Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 12th May
Abbot Paul • May 11, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Thursday, 12th May 2022
I’m beginning to write this message at 7.15 on Wednesday evening. There are already large numbers of people walking round the garden and coming into church. I’m on kitchen and refectory duty today, so in about 20 minutes, I’ll have to go down and clean the refectory, then do all the washing up. All in a day’s work! Being the second Wednesday in May, we have the May Torchlight Procession in honour of Our Lady, beginning at 9pm. We’ve not been able to have the Procession for two years on account of the Covid Pandemic. Unfortunately, Hedley Lodge is still closed on account of our homeless guests, so we are unable to offer food and drink. Let us hope that next year, it will be possible to organise that again. Hospitality is such an important part of our vocation and ministry as Benedictine monks.
Our Gospel reading today again comes from John, (Jn 13: 16-20), words taken from Jesus’ discourse to his disciples during the Last Supper. “After he had washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus said to them:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
no servant is greater than his master,
no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.’”
Jesus speaks of the significance of the washing of his disciples’ feet. Humility lies at the very heart of the Christian faith and Jesus teaches by example. A servant cannot be greater than his master, nor a messenger greater that the one who sends him. Jesus has been sent by the Father and, in turn, he sends out his Apostles to preach the Gospel. Just as Jesus and the Father are one, so an apostle must be one with Jesus who sends him. Nor is one messenger more important or greater than another: we are all children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ. Of course, Jesus is perfectly right when he then says, “Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly.” Nothing can make us happier than following the example and teaching of Jesus. It’s the one sure way to happiness. Obviously, Jesus was aware that someone would betray him, and as Judas did, so can we come close to betraying Jesus at times. Jesus goes on to say that whoever welcomes a disciple sent by Jesus to proclaim the truth of the Gospel welcomes Jesus himself.
“I tell you most solemnly,
whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”
As Jesus reminds us, whoever welcomes Jesus, welcomes the Father, but that welcome isn’t always forthcoming. There are times when those sent by God to proclaim the truth of the Gospel are not well received, perhaps not received at all, or even persecuted and put to death. We must not expect to be treated better then Jesus was. We must walk in his footsteps on the way of the Cross.
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.
