Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 22nd June

Message from Fr Paul for Tuesday, 22nd June 2021

           Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, two of the more famous and nationally important martyrs of the English Reformation. People usually know a great deal about St Thomas More, but far less about St John Fisher, so today I’ll give a brief summary of the life of the elder of the two. John was born in Beverley, Yorkshire, in 1469, the eldest of four children of a local merchant. He first went to school at Beverley Minster, and at the age of 14 was sent to Cambridge in order to become a priest. In 1491 he was ordained but continued to serve in Cambridge, becoming a Master of his college at the age of 28. In 1501 he received his Doctorate and was elected as Vice-Chancellor of the University. Henry VII recognised his qualities, and in 1504 appointed him as Bishop of Rochester. His connection with Cambridge continued, and he was instrumental in the completion of the famous King’s College Chapel. In 1509, at the age of 40, he preached the funeral sermon of King Henry VII. With the propagation of Luther’s ideas, he became drawn into the controversy on the side of the established views of the Church. Then, when King Henry VIII sought to divorce Queen Catherine, he took a stand against this proposed action. At a court held in in 1529 in front of Cardinals Wolsey and Campeggio, he publicly declared his opposition. At this stage Henry failed to obtain his divorce, and Fisher was allowed to withdraw to Rochester for a time. In February 1531, Henry VIII declared himself as Supreme Head and Protector of the English Church and Clergy. Fisher forced an amendment to this decree, “so far as the law of God allows”. The declaration, and Henry’s consequent divorce and marriage to Anne Boleyn, forced the English Church into schism. Following a series of legal actions by Thomas Cromwell, Bishop John, together with Sir Thomas More, was committed to the Tower of London for failing to acknowledge the King’s supremacy over the Church. Shortly afterwards, Pope Paul III created him a cardinal. Finally, in 1535, at the age of 66, he was found guilty of “denying the King’s supremacy”. On June 22nd he was taken to Tower Hill, declaring to the crowd, “I am come hither to die for the faith of Christ’s Holy Catholic Church”, and was then beheaded. An appropriate epitaph is that from his fellow-prisoner and fellow-martyr, Sir Thomas More, who was beheaded a fortnight later at the age of 57. “I reckon in this realm no one man, in wisdom, learning, and long approved virtue together, meet to be matched and compared with him.” They were canonised by Pope Pius XI in 1935.

           Although there is a special Gospel read in England for the feast, we will continue our reading of the Sermon on the Mount, (Mt 7: 6; 12-14), which consists of three well-known sayings of Jesus. “Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, or they may trample them and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.” He warns his disciples not to waste things of value on those who do not appreciate them. In Jesus’ culture dogs were rarely pets but lived in packs and could be dangerous, whereas pigs were regarded as unclean. To call someone a dog or a pig was a grave insult, yet that is what Jesus calls those who oppose him and reject him as Messiah. Bluntly put, Jesus is telling us not to waste our resources even when it comes to preaching the Gospel. You can’t preach to those who won’t listen, whose minds are closed to God. Let’s be honest, not all Jesus’ sayings are easy to swallow!

“So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophet.” To treat others as we would like them to treat us seems reasonable enough, but not always easy to put into practice. We mustn’t forget that Jesus didn’t say, treat others as they treat you, but as you would want them to treat you. It’s important to read the small print!

 “Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to perdition is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” In John’s Gospel, Jesus talks about himself being the gate through which the sheep enter the sheepfold. He is the narrow gate that leads to life. He also said. “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” Jesus is the narrow gate and the hard road, which is the way of the cross. He has asked each one of us to take up our cross daily and follow him. There is no mention of fate or destiny or of doing anything against our will. All people are free to choose the road they take in life. There is a choice and we must decide. Either we are for Jesus or against him, either we walk with him or we don’t. However, Jesus wants us to make an absolute, total and loving commitment to him, a commitment that will lead to life, the eternal life of God’s kingdom. Although the road is wide and spacious that leads to perdition and many take it, that does not mean that at any time in their lives and at any place along the road, they cannot change their minds and opt for the hard way and the narrow gate. In fact, this parable is a call to conversion and new life. It’s never too late. Think of the parable of the labourers in the town square. Those taken on at the last minute received as much as those who had worked all day. God is merciful and just. Praise him!