Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 22nd January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 22, 2023
Today is the Sunday within the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity, so I know that Masses, Liturgies and Services will be held in churches and chapels all over the world for this intention, and Belmont is no exception. We are all praying for unity, just as we long for it and work seriously towards it, even if at times is seems an impossible task. One of the positive things we can do is to thank God for the unity we already share in Christ and for the many things we now do together which we once did apart. When I was a boy, we weren’t even allowed to say the Lord’s Prayer with other Christians, treating them as though they were pagans or worse. We have moved on leaps and bounds since then, due in great part to the Week of Prayer.
Our Gospel today, which comes from Matthew, (Mt 4: 12-23), explains to us the move from Nazareth to Capernaum, the preaching of Jesus and the call of the first four disciples, Andrew and Peter, James and John, all four of them fishermen, to whom Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew sees in the move to Capernaum the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah.
‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!
Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,
Galilee of the nations!
The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light;
on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death
a light has dawned.’
The preaching of Jesus echoes that of John the Baptist, but there is a great difference. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, the Word made flesh. He embodies the kingdom of heaven that he proclaims. Where Jesus is, there is the kingdom.
The calling of the disciples is as radical as it is dramatic. Both sets of brothers are at their daily work, Peter and Andrew fishing, James and John mending nets with their father Zebedee. With not so much as a Good Morning, Jesus simply says, “Follow me.” They stop working, they leave their boats and their nets and the old man Zebedee and simply follow Jesus. This really is obedience without delay, not an easy or realistic example to follow, but is does make us reconsider our own following of Jesus and whether it is truly radical enough. Matthew then gives a summary of the ministry of Jesus from that moment on. “He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.” As we are often reminded, Jesus himself is the Good News and where Jesus is, there is the kingdom.
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.
