Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 13th March 2024
Abbot Paul • March 12, 2024
​Yesterday I visited my mother together with Toby. Now 97 years’ old, she still amazes both of us with the most spectacular meals. Of course, she’s not an easy person to get on with and over our lifetime together we’ve had a number of ups and downs. I’m blessed in having a very special friend who prays for me each time I go home, not only that I have a safe journey there and back, but also that my mum and I discover that maternal and filial love that at times has been missing from our lives. Yesterday his prayer was particularly powerful enabling us both to cherish the glory of God’s love.
​​I will just say a few words about today’s Gospel from John, (Jn 5: 17-30). Our passage is the continuation of yesterday’s reading, where we heard of the third sign that Jesus gave in healing a sick man at the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem. John frequently talks about “the Jews,” by which he usually means the religious leaders in Jerusalem, high priests, scribes and Pharisees. This doesn’t refer to ordinary folk, let alone the sick and the outcast. Jesus tries to explain why he does the things he does, especially healing on the Sabbath. “Jesus said to the Jews, ‘My Father goes on working, and so do I.’ But that only enrages them more and they become intent on killing him, because, not content with breaking the sabbath, he speaks of God as his own Father, and so makes himself God’s equal.” John’s Gospel is powerfully Christological and doesn’t shy away from presenting Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God. Little wonder the religious authorities take exception to his teaching and oppose him from the start. He is not the sort of Messiah they’re expecting and certainly not the one they want. To the accusation, Jesus replies, and here I only give a brief summary. You will need to read the text yourselves. Jesus develops in some detail the theme of his relationship with God, of the Son to the Father. He says,
“the Son can do nothing by himself;
he can do only what he sees the Father doing:
and whatever the Father does the Son does too.”
You will notice that this monologue of Jesus is written in poetic form, following the Hebrew tradition of the Prophets and Wisdom Literature.
​​“Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses;
for the Father judges no one;
he has entrusted all judgement to the Son,
so that all may honour the Son
as they honour the Father.”
Already, at this stage in his ministry, Jesus is talking of raising the dead and giving them new life. He is talking about his own death and resurrection and that of those who believe in him, for he also goes on to say,
​​“I tell you most solemnly,
whoever listens to my words,
and believes in the one who sent me,
has eternal life;
without being brought to judgement
he has passed from death to life.”
Later in the Gospel, Jesus will tell his disciples that, “I and the Father are one.” But for now, he concludes, saying,
​“my aim is to do not my own will,
but the will of him who sent me.”
​Heavenly Father, may it be our desire, as it was always that of Jesus to do your will, and your will only, as we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Amen
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.
