Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 4th July 2023
Abbot Paul • July 3, 2023
A busy day yesterday with both Abbot’s Council and Trustees meetings to eat up half the day, so it meant missing my usual Monday morning zoom meeting with old school friends. Still, I was able to tick the ‘duty done’ box and, in truth, a lot was accomplished in a positive and amicable way, so no complaints.
​Our Gospel passage today sees us with Jesus getting into a boat to accompany his disciples across the lake, although we are told by Matthew that he got in first and that they followed him, (Mt 8: 23-27). “Jesus got into the boat followed by his disciples. Without warning a storm broke over the lake, so violent that the waves were breaking right over the boat. But he was asleep. So they went to him and woke him saying, ‘Save us, Lord, we are going down!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again. The men were astounded and said, ‘Whatever kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him.’”
Just when they think that nothing is going to happen, “without warning” a routine crossing turns into a nightmare: so violent is the storm that huge waves are breaking over the boat. This might just be a lake, but strong winds can whip up a violent storm. Jesus is unaffected and sleeps tranquilly in spite of what’s going on around him. On the other hand, the disciples are scared stiff and wake him screaming, “Save us, Lord, we’re going down.” Why do they turn to Jesus at this stage of his ministry? Do they already believe that he has divine power, so as to calm storms and save lives? Even so, Jesus calls them, “men of little faith.” With that, he rebukes the wind and the sea, and all is calm again. Although they asked him to save them, the disciples are astounded and scratch their heads in wonder. They have witnessed a miracle and exclaim that, “even the winds and the sea obey him.” This episode is a call to prayer, that we pray more and see in Jesus the one who answers our prayers. Nothing should surprise us when we pray to Jesus.
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.
