Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 27th September 2022
Abbot Paul • September 27, 2022
Yesterday was such a busy day what with interviews and meetings that I ran out of time to write a message for today. In fact, it was the busiest workday of the Visitation of our Peruvian monastery so far and tomorrow looks to be similar. At least we are hoping to get the work done by Wednesday lunchtime, with the help of God. You won’t be surprised to hear that people here are suffering the same price rises as in the U.K. The strange thing Is that even locally produced guano fertiliser has tripled in price, taking advantage of the steep hikes in imported fertilisers from Ukraine and the U.S. You have to wonder about a large percentage of the population that lives below the breadline, and the same goes for many other countries in the world. Peru should be one of the richest countries in Latin America, but misgovernment and corruption, as well as greed put an end to that hope. I realise that the situation in the U.K. is critical, so I won’t bore you with any more news of Peru. I hadn’t meant to write the above, but I worry for our Peruvian brethren, as you can imagine.
Our Gospel reading for today from Luke, (Lk 9: 51-56), marks that key moment in the life and ministry of Jesus when, “Jesus resolutely took the road to Jerusalem.” Luke comments that Jesus was thinking not of his Crucifixion or Resurrection at this stage, but of his Ascension. He sends disciples ahead of him to announce his coming to towns and villages on the way. Two enter a Samaritan village and are rejected because they are making their way to Jerusalem. When James and John ask Jesus whether they should invoke fire from heaven to punish and kill the inhabitants, Jesus rebukes them. No punishment, no revenge, Jesus orders them to move on. Two questions for our reflection. Do we resolutely take the road with Jesus every day of our lives? Do we harbour feelings of hatred or revenge in our hearts rather than follow the example of Jesus?
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9th to 11th January 2026 A weekend for young men to experience the monastic life and join in the prayer and life of the community.
28th November at 6.45pm You are welcome to join an informal service for healing prayer on the last Friday of November. No need to book.
Sat 13th December, 10.00am-12.30am We are delighted that the acclaimed Cistercian writer, Fr Michael Casey will be with us in December.
Monday 1st to Thursday 4th December 2025. Our first Advent retreat in our newly opened guesthouse
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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