Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 28th February 2024
Abbot Paul • February 27, 2024
​It’s only 28th February and we’re already halfway through the second week of Lent. Palm Sunday is less than four weeks’ away. I must confess that as I admire the abundance of Spring flowers and all kinds of blossom, I am looking forward to the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. I feel that, in my heart, it is already Easter and Christ has risen within me. Do you feel that way too?
​Today’s Gospel reading comes from Matthew, (Mt 20: 17-28), and is really about the humility of Jesus and how the disciples should follow his example. In fact, Jesus and the disciples, probably quite a large group of people, are making their way up to Jerusalem, when he takes the Twelve to one side and speaks with them. “Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise again.” This is a very clear warning to them of what will happen once they arrive in Jerusalem, almost the title of each moment of his Passion, after which on the third day he will rise again. What follows would seem to suggest that the Twelve weren’t even listening to what he was saying, but it’s their mother rather than James and John themselves who comes forward to make a request of Jesus. She must have been a force to be reckoned with: she demands a promise from Jesus. No humility here: she is looking out for her sons and trying to promote their chances, but seems unaware still of the rules of the Kingdom that Jesus has come to inaugurate.
​“Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’” Jesus interrogates the sons, “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” Without batting an eyelid, they reply, “We can.” They have no idea what he’s talking about, although he had spoken to them of his forthcoming Passion. They can only think of the glory beyond the suffering, but are left wanting as Jesus cannot fulfil their request. It is an impossible demand. The Father alone will decide who sits where at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.
​There is indignation among the other Apostles, and rightly so, for they feel ashamed at what has happened. “When the other ten heard this, they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Jesus has an important word of teaching for all twelve and for us, his disciples and apostles in the world today. Just as Jesus came to serve and not to be served, so that must be our attitude and duty in life. Just as he came to give his life for others, so we must be a living sacrifice in the service and for the good of others, even those we don’t know and those who might even hate us. Our only desire should be to do good and to serve, not to be great and certainly not to be first. In Christ we are all brothers and sisters. Our only glory is to be God the Father’s children, the brothers, sisters and friends of Jesus Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of Jesus is nothing if not radical, and we are his disciples.
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.
