Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 23rd April 2023
Abbot Paul • April 22, 2023
Today we read the Gospel account from Luke, (Lk 24: 13-35), of the two disciples who meet the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. It’s beautifully told, as only Luke can tell a story, and encourages us to reflect on our own encounters with the risen Christ, Jesus who walks along the road of life with each one of us. We mostly don’t realise that he’s here with us, or we just don’t recognise him, but our hearts burn within us and there are moments, fleeting moments, when we do recognise him in the breaking of bread. Only one of the two is named, Cleopas, the other’s name is written in heaven, but for the time being he represents each one of us. As the two walk along the road, what else can they discuss but the events that have taken place these past few days in Jerusalem, culminating with the crucifixion and death of Jesus. At a certain point, Jesus joins them and walks along with them, listening carefully to what they’re saying. He even asks them for more details, he of whom they were talking, the irony! Cleopas replies, “You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.” They lay bare their hearts and tell Jesus everything, even that they had been hoping for a political messiah, one who would liberate his people from the yoke of Roman rule. But Jesus has come for a far more radical liberation, the forgiveness of sin and entry into God’s kingdom, for, as St Paul writes, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
​When he has heard what they have to say, he explains what the scriptures really meant when they spoke of the Messiah. Even so, they fail to recognise him, although later they will recall, “Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?” `it was a long walk, so he had time to go through the scriptures from Moses to the prophets. When they get close to the village, it looks as though Jesus is going further, but they insist he stay with them. When they sit at table, as a guest in their house, Jesus is invited to break bread and say a prayer. Luke tells us, “Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’” The four eucharistic moments are present: he took the bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and handed it out. This, preceded by Jesus explaining the scriptures to them, gives us the outline of what would become the Eucharist, Mass or Divine Liturgy, in which Christ’s Incarnation, Death and Resurrection become a living reality for those present, for it is truly Christ who explains the scriptures to us and breaks the bread of his body and blood for us.
​Cleopas and his companion, and remember that a companion is someone who shares their bread with us and sits at table with us, set out immediately for the return journey in the dark to Jerusalem, where further appearances of Christ have taken place. “They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.” Today may we experience some of the joy and excitement of that first Easter when Jesus rose from the dead.
A homily by Abbot Brendan at a special Easter Mass for Pope Francis, attended by Catholics from across the Deanery.
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.
