Homily for Sunday 26B, 29 September 2024: Mark 9:38-48 (& James 5:1-6) 8 o’clock at Pluscarden, and 11.00 St. Margaret’s Forres

In today’s Gospel we heard three or four somewhat disparate sayings of Jesus. These are part of a series of five or six which St. Mark has grouped together here. They are united by linking “catch words”. Also there’s a general theme of belonging to Jesus, or not; and the ultimate consequences of that.

I should like to focus now on the last of our sayings today: the really shocking one about millstones around necks, and hands and feet being chopped off, and eyes gouged out.

25 September 2024: the 50th anniversary of the Abbatial Blessing of Abbot Alfred

Wednesday 25th September this year marked the 50th anniversary of Pluscarden’s attainment of Abbatial status. In mediaeval times Pluscarden was always a Priory, ruled by a Prior. He had the right to use a crozier, but not a Mitre. But on this day in 1974 Dom Alfred Spencer, up to then Prior of Pluscarden, was blessed as Abbot by Bishop Michael Foylan of Aberdeen: and so Pluscarden became an Abbey.

Homily for Sunday 25B, 22 September 2024, Mark 9:30-37; James 3:16-4:3

St. Margaret’s Forres Supply

There are two attitudes, or mind-sets, or approaches to life. They areradically different, and opposed to one another. One is worldly, the other Christian. The worldly attitude puts self first, and seeks to gain what it can for whatever seems good for Me. The Christian attitude puts self aside, or even puts self to death (cf. Rm 8:13, Col 3:5 etc.). Instead it looks to Jesus, to God; seeking always and above all to follow Jesus, to belong to him, to be united with him.