Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 1st February 2023
Abbot Paul • February 1, 2023
Many have asked for an update on Fr Alex in Peru. His operation was planned to take place at 7pm (midnight GMT) on Tuesday, so in the course of today there should be news of his progress. Br Mario, who is a doctor, will keep me informed of how Fr Alex is getting on. He is very grateful for your prayers and asks you to continue praying until he is out of danger.
So we come to the beginning of a new month, the second of 2023, and the vigil of the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, the last of the Christmas/Epiphany feasts. Christmas trees and cribs should not come down until tomorrow night. Our short Gospel reading today from Mark, (Mk 6: 1-6), sees Jesus pay a visit to his home town of Nazareth. He went accompanied by his disciples. ”With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him.” As a matter of courtesy, Jesus would have been invited to address the congregation. By now he was so accustomed to preaching and teaching, that he always did so in any synagogue, and Nazareth was no exception. After all, wasn’t it here that he leant the art in the first place?
Nevertheless, the people were astounded by his eloquence and wisdom.
They asked one another, “Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?” They were amazed both at his wisdom and at the miracles we wrought. They just couldn’t make it out. They knew him to be a carpenter, but no more. Mary, his mother, is mentioned and four brothers by name and then his sisters. Joseph seems to have been a long time dead, as no mention is made of him. Could these brothers and sisters of Jesus have been children of Joseph’s by an earlier marriage? That’s what tradition tells us and it seems to most probable solution. One thing is certain: the people of Nazareth “would not accept him.” Jesus’ reaction was to say, “A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house.” This saying of Jesus has become proverbial. In Nazareth he only worked a few miracles, but Jesus “was amazed at their lack of faith.”
If Jesus came to our town or village today, would he be amazed at our lack of faith? I often wonder. What do you think?
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
