Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 23rd July 2023
Abbot Paul • July 23, 2023
How quickly Sunday comes round again and how quickly the days are drawing in. The rain and the cold give Belmont an autumnal feel about it and soon it will be August, the gateway to Autumn and the long trek to Winter and Christmas. I’m looking forward to next weekend, because I’m going away from Friday to Monday, a little break, a rest. I can really do with it, as I do get tired. Perhaps I should sleep more, but I’ve always been one for going late to bed and then up before the crack of dawn.
​
​Today we have another long Gospel reading, as we did last Sunday, and from Matthew, (Mt 13: 24-43). Jesus presents the crowd that follows him with three parables in which he describes the kingdom of heaven for them: the parable of the wheat and the darnel (though really about the men who sowed them), the parable of the mustard seed and that of the yeast that leavens the dough. We are told that Jesus always spoke to the crowds in parables to fulfil the prophecy in Psalm 77(78), and yet he doesn’t explain the parables to them, so what did they make of them? It’s only in the house, leaving the crowds outside, that Jesus explains the parable of the wheat and the darnel to the disciples. The explanation is detailed, point by point, but in a rather simplistic way.
​What is Jesus saying to his disciples and to those of the crowd who might understand him? The first parable, why do good and evil coexist in the Church, which is he kingdom of heaven on earth and why doesn’t Jesus or his heavenly Father eradicate it here and now? Why is evil left to flourish in the Body of Christ? Jesus’ reply is that God knows best and we should leave the final decision to him. If evil is removed, that might damage what is good. God will sort things out on the last day. The other two parables concern the question of growth: why is the Christian community so small and persecuted at that? Jesus gives his answer in the mustard seed and in the yeast, the first that grows of its own accord, the second that causes growth in others. Small beginnings can lead to surprising growth and a flourishing Church. Ultimately, Jesus is asking us to trust in God, to believe that he knows best and to allow him to bring about the kingdom as he sees fit. Faith is trusting in God and loving our neighbour.
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.
