Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 21st February 2024
Abbot Paul • February 20, 2024
​Whereas yesterday’s message was quite a long one, today’s will be short. I returned quite late last night from a pastoral afternoon and evening in Leominster. Unfortunately, my hay fever has flared again, caused as usual in February by catkins in particular and tree pollens in general. It’s a real nuisance, as you never know when a sneezing fit will come on, especially in the middle of the night. The result can be quite painful and draining. I bought a forbidden antihistamine to keep at the side of my bed, just in case. I find it’s mere presence nearby has a soothing effect!
​Today’s Gospel passage is taken from Luke, (Lk 11: 29-32), and contains two interesting comparisons that Jesus makes with figures from the Old Testament, the prophet Jonah and the Queen of Sheba. “The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them: ‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign.’” Jesus was always being asked to prove who he was, just as John the Baptist before him. It was because of the authority with which he spoke and the miracles he performed, even more so because he told those he healed that their sins were forgiven them. As though all he did wasn’t sign enough, the crowds kept pressing him, encouraged by the scribes and Pharisees. So Jesus says, “The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement Day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached, they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.” Although Jesus says he will give only one sign, nevertheless he gives a second, that of the “Queen of the South.” The fact is that she came from afar to witness the wisdom and majesty of Solomon and yet in Jesus there is wisdom and majesty far greater than in Solomon. Likewise with Jonah, when the people of Nineveh heard him preach, they repented, and yet Jesus is far greater than Jonah, he is far more than a prophet, he is the incarnate Son of God.
​Lord, we thank you for the great men and women of the Old Testament, who have so much to teach us. Grant us their humility and spirit of obedience and their desire to do your will and seek your face. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming among us and for opening our hearts to receive the gift of divine wisdom. Amen.
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.
