Message from Fr Paul for Sunday 26th June

Fr Paul • June 26, 2022

 

Perhaps it was the long wait since 2019 for another Summer Fete to take place, but yesterday’s was the most enjoyable, happiest and best run I can ever remember and I go back a long time, to the legendary days of Fr Denis. The weather was unpredictable with heavy rain overnight, then more heavy rain around 1.15pm and a dramatic thunderstorm about 3pm, bang in the middle of events. No one was deterred, least of all our volunteers, and there was abundant shelter. Our deepest thanks and warmest congratulations go out to Louise Wright and her magnificent team. Everyone I spoke with kept saying, “What a fantastic fete this is. We’re loving it.” The theme this year was TOGETHER AGAIN and it was certainly that. What a joy it was to meet up and chat with people we hadn’t seen for three years. It was also the answer to a lot of prayer, collaboration and dedication.

 

           It’s good to go back to celebrating an Ordinary Sunday again after a divine glut of feasts and solemnities, but we mustn’t forget that the days have begun to shorten and we’re now less than six months’ away from Christmas day. Our Gospel passage comes from Luke, (Lk 9: 51-62), who reminds us that Jesus’ time to return to the Father is approaching. He writes, “As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.” This is the point in the Gospel story when we realise along with Jesus and his disciples that there’s no turning back. What lies ahead: arrest, trial, condemnation, death, resurrection and ascension must be faced and accomplished resolutely because this is the Father’s will and the reason why Christ is with us. Everything now points to what will happen in Jerusalem. On the way, in Samaria, there is the experience of rejection. The disciples sent into a Samaritan village are not made welcome, but Jesus wants no punishment, no retribution.

 

           There then follow three encounters between Jesus and men who would follow him, even declare their longing and intention to do so, but have important matters to deal with before they fulfil their wish and follow Jesus.

     “As they travelled along, they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

  Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first.’ But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’

  Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say goodbye to my people at home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

To the first Jesus gives a salutary warning that it is easy to express one’s desire to follow Jesus, but difficult to fulfil it. To the second, a criticism, for there can be nothing more important for a disciple than to follow Christ and join him in proclaiming the Good News. To the third, a similar criticism, that once a disciple has chosen to follow Christ, there can be no turning back or delay.

 

           These words of Jesus might sound somewhat harsh to us. Can being a Christian and a disciple of Jesus be so hard? But look, Jesus “resolutely took the road for Jerusalem” and our following of Jesus must be with that same spirit of resolve. Today’s Gospel passage and the first reading from the First Book of Kings, that charming account of the call of Elisha by Elijah, are an invitation to us all to consider the fidelity, quality and intensity of our own resolve to follow Jesus as his disciples, called and chosen. Could we do better?




Fr Paul

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Message from Fr Paul for Sunday 15th October

By Luke Evans • October 19, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 1 st October 2023 Yesterday was a busy but happy day in the service of the Lord. In the morning, after Conventual Mass and Toby’s second walk of the day, I drove up to Leominster for Mass and Confessions, then came back to Belmont for a joyful wedding, elegant, homely and relaxed. Then came the Mass of Thanksgiving for the Silver Jubilee of Fr Richard’s Priestly Ordination, an uplifting celebration followed by a magnificent, traditional tea party. It was lovely to see so many well-known faces from all the parishes where Fr Richard has served. As a monk can never have too much of a good thing, this was followed by Solemn Vespers. Today, I will be at Leominster for Mass in the morning and again in the early afternoon, as well as at Bromyard for Mass later in the morning. Then, at 5.30pm the monastic community will sing Vespers at Hereford Cathedral for the vigil of the feast of St Thomas Cantilupe at the invitation of the Dean and Chapter. We are all looking forward enormously to returning to the Cathedral for the first time since lockdown. All are welcome to join us for Vespers. Fr Michael will preside and preach. Today’s Gospel from Matthew (Mt 21: 28-32) has Jesus asking the chief priests and elders of the people a question. “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, ‘My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not go,’ but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, ‘Certainly, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?” His question is based on the short parable of the two sons and the answer is obvious, but by getting the answer right, his adversaries fall into a trap. When they answer, “The first,” Jesus is able to compare them unfavourably with tax collectors and prostitutes, i.e. with public sinners. He contrasts the way they responded to John the Baptist’s preaching, which was to ignore him, and the response of sinners, which was to repent of their sins and change their way of life. Jesus says, “Tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.” Now it’s fine to talk about the high priests of Jesus’ time, about the elders of the people, the scribes and Pharisees, but what about us? What about me? Which son am I like? How closely do I listen to Jesus and take his teaching to heart? Does his teaching call me to repentance? Does his example move me to conversion and new life? These are important questions we should be asking ourselves today. Lord, I have often been disobedient to your will and have let myself down; help me out of my indolence and give me grace always to do what is right and just. Amen.

