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.
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.
