Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 10th April 2024
Abbot Paul • April 9, 2024
​Yesterday the day began wet and cold. I still take an early morning walk, following Toby’s preferred route. The robins and the blackbirds must be wondering why I’m walking alone. They used to love teasing Toby, chasing him and swooping down on him in mock attack. Then at 9 o’clock, when I went on the playing field to meet with his friends, both human and canine, I decided to take one of his footballs. It was as though he were still with me, though unseen. At least, I got some exercise. Then I drove home to my mother’s, where it was excessively windy, though the sun was shining. The house seemed empty without him. My mum has been particularly affected by his death. I decided against a visit to the beach, but we had a wonderful video call from friends on holiday in Greece, from a yacht in the Mediterranean, where Toby was remembered. What a difference that made: it brought joy to our hearts, as do all the many cards, emails and messages still coming in. Thank you so much; may the good Lord reward you. God is good and there are beacons of light everywhere, all signs of the Resurrection and of the hope that faith in our Risen Lord radiates in our hearts.
​Today’s Gospel reading, (Jn 3: 16-21), carries on from what we read yesterday, that quite extraordinary conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, the Pharisee who came to see Jesus by night. It begins with one of the most well-known and comforting sayings of Jesus. “Jesus said to Nicodemus:
‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.”
This is the most profound statement of God’s love for us. Jesus is the proof and deepest expression of God’s love. St Paul tells us in Romans 8: 31-39 that, ”Nothing can separate us from the love of God made manifest in his Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” God does not condemn us but wants only our salvation. While this is true, nevertheless we can reject God’s gift of salvation and love in Jesus, which is why Jesus goes on to say.
“No one who believes in him will be condemned;
but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already,
because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son.”
In other words, we condemn ourselves by refusing to believe. God leaves us free to accept or reject him. This is all part of the mystery of God’s plan for creation, that we have been created with free will and are free to say yes or no to God. He doesn’t force himself on us. Jesus then moves on to see this acceptance and rejection in terms of light and darkness.
“On these grounds is sentence pronounced:
that though the light has come into the world
men have shown they prefer darkness to the light
because their deeds were evil.
And indeed, everybody who does wrong
hates the light and avoids it,
for fear his actions should be exposed;
but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light,
so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.”
These words of Jesus remind us of the Prologue to John’s Gospel, that the Word made flesh is a light that shines in the darkness, a light that can neither be overcome nor understood. Nevertheless, we often choose darkness rather than light, evil and sin rather than goodness and life, in other words we reject rather than accept Jesus. We also remember that Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” These three go together and cannot be separated. We cannot pick and choose! Let us pray for the grace to live by the truth and walk in the light, today and always. Amen.
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.