Message from Fr Paul for Saturday 14th October

By Luke Evans • October 19, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Saturday, 14 th October 2023 It was good to drive to Bromyard yesterday morning for Mass and to take Toby with me. This wasn’t new to him, of course, as in the past he had been there many times and always accompanied me when I went church crawling nearby. As you know, I love visiting ancient churches and love praying in them and singing the chant. I always get the feeling that the stones remember and rejoice. When I eventually move to Leominster and Bromyard next year on my retirement as abbot, one of the many things I’m looking forward to doing is visiting every ancient church in the north of Herefordshire, not that I can say that I’ve visited every medieval church in the south of the county, but I’m getting pretty close. Toby always accompanies me, as he loves sniffing around old churches and churchyards as much as I do. Today’s brief Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 11: 27-28), is a most suitable passage to be heard on Saturday, which is usually dedicated to Our Lady. Here it is: “As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” It’s somewhat similar to the short account we read recently of a visit made by Mary and his brothers to Jesus, when he was preaching to the crowds and healing them. “Who are my mother and my sisters and brothers?” he asked, replying that those who hear the word and kept it are his mother and sisters and brothers. This time it is a woman in the crowd, who shouts out, “Blessed are the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked.” It’s not that Jesus disagrees with what she says, but he takes her thought a stage further. “Even more blest those who hear the word of God and keep it.” Who is more blessed than Mary his mother, who heard the word of God and kept it? We ask Mary’s prayers today that we, like her, may hear the word of God and keep it.

Message from Fr Paul for Friday 13th October

By Luke Evans • October 19, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Friday, 13 th October 2023 It’s 11pm on Thursday night as I sit down to write a few words for today’s message, my first day back at Belmont after a short break in Greece. However, the drive from Birmingham Airport to Hereford took much longer than expected because of roadworks on the M42 that resulted in lengthy diversions, causing us to arrive at Belmont well after 2am. I didn’t really recover all day. Then, after Compline, I had to drive down to Newport to collect Fr Alex, who was arriving from his visit to the Cistercian nuns at Las Huelgas, Burgos, Spain. I wonder why the train to Hereford leaves Newport three minutes before the train from Paddington arrives. Today the Church in England keeps the feast of St Edward the Confessor, last Anglo-Saxon king of the House of Wessex, who reigned from 1042 until 1066. He is buried at Westminster Abbey and was one of the English patron saints until replaced by St George by King Edward III. Our Gospel from Luke today, (Lk 11: 15-26), sees Jesus casting out a devil and then taking about the devil, whom he calls Beelzebul. He says, “If it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you.” It is God’s will and through his power that Jesus casts out devils, as he tries to bring healing, unity and reconciliation to all God’s children. There are many devils abroad in thew world today, wreaking havoc, death and destruction. We ask Jesus to cast these from our world through the power of God and to bring us that peace with God which alone can bring peace among his children.

Message from Fr Paul for Thursday 12th October

By Luke Evans • October 19, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Thursday, 12th October 2023 I spent much of yesterday travelling back to Belmont from Greece and I’m writing this short message in one of the many Lufthansa lounges at Munich Airport. As my plane doesn’t get into Birmingham until 11pm, I doubt I’ll arrive at Belmont much before 1am. I really enjoyed having a break, but as the Welsh say after a good day’s weather, “We’ll pay for it later.” Munich must be one of the best airports to negotiate as you make a connection from one flight to another, especially if you happen to have a British passport. On leaving Thessaloniki, I was asked by the young border policeman how I’d been allowed into Greece without a visa, as he didn’t recognise a new blue British Passport. He took it from me and went off to consult a senior colleague. It’s the first time in 60 years of visiting Greece on a regular basis that I felt like an alien in a foreign land! Today we keep the feast of St Wilfred in England, but in Spain and many countries in Latin America it’s La Virgen del Pilar, Our Lady of the Pilar, patron of Spain and venerated in Zaragoza, another reason why October is the month of Mary. Our Gospel from Luke today, (Lk 11: 5-13), is the continuation of yesterday’s, where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. It’s an extended commentary by Jesus on perseverance in prayer. “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.” Ultimately, the best gift of prayer is the Holy Spirit, whom our Heavenly Father gives to those who ask him.

Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday 11th October

By Luke Evans • October 19, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 11th October 2023 This afternoon and evening I will be travelling back to Belmont from Thessaloniki, where I have been staying with old university friends. It’s been good to rest and take things easy for nine days, although one friend has rather advanced Alzheimer’s, so it’s not always been easy. Together we have been following on television the tragic events taking place in Israel and Palestine and praying for peace and the safety of innocent people. Words fail before such horrific situations. Today the Church keeps the feast of a much-loved Pope, St John XXIII. We ask his intercession for peace in our world and for the unity of the Church, especially for the working the Synod. Our Gospel passage comes from Luke, (Lk 11: 1-4), in which Jesus teaches his disciples to pray at their request. “Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples, said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’” The disciples want to be like Jesus, their Lord, in every way, including his prayer life. It’s interesting to note that John the Baptist also taught his disciples to pray. The version of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke is shorter than in Matthew. “Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.” Had you thought of using this version from time to time? The essentials are there, especially the emphasis on forgiveness.

Message from Fr Paul for Tuesday 10th October

By Luke Evans • October 19, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Tuesday, 10th October 2023  All good things come to an end, as they say, and my break from work and responsibility is drawing to an end. Tomorrow evening I will return to Belmont. The rest has been wonderful, the peace, the quiet, the relaxation, the heathy diet and the prolonged opportunity for prayer. Yesterday we went for a ride into the countryside to visit the heroic village of Chortiatis, heroic for it was raised to the ground and the majority of the population killed by the Nazis towards to end of WWII. We then visited the British War Cemetery nearby, so beautifully kept, tragic yet prayerful. It was interesting to note the number of Bulgarian soldiers buried with our own men, among whom were many Maltese. Of the 20,000 or more British troops who died in and around Thessaloniki towards the end of WWI, at least half died of malaria and some of the Spanish flu. We prayed for them all and prayed for those soldiers and civilians dying in Ukraine, Palestine and Israel today. We prayed earnestly for peace in that peaceful place, the result of war and death. Our Gospel passage for today comes from Luke, (Lk 10: 38-42), and is one of the best known scenes from his Gospel, the visit of Jesus to Martha and Mary. Although we imagine Jesus travelling around with a large retinue of disciples, helpers and hangers on, only Jesus and the two sisters appear in the account. “Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.” This is an amazing statement, considering the time and place in which Jesus lived. Next we are told, “She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking.” In many ways, this is even more astounding, Jesus alone with a woman, who sits at his feet, the two alone, while Martha is absent. We then discover why. “Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’” I wonder what Martha had prepared for Jesus’ meal, that was so complicated and needed so much work with serving. He was after all a very special guest and yet there is no mention of any other dinner guests. Poor Martha, what the Lord said in reply must have upset her, but it was a lesson she had to learn. All that fuss is getting in the way of what matters more, the fact that Jesus is visiting their home, and he has come to give rather than to take, for he is the Bread of Life. Jesus says to Martha, “Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.” Have we chosen the one thing necessary? Have we chosen the better part? 3

Message from Fr Paul for Monday 9th October

By Luke Evans • October 9, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Monday, 9th October 2023  Yesterday was a very busy day, including the whole morning in a Greek Orthodox Church for the Liturgy and all that goes with it, added to which, the local elections and news from Palestine and Israel kept us glued to the television. War in the Holy Land fils us with horror and sorrow and impels us to pray for peace, a peace that can only be based on justice and respect for the integrity of the rights of all peoples who share that small area of land. In many ways the world seems to be spinning out of control. Also yesterday I was talking with a farmer friend in Peru, who was lamenting the effects of climate change on his land: his mango harvest is down this year by 90% and is worth only £45. There is so much to pray for, but prayer alone is not enough. Today the Church remembers St John Henry Newman, the 19th century English theologian. We pray that he will soon be declared a Doctor of the Church. Our Gospel comes from Matthew, (Mt 13: 47-52), the Parable of the Dragnet, in which Jesus compares fishermen sorting out their catch and throwing the useless fish back into the sea with the angels at the end of time separating the good from the evil, only that the fires of hell replace the comfort of the sea. Jesus ends by saying, “Every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both old and new.” We can apply this to St John Henry Newman. May he pray for us today.
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