Reflection for the Second Sunday in Advent at St Benedict’s Monastery in Harkerville – by Br Josias

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Today marks the second week of Advent. As we might well know, Advent is the period of waiting and preparing for both the celebration of Jesus’s birth at Christmas, acknowledgement of his perpetual presence as encountered in the Eucharist and anticipation of his return at the Second Coming. In this second week, a candle of Peace is lit. Traditionally, the second candle is called the Bethlehem Candle, and it symbolizes peace and preparation, reflecting Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the peace that Christ’s birth brings.1

In his Rule, St. Benedict encourages his followers to “seek peace and pursue it.” 2 Before we strive for peace, we need to accept that there is conflict in our hearts, our lives, and in our world. Dealing with that conflict will bring all the necessary peace. So let us pursue peace. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts, minds and souls in Christ Jesus.3 Amen!

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1 See https://www.mercyhome.org/blog/sunday-mass/advent-wreath/

2 RB: Prologue 17

3 Philippians 4:7

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November 2025 News – Establishing St Benedict’s Monastery in Harkerville

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To say that the month of November was eventful for the monastic community would be something of an understatement.

The application to register the transfer of the Harkerville property was lodged at the Cape Town deeds office at the beginning of the month. It was rejected a week later due to a technicality, which was corrected and the application was re-submitted the next day. This meant that the registration would probably not be effected before the date we had agreed with the removal company. Re-scheduling our relocation would have complicated matters in various ways best avoided; the then-current owners of the property graciously allowed us to move onto the property before registration if need be, and generously waived their right to occupational rental.

So, preparations to relocate began in earnest, including finalizing what to take and where to put it. We entered an extended period of separation from people and places we had been regularly interacting with while resident at Volmoed. On 10 November, the Monday of our final full week at Volmoed, Brs Aelred and Mpumelelo hiked up to the Cross on the ridge overlooking the Volmoed property and waited there for the early morning mist to clear so they could admire the spectacular views. Br Aelred attended his final Monday art class with Alyson Guy. Br Josias visited the Ithemba special needs centre for the last time on the following day.

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November 2025 News – Establishing St Benedict’s Monastery in Harkerville Read More »

Reflection for the First Sunday in Advent at St Benedict’s Monastery in Harkerville – by Br Aelred

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Dear Family in Christ.

We find ourselves, again, standing around the light of the first lit Advent candle.  This time, in our new monastery as we prepare to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

We are reminded anew that Christmas is not just about a baby being born, but it is about God Himself, the Creator entering His creation, and this is why it changes everything.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, He took on our humanity completely, fully and truly, and united it to His Divinity, in order that we might be fully restored from our wounded, broken and separated nature. With the incarnation, God entered our darkness to fill it with light, entered our weakness to fill it with strength and hope, and entered our death to give us life. Therefore, we prepare our hearts for the salvation event of Christmas, not a holiday or just a story: the Creator stepping into His creation. So, may this time of preparation through Advent be filled with Hope.

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Sermon for the Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost – Farewell to Volmoed

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Scripture Readings

In September 2019, a community of three monks from the Order of the Holy Cross arrived at a place of considerable beauty and warm welcome and gracious hospitality called Volmoed, near Hermanus. They established a prayerful presence and welcomed new vocations to their way of life. In November 2025, a community of five Holy Cross monks will be leaving Volmoed to establish a new home for themselves in Harkerville, near Plettenberg Bay.

In between the arrival and the departure of the monks, quite a lot has happened, much of it joyful, some of it challenging. A number of people seem to have come to appreciate the presence of the monks at Volmoed, and to be disappointed that they are leaving. The monks themselves are moving on with mixed emotions, very aware of what and who will be left behind, grateful for all they have received and for the relationships they have formed, while anticipating what they are moving towards with hope.

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Sermon for the Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost – Farewell to Volmoed Read More »

Sermon for the Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost by Br Mpumelelo

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Scripture Readings

Let us pray: Show us Your ways, O LORD; teach us Your paths. Lead us in Your truth and teach us, for You are the GOD of our salvation; on You we wait all the day. Amen.

WE ARE CHILDREN OF THE RESURRECTION.

