Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 28th September 2023
Abbot Paul • September 28, 2023
Although we had been led to believe that Storm Agnes would be a nightmare, with hurricane winds and torrential rains, in fact, she was a gentle and mild-tempered lass, who invited Toby and me to the beach and blessed us with warm sunny weather most of the day. The main reason for visiting my mother yesterday was to take her to the vaccination centre for her Covid booster jab. Being Welsh, everyone is terribly kind, welcoming and caring. They asked if I’d like a jab too, but I had to tell them that I had just booked one in Hereford in mid-October and wouldn’t want to let the nurse down!
Today’s Gospel reading is as short as yesterday’s and comes from Luke (Lk 9: 7-9). You will remember that both Mark and Matthew have accounts of the martyrdom of John the Baptist, Mark’s far more detailed. Here in Luke, we only find the reaction of Herod (this is Herod Antipas, son of King Herod) to the news of all that was being accomplished by Jesus. He, like many others, thought that Jesus was, in fact, John risen from the dead. This is what Luke has to say, “Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was being done by Jesus; and he was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. But Herod said, ‘John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?’ And he was anxious to see Jesus.” Herod hears and is puzzled by what he hears, puzzled because of what others are saying about Jesus. Some reckon he is John come back to life, others Elijah or one of the great prophets. Herod’s reaction is to say that it can’t be John because he had him beheaded. This is why he was anxious to see him.
Are we puzzled about Jesus? What do we really make of him? Are we anxious to hear him? These are legitimate questions we can ask ourselves, for unless we are really curious about Jesus, it’s unlikely that we’ll make a real effort to read and think seriously about what he has to say. Often a real interest in something or someone, even a journey into faith, begins with curiosity. Let us keep alive in us that spirit of curiosity that enabled us to grow from infants into adults.
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.
