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).
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.
