Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 22nd June 2023

Today, with the feast of St John Fisher and St Thomas More, the great English martyrs, who valiantly opposed King Henry VIII’s plan to sever the Church in England from the Catholic Church in order to secure the annulment of his marriage to Katherine of Aragon in order to marry Ann Boleyn. Tragically, this led to their martyrdom in the year 1535, a fateful year in the history of these isles. Bishop John Fisher firmly defended the bond of marriage, stating that he was willing to die, just as Saint John the Baptist had done, for the defence of marriage. This outraged the king. Like Cardinal Fisher, Thomas More refused to support the king’s claim that he was the head of the Church of England, and he refused to publicly support the coronation of the new queen. After More refused to attend the coronation, he was arrested and put on trial for treason. His defence was also to remain silent, but he was found guilty and executed about two weeks after Cardinal Fisher. Cardinal Fisher’s head had been mounted on London Bridge for two weeks after his death, but it was taken down and replaced by More’s upon More’s execution. These were the saddest and bleakest days in the history of the Church in England.

 

​Although there are special readings for today’s feast, I prefer to stick with the Sermon on the Mount, especially as today we come to Jesus teaching his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, (Mt 6: 7-15). He has been talking about almsgiving, fasting and prayer, and how these should only be known to his heavenly Father. He goes on to speak more of prayer. “In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” It’s not, then, for our many words that we are heard, but for our purity of heart. Not only that, but God already knows what our needs are, in fact, he knows far better than we ourselves know. Jesus then tells his disciples that they are to pray like this:

 

“Our Father in heaven,

may your name be held holy,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.

And do not put us to the test,

but save us from the evil one.”

 

​It’s is a simple prayer which the disciples can pray together. It recognises God to be our Father, source of life and holiness. We ask that his kingdom come and that his will be done on earth, in ourselves, as in heaven, where God is. We ask only for what is essential, but with no details other than to ask for our basic needs, physical and spiritual, symbolised by bread. Next comes forgiveness, that lies at the very heart of our faith, that we be forgiven as we forgive. Finally, that when tested by the struggles and obstacles of life, especially in our own hearts, we may not succumb but be saved from him who is the source of cunning and evil.

 

​Finally, Jesus has an extra word to say about forgiveness. “Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.” May we take his words to heart and always be ready to forgive others, as also to forgive ourselves, from the very bottom of our hearts.