Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 6th August 2023
Abbot Paul • August 6, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 6th August 2023
Today the Church throughout the world keeps the feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. This year we are reading from Matthew, (Mt 17: 1-9). It really ought to be a Solemnity, so important is the episode in Our Lord’s life that it commemorates. Here is Matthew’s account: “Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but only Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’”
Peter, James and John are invited by Jesus to catch a glimpse of Heaven, just as they will be with him in the Garden of Gethsemane to have an experience of Hell. We are reminded that, during the Exodus, Moses would meet God on the top of Mount Sinai and there speak with God as with a friend, receive the tablets of the Law, the Ten Commandments, and see God face to face. On Mount Tabor, Jesus is transfigured before their eyes: they see him as God in all his glory, his face like the sun and his clothes white as light. Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets, appear with him and are talking with him, for he is the fulfilment of both. Peter, as always, speaks out of turn, but his intentions are good. He wants to record the moment and prolong it by erecting three tents, yet even as he is speaking a dense but bright cloud descends and, with it, silence, the silence of heaven. Then from the cloud a voice speaks, the voice of God the Father, who declares Jesus to be his beloved Son, the One who should be listened to and obeyed. Filled with the fear of God, filled with awe, the three disciples fall on their faces, not knowing what will happen next. Jesus comes up and touches them, telling them to stand and not be afraid. When they open their eyes, they see only Jesus, whom they now know to be true God and true man. It is an invitation for us, too, to see only Jesus and know that he is both God and man, Creator, Saviour and Redeemer.
The fact that Jesus orders them to tell no one until after the resurrection, implies that the Transfiguration is a foretaste of heaven, something they can hang onto when the worst of their fears are realised and Jesus is taken prisoner, condemned to death, crucified, dies and is buried. They will have sure knowledge that after death there is life and after the Passion there is the Resurrection.
I wish to recall today a happy memory, that on 5th August 1968, together with a party of monks from various monasteries on Mount Athos, I was invited to climb to the top of the Holy Mountain. I was only 21 at the time and a guest of Fr Agathangelos at the Holy Monastery of Iveron. Once there at the chapel of the Transfiguration, we celebrated Vespers and the All Night Vigil, followed by the Divine Liturgy and other Hours of the Office before partaking of a well-earned picnic. After a short siesta, we began the breath-taking walk back down to our various monasteries. Mount Athos is 2,033 metres high, 6,670 feet. It’s an experience I can never forget. At that time, poor students didn’t have cameras, but the memories are inscribed in my heart and mind.
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.
