Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 30th August

Message from Fr Paul for Tuesday, 30th August 2022

 Today the Church in Herefordshire celebrates the feast of the martyr Blessed Roger Cadwallador, who suffered the most horrible death in Leominster on 27th August 1610 for the sole crime of being a Catholic priest, who ministered to his poor flock throughout the county both in English and in Welsh, as he had been born into a Welsh Catholic family at Stretton Sugwas in 1568. He studied for the priesthood in France and Spain and was ordained a priest at Valladolid in 1593. In addition to being an exemplary pastor under persecution, he was also a brilliant linguist and an acknowledged Greek scholar. Tragically, he gave his life for Christ and his Church at the early age of 41. We pray that he may not be forgotten, but rather continue to serve as an example for all Christians as well as for Catholics. Among the many Reformation martyrs, I find him one of the most attractive.

 Yesterday Toby and I were able to spend the day with my mother. From the small amount of traffic on the roads, you could hardly tell it was a bank holiday. My mother is amazingly back to preparing full meals again, so it was both lunch and supper for me, but just supper for Toby as he was exhausted by the journey down. We decided not to go to the beach on account of the crowds and the heat: in the sun it was very hot indeed. Toby preferred to sleep on the cool kitchen floor and take short walks in the garden. I was blessed in having a long siesta.

 Our Gospel reading comes from Luke, (Lk 4: 31-37), and begins with a typical Lucan summary, one of the many skills of the author. “Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority.” This will be a constant throughout the Gospel, that Jesus makes a deep impression on the people, who meet him and listen to his teaching or are present at his miracles, for what he does and says is brought about with an authority that no one else has. Luke immediately gives an example of what he is saying when Jesus casts out an unclean devil. “In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonishment seized them and they were all saying to one another, ‘What teaching! He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.’ And reports of him went all through the surrounding countryside.” The crowd that sees the miracle is astounded. People are amazed at his teaching, which has power and authority that they have never seen before. This is also true for us today. We, too, have experienced the power and authority of Jesus in our lives. Let us share our faith with others, then, with joy and thanksgiving.