Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 1st May 2024
Abbot Paul • April 30, 2024
​It’s somewhat difficult to write a short message on a Gospel text twice in one week. Today’s Gospel passage, (Jn 15: 1-8), was also read on Sunday. It’s that part of Jesus’ farewell discourse at the Last Supper, where he compares the union that must exist between his disciples and himself to a vine and its branches. It’s a beautiful image with a vivid metaphor to describe that most intimate union between God and ourselves in, through and with Christ Jesus. At key moments in his ministry, Christ emphasized his equality with God in the clearest possible terminology. The strongest affirmations of his divinity employed the name for God used when the Father first revealed himself to Moses, "I AM" or “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus has already said, "I am the Light of the world" (John 8:12); "I am the Bread of Life" (John 6:35); "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6); and "I am the Door" (John 10:9), “I am the Good Shepherd” (Jn 10:11) and, my favourite, “Before Abraham was, I am” (Jn 8: 58). Now, the night before his Passion and Death, he tells them, "I am the Vine." Like the other great "I am" passages recorded in the Gospel of John, it points to his divinity. Each one is a metaphor that elevates Jesus to the level of Creator, Sustainer, Saviour and Lord, all titles that can be claimed by God alone.
​“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you. Make your home in me, as I make mine in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.’” Jesus says that his disciples are like branches that bear fruit but need pruning. There is no such thing as a fruitless Christian. Every Christian bears some fruit. You may have to look hard to find even a small grape, but if you look hard enough, you will find something. It is the essence of the Christian life to bear fruit and, in Matthew, Jesus says, “By their fruits you will know them.” (Mt 7: 16). The Greek word Jesus uses for “to prune” also means “to cleanse”, so this gives us an indication of what pruning really means for Jesus, “who came to save his people from their sins.” Pruning is necessary in our spiritual lives. The Father removes our sins and all superfluous things that limit our fruitfulness. One of the best ways to cleanse us is to allow suffering to come into our lives. He prunes us with a vinedresser's knife, which is the word of God. Sometimes it hurts, and we question what he is doing. It may seem we are the only branch getting pruned, while other branches need it more. But the Vinedresser knows what he is doing. Spiritual pruning can take many forms. it may be sickness, hardships or loss of material possessions. It may be persecution or slander from non-Christians. For some it is the loss of a loved one or grief in a relationship. Or it may be a combination of some or all of these. Whatever the method, the effect is to narrow our focus and improve the quality of our fruit. Whatever the method of pruning God uses, we can be assured that he cares for us and wants us to bear much fruit. He wants to free us from what drains our life and energy. He continues his care throughout our lives to keep us spiritually healthy and productive.
​Above all, what is truly essential is that we remain united to Christ and “live in him”. Just as he is united with the Father and is one with him. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire, and they are burnt. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it. It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.” Jesus shares his very life with us by giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit, feeding us with his Body and Blood and instructing us with his Word. In this way, we will be united with Jesus and in him with the Father, whose greatest desire is that we should bear much fruit. God has no other desire than what is best for us.
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.
Archbishop Mark O'Toole, of Cardiff-Menevia presided at the Requiem Mass for Bishop Mark, while Abbot Brendan conducted his burial. Cardinal Vincent Nichols preached a homily full of warmth and affection for Bishop Mark which is reproduced below.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB RIP Given at his funeral by Dom Alexander Kenyon Baby Jean Pierre (Mark) Jabale was born on October 16th, 1933, in Alexandria, Egypt. As he said, himself, his background could be considered “cosmopolitan”: his father was Lebanese / French and his Mother, British / Greek / French. He also reminded people that he wasn’t Egyptian. Through his mother, Arlette, he was related to St. Jean Vianney, so it was, perhaps, no surprise that he followed in his priestly footsteps. His father, Jean, was MD of Fiat and Simca cars Europe and, maybe surprisingly or not, he did love a car – not, however, Italian cars, but German; he loved his Audis. Perhaps we should begin today by remembering his mother and father, his brothers Christian and Paul and his nieces, here today, Aline and Nathalie and Isabelle and their families – they were so dear to him and he to them and I know they miss him enormously. Young Jean wanted to join the Navy and came to England, to Belmont Abbey school but the Lord had other ideas – he ended up joining the rather land locked monastery, our dear, late Fr. Raymund opining that he wouldn’t last a month. After a rather uninspiring course of priestly studies (his words, not mine) he studied for a Licentiate in French literature in Fribourg, then a Dip Ed at Strawberry Hill and played Rugby there – the Papist Witch Doctor as he was affectionately known. Teaching followed, at Belmont, Housemaster, acting Headmaster, then to Alderwasley, our prep school in Derbyshire as Headmaster, and then back to Belmont soon after as Headmaster. In 1983 he went to Peru to build our first monastery there only to realise there was little money. So, he returned to the UK to put in a stint of fundraising with his usual zeal and determination. With his mission accomplished he was asked by Abbot Alan to return to Belmont as his prior in 1986 – Peru remained close to his heart. In 1993 he was elected Abbot. In his time as Abbot, he had to preside over the closure of the school, necessary but no less painful for him. In 2000 he was appointed coadjutor Bishop of Menevia and succeeded Bishop Mullins in 2001. He retired as Ordinary in 2008 and “retired” to Chipping Norton as parish priest, then Hendon, saying Mass for the nuns and helping with confirmations. After a spell at Archbishop’s House, Westminster, living with his great friend Cardinal Nichols, he came home to Belmont – it was as though he had never been away and he loved being back in the monastery, particularly praying the Office with the community. That’s the list, of sorts, but it doesn’t really say “who” he was. I haven’t mentioned his outstanding contribution to rowing – the 1979 coxless, lightweight four gold medal at the world championships in Bled, which almost didn’t happen as, at the last minute, he was told there was no money to send the crew. He begged, cajoled and got them there – the video footage of the final is compelling. He transformed Henley Royal Regatta, writing a computer programme for the race results – he was well ahead of his time. He coached the Oxford Boat, ran the Heads of the River Schools Regatta, and more. What an achievement from someone who had never sat in a boat but learned on the job, as he said, “from books, mainly”. It was his determination, his commitment, his love of people and his drive to share what he had that is, perhaps, one of the key things to celebrate about him. And it was underpinned by his rock-solid faith – nothing overly pious, nothing showy, but a faith and a love of the Lord built on granite. Even his occasional lack of patience (sorry Mark) extended to that faith; ‘why won’t God call me?”. At the risk of being irreverent my response was always “would you want you?”. But God did want him, and he knew it. God had a purpose for his Apostle during his life and he now rests with Him in eternity. His purpose was, simply, to bring the joy of the Lord into the lives of others, in many and varied ways. A few weeks before Mark died, Pope Francis died. When the late Pope was seriously ill the son of friends of mine who entertained Mark and I to lunch regularly, was distraught at overhearing mum and dad say the Pope may die. He couldn’t stop crying. “But darling”, they said, “you don’t know the Pope, why so very sad?”. “We do know him” came the reply, “it’s Mark”. “No, Mark isn’t the Pope”. “Oh, so when the Pope does die will Mark be Pope then?”. Mark loved that one. When Mark himself did die said son would only be pacified by picking flowers from the garden and bringing them to church for him. He wanted to show how much Mark meant to him and wanted to give a little something back. That is the real biography – a man loved, respected, a man who shared what he had, above all his faith, a man who touched so many lives and made them better.  Rest in peace our dear friend.
Our brethren in Peru were delighted with the election of Pope Leo.
