Dear Friends
We are in an in-between phase of our liturgical life. We have stopped saying the Paschal Apolytikion at the beginning of services but we have not started again saying the beautiful prayer “O Heavenly King …” It feels empty, something’s missing.
A little of the same must have been felt by the disciples once the Lord ascended to heaven. There was great joy at the events witnessed today—the Great-Feast of the Ascension—but, perhaps, tinged with a little sorrow. The Lord had apparently left them.
Yet we know this is not true: Christ promised, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) We do not believe in an absent God but one who is immanently present, here in our midst. As Luke and Cleopas on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35), it is not in having the human body of the Lord walking beside us where we recognise the Lord but in the breaking of Bread, in Communion, where we come into immediate contact with the reality of the Resurrection of Christ: “And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.” (verse 35)
My dear brothers and sisters, the Lord has not abandoned us: he is here with us. And he is calling each of us into a closer relationship with this Reality—true Reality, perfect Reality—ours is to participate in this and reveal it to our society which longs for Truth, which longs for Christ.
Services this week
Friday 11th June
Discussion on the book of Genesis, 8 pm
Online only
I have been called to serve with our cathedral community this weekend and there will be no in person services. We will resume next weekend (Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th) as usual.
Online session is via Google Meet, please get in contact for the details.
Your prayers!
With love in Christ
Fr Alexander
[email protected]