Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 25th May

Abbot Paul • May 24, 2022

Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 25th May 2022

Yesterday, taking advantage of a meeting near Brecon, I was able to visit one a several ancient churches in the foothills of the Black Mountains, Llanelieu, about two miles from Talgarth. It’s a church I’ve long wanted to see. Sadly, Toby wasn’t with me to make the visit even more enjoyable. I hope that next time he will be. Dedicated to St Ellyw, said to be a daughter, or granddaughter, of Brychan Brycheiniog, who lived in the mid-5th century, the small church has been under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches since 1999. The church was built in the 13th century, and extensively rebuilt in the 15th century. The most impressive historic feature is an exceptionally large 14th century rood screen, retaining its loft. The screen loft is painted a startling blood-red colour, stencilled with white roses, and the loft panelling is pierced with small quatrefoil openings to give a view of the altar. The setting is quite dramatic, with outstanding scenery all around. As always, I sang a chant to Our Lady, this time the Regina Caeli, knowing that the stones and the screen remember. It is, of course, desperately sad to visit these ancient, abandoned churches, which were once the spiritual heart of devout Catholic communities. Leaning against the external wall of the porch are a pair of ancient pillar stones, dating from the 7th-9th century and in the tiny bell tower, two medieval bells. I thank God that, finally, I was able spend half an hour there in prayer and thanksgiving for my Christian faith.

Today, the Church in England and elsewhere keeps the feast of St Bede the Venerable, who died at his monastery near Jarrow on this day in the year 735, aged about 62. He entered the monastery at the age of seven and never left the enclosure, receiving his entire education and producing his many works of theology and history, homilies and biblical commentaries right there in the monastery. What always strikes me about Bede is the consistency in the quality of his work and the fact that it’s hard to believe that he was writing 1,400 years’ ago. Much of what he wrote is as fresh and interesting today as on the day he wrote it.

I’ll just say a few words about the Gospel reading for today, the Wednesday before Ascension Day. Continuing on from yesterday in John, (Jn 16: 12-15). Jesus is speaking with his disciples at the Last Supper.

“I still have many things to say to you

but they would be too much for you now.

But when the Spirit of truth comes

he will lead you to the complete truth,

since he will not be speaking as from himself

but will say only what he has learnt;

and he will tell you of the things to come.

He will glorify me,

since all he tells you

will be taken from what is mine.

Everything the Father has is mine;

that is why I said:

All he tells you

will be taken from what is mine.”

When we die or retire or move on to another job, we leave much undone. Others will carry on where we left off. They will probably do things differently, perhaps much better than we did. Some things will never be completed: they’ll be shelved and something new begun. Jesus could have stayed longer with his disciples, but no, he promises them the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who will teach them everything and lead them to the complete truth. The Spirit, like Jesus, will also be speaking what the Father has given him to say. His teaching will come from the Father, who will glorify Jesus with the truth spoken by the Spirit, that same truth that Jesus spoke. We often say that Jesus is present in the world and speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, that the Spirit reveals what the Church, in the name of Jesus, should teach in the world today, as it has done throughout the ages. The whole Synod process is about listening to what the Spirit is saying to the Church today. In the silence of our hearts and in obedience to Jesus and the will of the Father, let us listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Church today.

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