Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 14th September 2022

Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 14th September 2022

 Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in thanksgiving for the gift of Redemption and Salvation won for us by Jesus Christ, Incarnate Son of God, on the wood of the Cross. At Belmont we have an important, historic relic of the True Cross, which will be on display for our veneration today, as it is on Good Friday.

 The Gospel chosen for today comes from John, (Jn 3: 13-17), part of the discourse of Jesus to Nicodemus, a leading Jew, who came to him by night to ask what he should do to be saved. Jesus says:

“No one has gone up to heaven

except the one who came down from heaven,

the Son of Man who is in heaven;

and the Son of Man must be lifted up

as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,

so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.

Yes, 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.”

Jesus describes himself as the Son of Man who has come down from heaven, and yet remains in heaven. He must be lifted up just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness in order that those who believe in him may not perish but have eternal life. God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that those who believe in him might not be lost but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world but to save it. God loves us and shows us the depth of his love in his beloved Son. Who would not give thanks today on this wonderful feast?

 Today Fr Michael returns to Belmont to be Prior and Novice Master in succession to Fr Brendan, not exactly the retirement he was hoping for, while Fr Brendan goes down into Hereford to become Parish Priest of St Francis Xavier and Dean of Herefordshire. I know you will pray for them both, that the Lord will bless and accompany them in their new ministries, granting them courage, wisdom, patience, compassion, good humour and personal holiness.