Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 15th February 2023
Abbot Paul • February 14, 2023
Yesterday was a wonderful, but exhausting day, as Toby and I went home to my mother’s to celebrate her 96th birthday. We had a really good day together, although I always feel guilty about the amount of work we cause by our arrival and stay. My mother is still hyper-independent and not the sort of woman who allows others to do things for her, difficult when you would like to give a helping hand. The walk on the beach with Toby and an old school friend was like stepping into Paradise for an hour or more. You can feel the sea air doing you good.
​Our Gospel today from Mark, (Mk 8: 22-26), sees Jesus healing a blind man at Bethsaida, a name that means either house of the hunter or house of the fisherman. It was the hometown of Andrew, Peter and Philip. Scholars disagree as to where exactly to was, probably on the eastern side of Lake Galilee somewhere in the Bethsaida Valley. “Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida, and some people brought to him a blind man whom they begged him to touch. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Then putting spittle on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked, ‘Can you see anything?’ The man, who was beginning to see, replied, ‘I can see people; they look like trees to me, but they are walking about.’ Then he laid his hands on the man’s eyes again and he saw clearly; he was cured, and he could see everything plainly and distinctly. And Jesus sent him home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’”
​As often happens, the sick person is brought to Jesus by others and we are not told if they are friends or family. They know that Jesus’ touch is miraculous, but Jesus does nothing there and then. Rather, he leads the man out of the village, taking him by the hand. He lays hands on him and then anoints his eyes with spittle. Jesus brings about a new creation through the life-giving power of his touch and his saliva. To begin with the healing is partial, for the man recognises people looking like trees. Perhaps, he was not blind from birth, but had seen before. A second laying on of hands assures the healing and restoration of sight. However, Jesus sends him home and does not want him going back into the town, spreading the news of his healing. Jesus does not seek publicity, but simply the healing, forgiveness and salvation of sinners.
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.
