Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 20th March 2024
Abbot Paul • March 19, 2024
​There are days when it’s easy to write this message, plain sailing in fact, and there are days when I have difficulty knowing just where to begin and what to say. Usually, the Gospel of the day inspires a response, but there are times when I wonder how on earth to explain in a few, simple words what Jesus is saying, something that might be helpful for us today, not that the word of God is ever irrelevant, how could it be? But Jesus spoke in one particular context and the Gospels were written in another particular context, and that is what makes it difficult at times, but not just difficult, above all fascinating and rewarding. Today’s Gospel passage from John, (Jn 8: 31-42) is no exception.
​Jesus is speaking with Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem. Some have come to believe in him, but then he says,
“If you make my word your home
you will indeed be my disciples,
you will learn the truth
and the truth will make you free.”
These are not easy words for them to accept. In what way are they not free, they wonder, since they are descended from Abraham. How can the truth make them free, if they are not slaves? In reply, Jesus says that, “everyone who commits sin is a slave.” He then adds, “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” He knows that by birth they are “sons of Abraham” and that Abraham is their father, but what are they in reality? Abraham was obedient to God and walked with God, but they do not, because they will not listen to Jesus. He says clearly,
“If you were Abraham’s children,
you would do as Abraham did.
As it is, you want to kill me
when I tell you the truth,
as I have learnt it from God;
that is not what Abraham did.
What you are doing is what your father does.”
Jesus keeps repeating the fact that they want to kill him. In John, the Passion narrative seems to begin from very early in the Gospel, and it’s only in John that we find these long discussions, really interrupted discourses on the part of Jesus. His hearers are outraged and react by saying, “’We were not born of prostitution,’ and ‘we have one father: God.’” To this Jesus retorts,
“If God were your father, you would love me,
since I have come here from God;
yes, I have come from him;
not that I came because I chose,
no, I was sent, and by him.”
Not to recognise and accept Jesus as Son of God and love him, means not knowing God and not loving and obeying him. To love Jesus is to love God, for Jesus is God. What we find in John’s Gospel is known as high Christology. An easy way of remembering this is to think of Jesus’ words to Philip, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father." (Jn 14: 9)
​So, the question for us today is yet again, how do we see Jesus, who is he for us? A theologian once described him as being “the human face of God.” Do you find that description or definition helpful? Do you see the Father in Jesus? Personally, I just take what Jesus says as truth. For me, he is the Way and the Truth and the Life. Not only that, when I read or hear the Gospel read, I know it is Jesus speaking to my heart and I thrill at the sound of his voice. Strange, in the realm of faith, I’m still that small boy who first heard Jesus speak to me when my own father read me bedtime stories from the Children’s Bible and that was a long time ago.
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.
