Dear Friends
The Apostles Peter and Paul are central to the narrative of the Book of Acts. Peter was there from the beginning of the Lord’s ministry—though his brother Andrew has the honour of being the “First-called”—while Paul arrives on the scene after the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 6:8–7:60). Both received a commission from the Lord who said to Peter “feed my sheep,” (John 21:17) and of Paul “he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)
The Church, in her love for you and her love for me, sets before us this week these two Chiefs of the Apostles. Both preached the Gospel in different ways, the former without education and the latter a learned Pharisee, yet they both preached Christ—crucified and risen whose Resurrection leads to new life, new certainties, new meaning.
Yet it was not only they whose voices went out into all the earth (Psalm 18:5 lxx): on Thursday 30th June we commemorate the Holy, Glorious and All-praised Twelve Apostles, patrons and protectors of our community. The Twelve preached the Resurrection of Christ in as many places as they could—peoples from Britain and India heard their words.
But their task is not yet complete. The Commission of the Lord,
All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
Matthew 28:18–20
was not given only to the Twelve, or only to the direct witnesses, or only to bishops, or only to evangelists, or only to clergy: this Commission was given to all Christians—to you and to me.
We must be bringing the Gospel to all peoples—not only “our people,” but to all. We must have a universal view of mission, of bringing the Gospel of Love and of Hope to all, so that we may be obedient to the will of God and his commandment to us.
How we do this will differ from person to person but all can pray. So please pray. Pray that our neighbour—who may be geographically close or far away—may hear the Gospel, pray that we may ourselves be continually converted to the Lord and to righteousness, pray that we may be worthy of the name Christians.
And then, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we must be willing to act on that prayer: for the Lord acts most commonly in our world through people. Let us become the conduits, the channels, of his grace to our world that is in so desperate need of him.
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Sermon
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
The Lord said, “But many that are first will be last, and the last first.” And I see here God talking of the Gentiles coming in to the Church of God, that many of God’s own nation fell away and new came into the community. I think this and I move on, too troubled to think more about it.
Yet, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we can apply this to ourselves. We are among “the first,” we have heard the Gospel of the Kingdom and come to believe in Christ, but our membership of the “club” does not guarantee us a place in the Kingdom. Like the Rich Fool we say to ourselves, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” Yet the Lord replies to him and he replies to us, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (Luke 12:19f)
So how then might we not rest on our laurels, not be content with mere membership of a club, but come into a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the living God? By placing God at the forefront of our lives.
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Read last Sunday’s Sermon, Honour God First.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 24th June
Discussion on the book of Exodus, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 25th June
Vespers, 6.30 pm
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Sunday 26th June
Divine Liturgy, 9.30 am
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Online session is via Google Meet: please get in contact for the details.
Please join us: all are welcome, come and see.
Attending Church
We will be meeting at St Francis’ Hall, Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 9JA. 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]