Three times in today’s Gospel Jesus calls on us to stay awake. Here we are, once again, at the beginning of Advent: so once again we have a new start, and with it a new wake-up call. Advent issues us a new summons, or a new invitation : to sharpen our focus, to break out of our spiritual sloth; to direct all our attention ever anew towards Jesus.
The Closing of Pluscarden and Birnie Kirks
Sunday 26 November 2023, the Feast of Christ the King, marked the closing of Pluscarden Kirk; a landmark building that is noted by everyone who approaches the Abbey from the Elgin side. So ends official Presbyterean worship in our valley. This began not with the Scottish Reformation in 1560, but only in about 1736, when the first Kirk Minister was appointed.
Foundations - November 2023
The builders of our new St. Joseph's Guest House continue their work according to schedule. In fact they have work sheets which set out exactly what is to be achieved each day, what and who is required for that, and also how much it will cost. They all seem to work very hard, with great competence and efficiency, as do the many fascinating and large machines, which come and go according to need.
Pluscarden Benedictines No. 203 - Autumn 2023
Building works begin in earnest
Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, Sunday 28A, 15 October 2023, on Matthew 22:1-14
Through the parable of the Royal Wedding Banquet we hear the thrilling invitation of Jesus: Come to my feast! Put on your glorious attire! Enter into my joy! This is God’s invitation to us to enter eternal life; to clothe ourselves in the incomparable dignity of divine Sonship; to join the communion of all the Angels and Saints in heaven, eternally rejoicing. And yet: this parable does not make us feel at all comfortable, and it’s not meant to; any more than it was meant to make the Scribes and Pharisees feel comfortable. For the weight of this story falls not so much on the invitation, as on the refusal of those invited. It ends uncompromisingly, on a note of harsh condemnation: Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness.
The Tom Donald Chant and Piano improvisation Project
Nobody had ever before asked us to collaborate in a project putting together Gregorian Chant and live improvised Piano. When we receive odd requests, we usually attempt to respond with a sweet smile. This will normally be followed by a straight No, or possibly by lengthy prevarication, which usually comes to the same thing. In this case the request was repeated, and more than once. Um… ah… well… Then some phone conversations took place; then some discussion on our own side; some more prevarication, followed by two or three visits. Then: we know this is a big risk, but because - just perhaps - it will give glory to God; we know this sounds crazy, but Yes!