Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 24th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 24, 2023
I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of another year in my life when I have felt less Christmassy. I’m also surprised at the number of people who have told me that they feel exactly the same. I think that the horrific war in the Holy Land has much to do with it, the daily reporting of ceaseless massacre and destruction. There is certainly a very dark cloud over our world at present, especially the Christian world. And yet, Christmas is the feast of Christ our light, who shines in the darkness, a light that cannot be overcome by darkness, a hope that cannot be snuffed out by the barbarism of the forces of evil, faith in life that perseveres no matter what, death that leads to resurrection and new life. Christ is born to die, but dies to live again, and whose kingdom is not of this world.
Today we keep the Fourth and last Sunday in Advent as well as Christmas Eve. We prepare to celebrate the Lord’s Nativity tonight. Our Gospel reading comes from Luke (Lk 1: 26-38) and recounts the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary of her divine Son’s conception, that in her womb the Word would be made flesh and dwell among us, to paraphrase the Prologue to John’s Gospel. We know the story by heart, it’s so central to our Christian faith. Let’s just read it again, slowly and allowing the words and phrases to penetrate deep down into the very core of our being.
“The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.”
Although Mary is the model of Christian obedience, listening closely for God’s will to be revealed, hers is no blind obedience. She is deeply disturbed by the angel Gabriel’s greeting, asking herself what it can mean. She questions the angel, “How can this be?” Only when God’s will is fully explained, does she give her assent, her “Fiat: let it be done to me.” Many Church Fathers and theologians have written eloquently of the moment of that decision, saying that God’s plan of salvation depended on the Virgin’s, “Yes.” It was a solid reply, for Our Lady accepted and lived out all the consequences of that decision to do God’s will. We pray today that, through her intercession, we too may do God’s will with faith and courage and so play our part in God’s plan of salvation for the whole of creation.
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.