Feast of the Twelve Apostles
We will keep our patronal feast, which falls 30th June, this coming weekend: please join us.
Saturday 1st July, 6.30 pm — Great Vespers
Sunday 2nd July, 9 am — Matins and Divine Liturgy
All welcome! Come and see!
Dear Friends
We are presented with two extremes. On the one hand a rejection of what is physical and on the other a focus only on what is physical. And they are both tempting, they both have reasons, but they are both wrong.
The first sees the world as completely ruined by sin. Our world would be seen as something from which to break free—”I want what’s spiritual, what’s esoteric, what’s mental: leave the rest behind” they might say. And so the body becomes something to mold to the “true” self, the inner self, the “hidden monologue within.” Such a view might see the physical world as essentially evil and only the world of ideas, of ideals, is true—some even use Christian language to describe this ideal world, calling it Heaven, but they perceive it as mere spiritual and definitely not physical.
The second turns this world into the only truth. What is important is the here and now, that all are happy, that all are fed, that all have whatever they want so long as it does not disturb someone else’s pursuit of happiness. Such a view turns religions into movements for social justice in various forms and casts aside mere spiritual acts as unnecessary extravagances.
And we dance between both extremes. First, we state that what is important is what we think, what we believe, and second, we state what is of supreme importance is to feed the hungry and all other charitable acts. But both views are wrong, are dangerous and must be avoided: they have some truth—which makes the tempting—but not the whole Truth.
God’s Creation is good, as stated seven times in the first chapter of Genesis, indeed on the final occasion it is described as “very good.” (Genesis 1:31) And into this Creation our race comes forth—as bodies without life until God breathed the spirit into us and we became living beings. (2:7) Our very being is bodily—trying to separate body and spirit, the physical and the ego, is as futile as separating the light and the warmth of the Sun. And in the New Creation brought about through Christ’s Resurrection which assures us of our own bodily resurrection, all things are renewed, all can be brought back within Eden as transfigured in Christ.
We do not reject the materiality of the world nor of ourselves.
But we are not drawn down by it: we serve the bodily needs of our neighbours not because we see this Age as the best possible world but that we have seen the best possible world and want to bring it to this Age. The Kingdom is coming, and now is, and the reality of that Kingdom we work to establish here and now.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
Revelation 21:4
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, do not be fooled by a spiritualised religion with no body, no materiality, nor by a materialised religion without depth, without the Spirit; rather join both together where we honour the Body as integral to the person and honour the Spirit which vivifies and strengthens.
We serve a meal following the Liturgy on Sundays. All are welcome.
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Please note: there will be no services 22nd–23rd July and 29th–30th July.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Sermon
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
Which, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, of the two described in today’s Gospel are you? Which am I? For, on the one hand the Lord presents us with lilies—clothed in glory more resplendent than Solomon—and on the other hand the birds of the air.
The lilies have their beauty and yet are rooted to the Earth, rooted to the ground, rooted to sin. In themselves they express the beauty of the Almighty God; they draw as much nutrition as they can through their roots, they sun themselves, they attract insects, and yet they will wither and die and be burned in the oven. Despite their glory and magnificence, they will face the fire.
The birds, in contrast, soar above this world of sin. They do not rely on attracting favourable conditions but go out and work, seeking out the food and the shelter they need. Birds work daily for their food and repairing their shelter, they do not rest on their laurels, but constantly place their hope and trust in the Lord.
And I consider myself and my life and I start to recognise how I am as a lily. I desire to be left to myself, placed in good conditions without working for them, receiving nutrients without deserving them, insects coming to serve me and my needs without being worthy of them. And I stand today, clothed in magnificence yet rooted in sin, and tomorrow I shall be cast into the oven.
…
Read last Sunday’s Sermon, Lilies or Birds.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 30th June
Discussion on the Divine Liturgy, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 1st July
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Sunday 2nd July
Matins & Divine Liturgy, 9 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 meet 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 community?
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]