Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday - Holy Family - 31st December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 30, 2023
On the Sunday after Christmas, the Church remembers the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Gospel for today comes from Luke’s Infancy Narrative and recounts the Presentation in the Temple (Lk 2: 22-40). It’s told beautifully and in great detail by the evangelist. “When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord.” In the Temple there are encounters between the infant Jesus and two devout Old Testament-like figures, Simeon and Anna. “Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God.” There’s nothing in the text to indicate that Simeon was a priest, nevertheless in Christian art he’s invariably presented as a high priest. What we do know of him is that he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Just look how often the Holy Spirit is mentioned. Another point of interest is that the text is almost Eucharistic”: “he took him into his arms and blessed God.” He recognised the infant Jesus to be the Messiah, the Bread of life born in Bethlehem, the House of Bread. He is inspired to proclaim a short text the Church uses every night at Compline:
“Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,
just as you promised;
because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.”
This appears to be the song of an old man who has seen his life fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah: he has nothing more important left to live for. But there’s nothing in the text to indicate that he’s old! The hymn is prophetic in a big way, as the salvation Jesus brings is for all nations: he is a light to enlighten the Gentiles as well as the glory of his people Israel. “As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’” Mary and Joseph can’t help but wonder at what’s being said about the infant in Mary’s arms, yet it is her soul that will be pierced through with a sword, for it is she who will share in her Divine Son’s Passion at the appropriate time, when prophecy becomes reality.
​Then Anna appears: she really is old and haunts the Temple with her prophetic presence. “There was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.” She too sees in the child Jesus the promised Messiah and Saviour, yet already at this stage in his life we wonder to what Anna is pointing by the phrase, “the deliverance of Jerusalem.” Many in Jesus’ day were hoping for a political Messiah, someone who would overthrow the Roman state and inaugurate not God’s eternal kingdom but a nationalist government. Jesus would have a hard job trying to convince even his own disciples as to the nature of his kingdom and Messiahship.
​Luke is a master at summarising situations and he does so now. “When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.” Mary and Joseph return to Nazareth, to the daily running of home and business. It is with them that the child Jesus is loved and nurtured as he grows into a man and prepares to present himself to Israel in the footsteps of John the Baptist as the true Messiah and Saviour of his people. Let us pray for all parents today that they be blessed in their children as were Mary and Joseph in the gift of Jesus.
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.
