Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 26th January

Abbot Paul • January 25, 2022

Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 26th January 2022 

 Today we continue our reading of Mark’s Gospel, (Mk 4: 1-20), with the Parable of the Sower. When we look at the text, we note that it is divided into three sections. To begin with, after setting the scene and telling us that Jesus began to teach many things in parables, Jesus simply tells the story of the parable. We are not told which other parables he used for teaching that day. The scene then changes to Jesus alone with the Twelve, who don’t understand the parable and ask for an explanation. To begin with he tells them why he uses parables. Thirdly comes the explanation of the parable in an allegorical way, Jesus indicating what each word represents. He is surprised by their lack of perception and understanding. He exclaims. “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?” Was it too much to expect of them, perhaps, at this early stage of their discipleship? What Jesus fails to tell them is the identity of the sower. Who is the sower, if not Jesus, himself, if not God? If the sower is sowing the word, then the sower can be no one else, unless, looking to the future, it could be an apostle sent by Jesus to proclaim the Good News in his name?

 For us, it would be important lo look at the quality of the soil we offer to God when he comes to sow his word in our heart. How do we receive the word, nurture it, allow it to grow and flourish within us, use it, share it, propagate it? Are we prepared, in time, to become sowers of the word ourselves, givers as well as receivers? If we simply keep the word for ourselves, lock it away, then what purpose does it serve? What do we do to help others become more receptive to the word? Do we make the word attractive to others by the way we live out the word from day to day? The parables, of course, are about Jesus: they point to him as the word made flesh, God incarnate, he through whom “everything was made that was made,” as John write in the Prologue to his Gospel. Can others see that to be true by the way we live out our own hearing of the word?

---

 I apologise for the brevity of today’s message and any inadequacies, of which there are many. I was seriously exhausted last night after a very busy day.


By Abbot Brendan Thomas June 22, 2025
The Murmuration of the Spirit
By Abbot Brendan Thomas June 19, 2025
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.
June 19, 2025
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
By Abbot Brendan Thomas June 19, 2025
The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency Report, published in June 2025
By Abbot Brendan Thomas June 8, 2025
The Murmuration of the Spirit
June 7, 2025
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.
June 7, 2025
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.
By Abbot Brendan Thomas May 30, 2025
Our brethren in Peru were delighted with the election of Pope Leo.
By Abbot Brendan Thomas May 29, 2025
A Festival of the Future of the World: Abbot Brendan's Homily
By Abbot Brendan Thomas May 25, 2025
Our brethren in Peru were delighted with the election of Pope Leo.
More Posts