Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 12th July
Abbot Paul • July 12, 2022
My message for today will be shorter than usual, as I am at Buckfast Abbey in Devon for the General Chapter of the English Congregation. There must be about 45 people, monks and nuns, at this meeting, which will last until 21st July. Apart from Sunday, which will truly be a rest day, we will be busy working every morning, noon and night. There are compensations, of course, such as beautiful gardens, a lovely church to pray in, excellent company, stimulating conversation, good food and a variety of monastic shops to browse through. I miss Toby, but he’s on retreat at Cosy Toes, which he really loves. Belmont monks at the Chapter are Fr Richard from Whitehaven, the Belmont Delegate, Fr Brendan, Secretary to Chapter, Fr Jonathan, his Assistant, and Fr Luke, who is the Canonical Assessor. Nor must we forget Abbot Nicholas of Downside. It’s good to see younger monks taking over, as we older folk look forward to retirement. I promise more about, Chapter, Buckfast and places nearby in the days ahead.
Our Gospel reading today comes from Matthew, (Mt 11: 20-24), in which “Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent.” He says that had he worked the same miracles in pagan towns, such as Tyre and Sidon, then they would have repented. We must never forget that what Jesus wants most of all of us is repentance, which is a sign of gratitude to God for all that he has done for us. So today it would be good to pray for the gift of true repentance, so that Christ may live in our hearts through faith.
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Good Shepherd, Good Priest “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed; I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” Those words, spoken by the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel, describe the heart of God, the Good Shepherd — but they also describe the life and ministry of a good monk and priest. They could well be written of Fr Stephen’s years of service as a pastor in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford, and Weobley. In each of those places, he shared in the Shepherd’s work: seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, strengthening the weary, and leading God’s people with quiet faithfulness. And like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came close to his people, Fr Stephen did not serve from a distance. He knew his people; he was among them. He shared their sorrows and their joys, their hopes and their disappointments. He bore their burdens with prayer and patience he brought the joy of the Gospel and the grace of the Sacraments. His mission amongst us is complete. He has served God’s good purpose. So today we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to take Stephen on his sacred shoulders and carry him home to the house of the Father. Bind up his wounds, give him eternal rest and lead him at last to the green pastures and still waters of eternal life.
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