Dear Friends
The Christian life is a paradox. We are told the way to lead is to serve, to life is through sacrifice, to witness the love of God through the Cross. And the world around us, on a logical level quite rightly, thinks of this as a stumbling block and foolishness. Yet the Church see in this something quite different,
For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
— 1 Corinthians 1:22–25
“God is love.” (1 John 4:16) This is the shortest definition of God we have. And on the Cross God shows us what love is. This is beyond the categories of human logic and understanding: all we can do is stand before the Cross and look at him. And as we look, as we gaze and ponder on the mystery of the Cross we remember the description of what we look at.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
— 1 Corinthians 13:1–13
The Cross is the criterion of love, it is the centre of love and is the witness of love to the world. It is beyond the categories of this world yet is the standard to which we are called.
My dear brothers and sisters, our love for one another and our love for the world is as the love of the Cross: a sacrificial love, a love which cannot bear to see any other suffer and is willing to suffer alongside another, a love which leads to death but—paradoxically—leads to eternal life.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34–35
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Sermon
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth,” says the Lord, “will draw all peoples to myself.” (John 12:32) Before the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection he told his disciples what would happen but they did not understand. The Cross, my brothers and sisters, stands at the very centre of human existence and Christ ascends it that he might incorporate all into the Church, into life. He ascends the tree that he would descend into the very depths of Hell and despoil its might.
And in Jericho, as he journeys towards the Cross, he sees another man ascending: and this man was a sinner. Not only was Zacchaeus a sinner but a collaborator with the Roman occupation. He was the worst of the worst, no longer a member of the house of Israel but an outcast among his own people. In the poverty of his kinsmen and country-folk he had become rich.
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Read last Sunday’s sermon, Trample down fallen nature.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 4th February
Discussion on the book of Exodus, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 5th February
Vespers, 6.30 pm
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Sunday 6th February
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. We request you wear a mask unless exempt. Come and See.
Can I help you?
I am here for you, you need only ask. Is there a way I can support your life of faith? Get in touch.
Can you help the mission?
Yes, absolutely. Offer yourselves to the Lord: pray! Make available to him all your talents and ask him how he would like you to use them — listen for his reply.
Your prayers!
With love in Christ
Fr Alexander
[email protected]