Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 27th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 26, 2023
​It’s good during the Christmas Octave to read a Gospel passage at Mass that recounts the resurrection of Jesus. Today we read from John, (Jn 20: 2-8), precisely because it is the feast of St John the Evangelist. This account is probably a personal recollection of how he accompanied Peter to the empty tomb after the disciples had been told by Mary Magdalene that she had found the sepulchre empty and the stone rolled away. Let us hear what the evangelist wrote.
“On the first day of the week Mary of Magdala came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.”
​John isn’t named, but is simply called “the other disciple.” This has always been taken to be John the Evangelist, although there exists an ongoing debate among biblical scholars as to the identity of this disciple and his relationship with the author of the Fourth Gospel. We won’t enter into that scholarly debate here. Suffice it to say that Mary of Magdala, the Apostle of the Apostles, informs the apostles that the tomb is empty and that the body of Jesus cannot be found. The two set off running together, but the younger runs faster and gets there first. John stoops down to see the state of the tomb and notes the “linen cloths lying on the ground,” but, giving precedence to Peter, does not go in. Peter runs up and goes straight in and sees not only what John saw, but much more, yet remains mystified. The details are described. The beloved disciple goes in after Peter. All we are told is that, “he saw and he believed.” In John’s Gospel the verb to see means far more than mere sight. It means to see with the eyes of the heart and with the eyes of the soul, to grasp the truth and understand it, to see what something really signifies, the hidden meaning, and ultimately to come to faith. What is there to believe? That Jesus is the Risen Lord of all creation, the Resurrection and the Life. For the beloved disciple the empty tomb is more than sufficient evidence to believe that Jesus is risen from the dead.
​Today, 27th December, the feast of St John the Evangelist, let us pray that, through his example and intercession, our Risen Lord, who is the babe in the manger, will increase our faith and strengthen our resolve to live good Christian lives, filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit. 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.