JESUS’ teachings led to conflict between Him and Israel’s religious leaders. If you start reading this Gospel from verse one, you will see that JESUS showed how they weren’t leading GOD’s people well or wisely. This made the leaders angry. They looked for ways to have Him killed. They tried to trap Him into saying something against the Roman government. But His answers were so wise that they couldn’t have Him arrested. Then the leaders tried to trap him also into saying something against the Law of Moses.

The Sadducees were the group of Jewish religious leaders with the most authority in Jerusalem. They were in charge of the Temple and worked closely with the Roman rulers. They didn’t believe in angels or that GOD raised people from the dead. They didn’t believe that JESUS was the MESSIAH GOD had promised to send. Most Sadducees opposed JESUS and his teachings. So at this point they asked a difficult question about when people rise from the dead, even though they didn’t believe in the Resurrection, but just to trap JESUS! So they tell a story about seven brothers marrying the same woman in succession, and JESUS clarifying that, in the Resurrection, there is no marriage because people are like angels and can no longer die. Which means people who believe and trust GOD will have a new kind of life. It will be completely different from this world.

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Sermon for the Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost by Br Mpumelelo Read More »

October 2025 News

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There have continued to be delays in the legal process of transferring the property in Harkerville outside Plettenberg Bay that we are in the process of acquiring. A positive aspect of this is that it has given those whose lives are closely linked with ours more time to adjust to the impending reality of our departure from Volmoed. It has also provided more opportunity for us to engage with Volmoed leadership concerning practical aspects of our ongoing relationship with Volmoed.

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October 2025 News Read More »

Sunday 2 November 2025 – Pentecost XXI – Sermon by Br Josias

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Scripture Readings

In the name of God, the Creator, the Redeemer and Sustainer. Amen!

Does the work of a person define their humanity? Can a person be moral without being religious? To what extent should we love those who do us wrong?

For every ‘bad’ person that exists, there is an element of goodness in them; even though it is difficult at times to access that goodness. Indeed, it is difficult to see the God in the other, when our hearts and minds are polluted with what they have done or the company that they keep. As Mark Anthony in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar said: “The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.”[1] Sometimes people do bad things to us or associate with bad people, such that even when they do good we do not recognise it.

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Sunday 2 November 2025 – Pentecost XXI – Sermon by Br Josias Read More »

Reflection for Sunday 26 October 2025 – Pentecost XX – by Br Aelred

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May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen.

As Benedictine monks, our holy father St. Benedict instructs us through his holy Rule to strive and show forth the twelve stages of Humility, for through it we can fully receive and share the love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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Reflection for Sunday 26 October 2025 – Pentecost XX – by Br Aelred Read More »

Pentecost XIX – 19 October 2025 – Sermon by Br Daniel

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Scripture Readings

Among the things that I’m currently reading is the latest novel by my favourite conspiracy theorist. The main focus seems to be on noetic science, and the ways in which it can be used and abused by those in power.

I confess I do not know much about this science, and there is so much information available online that it is quite bewildering. However, I was able to find a concise definition of noetic science: ‘Noetic (from the Greek word meaning “mental”) science is a branch of metaphysical philosophy concerned with the study of mind as well as intellect. Noetic science investigates the role of consciousness in shaping personal experiences and perceptions of reality.’

So, I understand that it is a deeper investigation of how our thoughts shape our world. As Christians, it would thus guide me as to how our faith would inform our thoughts and our understanding of God and thus our experiences of God in this world and in our lives.

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Pentecost XIX – 19 October 2025 – Sermon by Br Daniel Read More »

Sermon for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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Scripture Readings

The disease identified as leprosy in the Bible was a terrible affliction. In addition to whatever physical suffering it caused directly, the indirect effects of the need to control the spread of this contagious disease amongst the population were considerable. The book of Leviticus prescribes that lepers must isolate themselves from their community, who were not allowed to worship nor socialize with them. They were even required to warn others loudly not to come near them. Only examination by a priest to verify that they no longer had the disease could ritually remove the lepers’ uncleanness and allow them to reintegrate with their community.

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Sermon for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost Read More »

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