Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 30th June
Abbot Paul • June 30, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Thursday, 30th June 2022
I will be brief today, as yesterday was a busy day and it’s late as I write these few words. Today we also begin our annual Conventual Chapter, a sort of monastic AGM, when the solemnly professed monks, who form the Monastic Chapter, gather together to examine each area of our life and work, both as a community audit and to see how we can make improvements in every area of our life. I ask for your prayers. Indeed, I am very grateful for your prayers, as I know that all the readers of this message pray for us every day. Thank you and may God reward you.
Our Gospel passage for today comes from Matthew, (Mt 9: 1-8), the healing and forgiving of a paralytic and the debate with the scribes, who accuse Jesus of blasphemy. It’s a beautifully moving account.
“Jesus got in the boat, crossed the water and came to his own town. Then some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ And at this some scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, ‘Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he said to the paralytic – ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for giving such power to men.”
The passage shows us clearly that Jesus has power to heal and to forgive and that this power comes from God. It’s good to see his friends, neighbours and family bringing the paralytic out into the presence of Jesus. They know that Jesus has the power to help this man and bring him healing. It is their faith that Jesus sees. When Jesus says to the man, “Your sins are forgiven,“ we know at once that there will be trouble. The scribes accuse him of blasphemy, because God alone can forgive. He knows what they are saying to each other, so to test them, Jesus asks them which is it easier to do, to forgive or to heal? To show them that the Son of Man has power to forgive on earth, he orders the man to stand up, pick up his sleeping mat and walk, which the man does. He is no longer a paralytic, either of body or of soul. Jesus has power to forgive us too, for we are often like paralytics, spiritually at least. We too can be filled with awe, as was that crowd, if we allow Jesus to heal our souls and forgive our sins.
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.
