Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 4th September
Abbot Paul • September 3, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 4th September 2022
Belmont celebrates the Solemnity of the Dedication of the Abbey Church on 4th September, remembering that our church was consecrated on this day in the year 1860. Feasts of dedication or consecration are considered to be solemnities of Christ himself, for all churches are ultimately dedicated to Christ the Saviour, no matter which saint or saints they might also be dedicated to, in Belmont’s case St Michael and All Angels. So at Belmont today, the Liturgy will be that of the Dedication, but as our regular readers live all over the world, I’ll say just a few words about the Gospel of the day, Sunday of the 23rd week in Ordinary Time, year C, which comes from Luke, (Lk 14: 25-33).
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus issues a general invitation to the crowds following him, men, women and children alike, with no distinction of race, sex or colour. “If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Jesus isn’t asking us to hate our loved ones, but rather that we should love him first in order to love others in him and so love them with a divine and perfect love, to love them as Jesus loves them and as the Father loves them in Jesus. Our discipleship, our following of Jesus, should come first, carrying our cross with him, in him and for him. Jesus goes a step further, when he says, “None of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.” Again, this doesn’t mean having absolutely nothing at all, but rather putting Christ first and relying on him and on Divine Providence rather than on material things, especially our possessions, and not setting our hearts on material things. We are but pilgrims passing through this world, therefore we should not set our hearts on the things of this world, but keep our hearts and minds focused on the kingdom of heaven, the world that is to come and is eternal. Lord, help us to follow you as true disciple and to put nothing before our love of you. Amen.
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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.