On Easter Day we sing “Alleluia”, as our song of joy in the light of Christ’s victory over death. Today also, the Feast of the Ascension, we sing “Alleluia”, just as much so, and maybe even more, as Christ takes his place forever in the glory of his Father.
Lenten Retreat 2022: Fr. Abbot's homilies (mp3) and new oblate photos
Dear Oblates,
Here are the Talks that Fr. Abbot gave in this year's Oblate Retreat for Lent (click here) and photos of the new Oblate being congratulated (click here).
These have been held up by falling trees knocking out the livestreaming and then covid "knocking out the monks"!
Blessings and prayers,
Fr. Martin
Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, Eastertide Sunday 6C, 22 May 2022: John 14:23-29
If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. We are in the Last Supper discourse of Jesus, as recorded by St. John. Twice already, in the previous few verses (14:15,21), though always in slightly different words, Jesus has spoken of the link between loving him and keeping his commandments. If you love me, you will keep my commandments, my instructions, my word.
[Updated on 6 June] Covid comes to Pluscarden at last
Homily for the 8'oclock Mass, 5th Sunday of Lent Year “C”, 3 April 2022, John 8:1-11
The story of the woman taken in adultery follows on very well from last week’s parable of the Prodigal Son. We are even permitted to think that this story’s original place might have been the Gospel of St. Luke, rather than that of St. John. Our text is set in canonical scripture at the beginning of St. John’s eighth Chapter. But it’s lacking there in the earliest Greek manuscripts.
Homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent C, 26 March 2022; Luke 15:1-3;11-32
No matter how many times we read it, and no matter how many homilies on it we hear, the parable of the Prodigal Son retains its power to move us, to astonish us, to stir us to the depths. The story is told entirely in human terms, but what it reveals to us is the compassionate love, the patience, the mercy of God. We read the story again now in mid-lent, to remind ourselves of our need for conversion, and also of the goal of our journey, both of lent and of life.