We have just journeyed through Advent and Christmas – contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation. In a month’s time we will enter the season of Lent as the Church prepares for the central mystery of this year and all years (until the end of time itself) namely that through his Passion Jesus will definitively defeat the power of sin and death and then, after three days, rise from the dead this Easter.
Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Year A: 11 January 2026
Fr. Prior Simon’s Homily for the Epiphany of the Lord, 4 January 2026
Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-6 Matthew 2:1-12
I have a long-standing friend who is a distinguished academic. She has occupied university chairs in several countries, including here in the UK, and published many books and articles. In recent years, the current crisis in academia itself has become one of her main interests. So she has turned her attention to the fate of the University as an established and yet constantly evolving institution in our society.
Fr. Prior Simon’s homily for the Day Mass, the Nativity of the Lord, 2025
“Comfort, comfort my people!”
These words of the Lord taken from the Book of Isaiah ring out all through Advent right up to Christmas. There then come several comforting messages, including the following one: “All flesh is grass and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand for ever.”
Fr. Prior Simon’s homily for the Nativity of the Lord, Midnight Mass, 2025
Isaiah 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14
Once upon a time there was “a land of deep darkness”. In fact, it was more like an empire spread over all over the world as we humans know it. Under the “yoke of its burden”, “the rod of the oppressor”, under “the boot of the trampling warrior”, to use the prophet Isaiah's phrases, everyone suffered. All people “walked in darkness”.
Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, 14 December 2025, Advent IIIA: Matthew 11:2-11; Is 35:1-6,10
Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?
This question of St. John the Baptist is a very good one for us to pose as we prepare to celebrate Christmas. If Jesus is not the one - if he is not the promised Messiah of Israel - indeed if he is less than God Incarnate - then we should cancel Christmas, close the monastery, and give up coming to Mass.
Fr. Prior Simon's Homily for the Immaculate Conception: Monday 8 December 2025
Homily for Advent 2A, 7 December 2025: Matthew 3:1-12
Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt 3:2).
Once again we hear the cry of St. John the Baptist, always valid, always relevant, always urgent. John calls us to prepare for the coming of the Lord: to know that the Lord is even now among us; to be certain that nothing whatever in our life is more important than knowing him, receiving him, listening to him, following him.