Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 7th February 2023
Abbot Paul • February 7, 2023
Who would not be shocked by the mammoth earthquakes that took place in south eastern Turkey and north western Syria late on Sunday night and early yesterday morning? I have experienced many earth tremors and la few earthquakes both in Italy and Peru, so know the sense of fear and helplessness that strikes us when the earth we’re standing on or the building we’re working or praying in begins to shake to and fro or, worse still, up and down. It’s frightening beyond belief. We pray for our brothers and sisters who have been killed or injured, left homeless or without family, friends and neighbours. We pray for those countless people who are helping to alleviate the suffering of survivors and seeking to find those who are trapped under the rubble. Lord, in your mercy be with them all, show them your merciful love and give them all the help they need to face a difficult future.
​Today’s Gospel goes further into our reading of Mark, (Mk 7: 1-13), with an argument between Jesus and a group of Pharisees and scribes. It began because some of Jesus’ disciples were eating with unclean hands, i.e. ritually unclean. “The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus, and they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. For the Pharisees, and the Jews in general, follow the tradition of the elders and never eat without washing their arms as far as the elbow; and on returning from the market place, they never eat without first sprinkling themselves. There are also many other observances which have been handed down to them concerning the washing of cups and pots and bronze dishes. So these Pharisees and scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands?’” In their origins, all these laws were norms of hygiene, but gradually they took on an exaggeratedly ritualistic meaning. Jesus’ objective was to recover their original meaning, that of health and hygiene and not of religious observance. This is why he calls the Pharisees hypocrites, who only honour God by lip-service but not by obedience or a contrite heart. As Jesus says of them, taking his words from the prophet,
“The worship they offer me is worthless,
the doctrines they teach are only human regulations.”
And he adds, “You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions. How ingeniously you get round the commandment of God in order to preserve your own tradition!” At times I think this is true a certain Christians, who are more interested in preserving their own traditions than in making the Gospel accessible to those who are searching for God and for his truth. As Jesus concludes, saying to the Pharisees, “In this way you make God’s word null and void for the sake of your tradition which you have handed down. And you do many other things like this.” I hope and pray he doesn’t have to say this to any of us today.
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.
