Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 1st December 2022
Abbot Paul • December 1, 2022
When Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, he included a short phrase, essential to Christian life, that we repeat every time we say the prayer. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Thy will be done by us, your children on earth, as it is done by the saints and angels in heaven, in this vale of tears as in the kingdom of heaven. Throughout his life on earth, Jesus insisted that this was the hallmark of a disciple, to do God’s will. Our Lady at the Annunciation said to the Angel Gabriel,
“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord: let it be done unto me according to your word.” In other words, “Thy will be done on earth…” Jesus often says to the disciples that he has come to do not his own will, but the will of the Father who sent him. The Incarnation was an act of obedience not only on the part of Mary, but on the part of Jesus too, the obedience of God, where Father, Son and Holy Spirit are mutually obedient to one another. Obedience is the expression of that eternal love which binds the Holy Trinity together and is the very charism and essence of God who is love.
Today’s Advent Gospel comes from Matthew, (Mt 7: 21, 24-27), where Jesus, once again, explains the conditions for entry into the kingdom.
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’”
Nothing could be clearer. Those who do the Father’s will are those who will enter the kingdom of heaven, those who listen to the words of Jesus and act on them. Now as we all know, it’s possible to hear the words of Jesus and do nothing about them. It might be that occasionally this has happened to us. We have been struck by lethargy or a momentary lack of faith, (who knows?), but we haven’t acted on the words of Jesus and then regretted not doing so. Let us promise the Lord this Advent never to pass by an opportunity to do his will, but, as St Benedict teaches in the Holy Rule, to practise obedience without delay.
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.
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
