Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 16th February 2023
Abbot Paul • February 16, 2023
In today’s Gospel we read Mark’s version, (Mk 8: 27-33), of that pivotal moment in the life and ministry of Jesus when his disciples declare their faith in him, spoken through Peter, to be the Messiah and Son of God incarnate. It took place at Caesarea Philippi and also marks the halfway point in the Gospel story. “Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’ And they told him. ‘John the Baptist,’ they said ‘others Elijah; others again, one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he asked ‘who do you say I am?’ Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.” Before asking who they think he is, Jesus asks his disciples what others have to say about him. We have become accustomed to the list: John the Baptist, Elijah or another of the prophets come back to life. It is then that Jesus asks them about their own position on the question of his identity. As we know, Peter, in the name of the Twelve, speaks up, “You are the Christ.” In other Gospels this is expanded to say, “the Son of the living God.” This comes together with the constatation of Jesus that their faith is the result of divine revelation, but in Mark, Peter simply says, “You are the Christ“. Jesus does no more than to tell them to keep silent on the matter.
Jesus then goes on to speak of his forthcoming passion, death and resurrection. This is not quite the Messiah they were hoping for and believed him to be, a Messiah “to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again.” Yet Jesus says all this quite openly, even so it’s obvious that the disciples have difficulty understanding this and Peter remonstrates against what Jesus teaches, forcing Jesus to rebuke Peter saying, “Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.” Comparing this with our own fluctuating faith, it’s easy to imagine how one moment Peter is declaring his faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the next, Jesus is accusing him of being like Satan. We, too, can fluctuate between extremes.
Abbot Brendan Reflects on Pope Leo's words to the Benedictines worldwide
July and August 2026: 3 workshops let by Fr Alex Echeandia, Prior of the Monastery of Lurin
9th to 11th January 2026 A weekend for young men to experience the monastic life and join in the prayer and life of the community.
28th November at 6.45pm You are welcome to join an informal service for healing prayer on the last Friday of November. No need to book.
Sat 13th December, 10.00am-12.30am We are delighted that the acclaimed Cistercian writer, Fr Michael Casey will be with us in December.
Monday 1st to Thursday 4th December 2025. Our first Advent retreat in our newly opened guesthouse
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.
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.