Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 6th October 2022
Abbot Paul • October 5, 2022
Yesterday we read the Lord’s Prayer as found in Luke, comparing it a little with the better-known version found in Matthew. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus places emphasis on forgiveness, warning the disciples that if they will not forgive those who offend them, then God will not forgive them their sins. In Luke, the Gospel passage which we read today, (Lk 11: 5-13), Jesus speaks at length on perseverance in prayer, trusting that God will always give us what is best for us. He begins with an example from daily life rather than a parable.
“Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, ‘My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him’; and the man answers from inside the house, ‘Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.’ I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants”. We might wonder why the man wanted three loaves of bread, unless it was that his friend had arrived unexpectedly with family or serving staff. Anyway, the lesson is clear: perseverance in asking eventually brings about the desired result. But God was not made in the image and likeness of man and his reactions are not ours. He’s doesn’t play power games, nor does he play cat and mouse with us, his beloved children. Jesus goes on to explain the mind and heart of God, hence why we should persevere in prayer.
“So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Jesus tells us that our heavenly Father will give us whatever we ask or need. Above all, he will give us the Holy Spirit, which is far more than we can imagine or desire. In fact, God will always give us those gifts of which we are most in need, rather than simply what we pray for. After all, he knows best. Prayer and perseverance in prayer conform our minds to the mind of God, our hearts to his Heart. Perhaps, that is the goal of prayer, acquiring the mind of Christ, understanding the mind and heart of God. Let us remember this when we pray and especially when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, the prayer that Jesus himself taught us to pray.
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.
