Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 27th October 2022
Abbot Paul • October 26, 2022
Yesterday I was able to enjoy talking part in further celebrations of the Divine Liturgy and other services for the great feast of St Demetrius from his church in Thessaloniki, thanks to the Internet. I’m deeply grateful for this gift, something I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams when I was a penniless student at the university there in the mid 60s. The things I did to survive, such as selling my blood at the local hospital to the highest bidder, or hanging around the old cemetery near the university waiting for a funeral or anniversary celebration, so that I would be invited to partake of the blessed memorial meal. How I loved that special cake, called koliva, and still do! I can taste it as I write.
​Today’s Gospel passage from Luke, (Lk 13: 31-35), consists of two short paragraphs containing a warning to Jesus to beware of Herod, followed by a lament over the city of Jerusalem and her people. “Some Pharisees came up to Jesus. ‘Go away’ they said. ‘Leave this place, because Herod means to kill you.’ He replied, ‘You may go and give that fox this message: Learn that today and tomorrow I cast out devils and on the third day attain my end. But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.” Interesting that the warning should come from a group of Pharisees, but then we know that a number of Jesus’ followers were Pharisees, St Paul for example. They genuinely care for Jesus and don’t want to see him harmed, least of all by Herod. Even Jesus refers to him as ‘that fox’. Yet Jesus speaks of himself as a prophet, and one who is to die in Jerusalem, attaining his end on the third day. Jesus is powerfully aware of his vocation and his duty to give his life that others might be saved and live. This acknowledgement leads him to lament for the holy city.
​“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say: ‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’” What is it that Jesus laments? The fact that Jerusalem, in the past, often put God’s prophets to death, stoning the very ones that God had sent to preach the message of salvation? Using an Old Testament image, Jesus expresses his own frustrated desire to have gathered her children under his wing as a hen gathers her chicks. What a beautiful yet humble image! Do his last words refer to his Second Coming or to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, what we commonly call Palm Sunday? What do you think? The heart of God, made manifest in Jesus, longs to give refuge under his wing to those who long for salvation.
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.
