Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 24th January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 24, 2023
As we’ve been reading the past few days, Sunday included, although from Matthew, Mark tells us how Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum to begin his ministry and how Capernaum became his headquarters. Today, Mark, (Mk 3: 31-35), recounts how the family of Jesus came over to Capernaum from Nazareth to see him. We are not told why they came, nor is there any mention made that they might have been worried about him or preoccupied for him. We are simply told that they came asking for him. His mother and brothers and sisters want to see him. This description of the visitors is repeated no less than four times in the short episode. They want to talk with him. We don’t know whether they would have liked him to return to Nazareth or if they came bringing gifts from home, especially food. All we know is that they arrive, stand outside the house (it must have been crowded) and ask for him. The message is passed on to Jesus. He doesn’t get up to go out, but looks at the crowd, his hearers, and says, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Then he adds, looking round at those sitting in a circle around him, “Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.”
​Did he then go out to see them and speak with them? We don’t know, we’re not told. Perhaps that isn’t the point of the story, rather the words of Jesus that he is forming a new concept of family, not one based on blood ties but on faith and discipleship, his mystical Body, the Church, God’s family, in which all those who believe and follow him are brothers and sisters. Nevertheless, the Gospels present us with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as the very first believer of the New Testament, she who believed God’s word and promise, said YES to God and conceived the Word made flesh, God Incarnate, the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. But who were these brothers and sisters? An ancient explanation is that they were the children of Joseph by an earlier marriage. We notice that Joseph isn’t mentioned after the infancy and childhood of Jesus, so he had probably died by then, leaving his older children, the half-brothers and sisters of Jesus in Mary’s household. This has always made sense to me and saves us searching after other explanations or theories.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully last night. He served this community well for many years, not least Abbot of the Community and before that Headmaster of the School. He was then asked to serve the wider church as Bishop of Menevia. May he know eternal happiness with God whom he served. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
A homily by Abbot Brendan at a special Easter Mass for Pope Francis, attended by Catholics from across the Deanery.
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.
