gospel.
This is the last Sunday on which we interrupt our reading of Mark’s Gospel by proclaiming and meditating on the 6th chapter of John, which presents us with Jesus as the Bread of Life. This is the conclusion to that chapter, (Jn 6: 60-69). Jesus has told his hearers that he is the bread of life come down from heaven to give life to the world, that his flesh is real food and his blood real drink, that unless we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we will not have life in us. Such teaching was bound to cause a stir. “After hearing his doctrine many of the followers of Jesus said, ‘This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?’ Jesus was aware that his followers were complaining about it and said, ‘Does this upset you? What if you should see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before?
‘It is the spirit that gives life,
the flesh has nothing to offer.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit
and they are life.
‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the outset those who did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. He went on, ‘This is why I told you that no one could come to me unless the Father allows him.’ After this, many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him.” While Jesus is a teacher and a healer, all is well, but once he explains the significance of the miracles or signs, it is more than they can take. It strikes me that the situation is very much the same today. People are only prepared to go so far when it comes to following Jesus, believing in his word and accepting the difficult points of his “doctrine.” It is, indeed, the spirit that gives life, and for those who believe, the words of Jesus are both spirit and life. Jesus explains that no one can come to him “unless the Father draw them.” We pray earnestly that the Father always draw us to Jesus. He will not let us down.
But then there is the question of his innermost group of disciples, the Twelve. Which way will they turn? We read, “Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.’” Faith is not easy for anyone. We all experience uncertainties and doubts. We all find some aspects of the faith difficult to understand, others almost impossible to believe, but we plod on with those immortal words of Peter in our hearts and on our lips. How often have I repeated them!? “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life. We believe.”
Lord, we believe that you alone have the message of eternal life, that you are our Saviour and Redeemer. We step out in faith each day because you invite us to follow you and you feed us with your own body and blood. Lord, no matter what the temptations are, may we always be faithful to you and in you find the gift of eternal life. Amen.
