Dear Friends
How much of our lives is lived as spectators—observing the dangerous, the dirty, the disgusting from the safety and security of our living rooms through the TV or computer screen? It is possible for the affluent in our society to lead a sanitised life far removed from the corruption and decay of reality.
The beloved disciple, the Apostle John, while caught up in a vision of from the Lord was instructed to write this to the Church of Laodicea,
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Revelation 3:15–17
Because they lived in their own sanitised bubble which did not have a reference to reality, because of their lukewarmness to the Gospel, because they held back from service to others, the Lord said “I will vomit you out of my mouth.” Our riches count for nothing because we are, in truth, poor.
My dear brothers and sisters, friends, we must change our outlook. We are not called to observe from the safety and security of a TV, newspaper, radio, phone nor computer but to get our hands dirty and serve our neighbour. Because, when we serve our neighbour we serve Christ.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:34–40
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Sermon
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
Many cultures and religions, dear brothers and sisters, have a mid-winter festival of light. On the dark days and long nights light is brought out in defiance against the chaos and danger of the night.
“the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”Christ has come and we see not just a light but a great light such that even those who are in the misery of the shadow of death, even in the darkest darkness, light is flowing in: it is glorious and brilliant. And he comes to you here today and offers you light, his great light. But he comes as light and what I thought at first was a friendly light, a playful light, becomes fierce to look at and I turn back to the darkness. I cannot bear to look at him because it requires repentance and purification. And I would rather live with the illness than face the treatment to make me well.
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Services this week
Friday 14th January
Discussion on the books of Genesis & Exodus, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 15th January
Vespers, 6.30 pm
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Sunday 16th January
Divine Liturgy, 9.30 am
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Online session is via Google Meet: please get in contact for the details.
As part of our measures against Covid-19, we strongly request all who attend our services to take a lateral flow test prior to attending.
Please join us: all are welcome, come and see.
Attending Church
We will be meeting at St Francis’ Hall, Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 9JA. It is presently a requirement that you wear a mask unless exempt. Come and See.
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With love in Christ
Fr Alexander
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