Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 2nd July 2023
Abbot Paul • July 2, 2023
I’m always surprised at how quickly Sundays come round. Yesterday I had the joy of going over to Weobley to join Fr Simon and his parishioners for the official opening of the allotment project that has been developed in the field alongside the little church of St Thomas of Hereford and the parish house. I was amazed to see the results of the hard work undertaken by all those who have taken on a plot or two. What a wonderful selection of vegetables, herbs and flowers. I’ll attach a few photographs so that you can see for yourselves. I remember, when I was a boy, how my father loved his garden and provided us with vegetables and salads nearly all the year round. There’s nothing to beat a plate of freshly picked runner beans, even without a slice of bacon! Everything tasted so good in those days. Now all we have left is the appearance.
Today’s Gospel passage comes from Matthew, (Mt 10: 37-42), and finds Jesus instructing the Twelve. “Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.” Jesus is not asking them to reject, hate or dislike their loved ones and family members, but rather to love him first, that they might learn to love others as he himself loves them, and that is with a sacrificial, self-giving love, hence taking up our cross in order to follow Jesus more nearly. The way we love God ultimately will be the way we love others. I wonder if I have the faith and courage to do that.
Jesus then moves on welcoming others with charity and generosity. “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me. Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward. If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.” Jesus wants us to understand that he is present in others and that it is in others that we welcome, serve and love him. But this goes even further, for it is in Christ that we welcome, love and serve God, our heavenly Father. We cannot truly love Jesus if not in and through our neighbour. As he said in another place, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 6).
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.
