Dear Friends
We face the inevitable: unless the Lord returns first, we will die. We do not know the hour when our life in this age will be demanded of us, brought to a close, but our life in this world has a finality to it. We will die.
It is a sobering thought. The young do not want to think about it—”I will live forever” we sometimes hear them say—whereas the old sometimes become preoccupied by their own mortality. And we know that something is not right: we have heard the Gospel, we have celebrated Pascha, we have sung countless times, “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death.” Death has been trampled down, life reigns, and the anthem of the young, “I will live forever” actually has more truth than we give credit.
For the Gospel of Christ does not promise that we will not enter the grave, the Gospel is that the grave—the tomb—cannot hold Christ and, therefore, it cannot hold us. I will have to face death, but if I have myself already died with Christ in baptism that I may live with him, if I have been born again with water and the Spirit, (see John 3:3) if I have joined myself to Christ, then the tomb and Death have no claim against me, they are defeated foes, we stare them down because the Age of Death will come to an end and Life will reign.
And as a precursor to this reality the Theotokos, the Most-blessed Mother of God, is buried in the tomb. And we mourn, we weep, we lament the death of the Mother of Life. Yet the Lord saw fit that she not remain in the tomb, that to strengthen the Faithful who remain alive, her tomb is empty as ours will be.
Apolytikion of the Dormition (First mode)
In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for thou wast translated into life, being the Mother of Life. Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death.
Kontakion of the Dormition (Second mode)
Verily, the Theotokos, who is ever watchful in intercessions, and whose prayers are never rejected, neither tomb nor death could control. But since she is the Mother of Life, He Who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb did translate her to life.
And as her empty tomb stands as a testament to all tombs being emptied, she is enthroned at the Right-hand of God ever interceding for us, her people. We may always pray directly to God yet we trust her to discard that which is not unto salvation for us and take the one thing needful before the Throne of God.
Pray to her and she will direct you to her Son, ask of her and she will bring your needs before the Lord, rejoice in her for through her was God made incarnate and our Resurrection from the dead proclaimed anew.
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Sermon
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
“Come,” calleth out the Lord, “Come with me,
O Peter, Prince of the Apostles, with the sons of Zebedee,
Come and let us ascend Tabor to pray.”
And the Three mutter to one another,
as they begin their ascent,
“We are honoured, again, by the Teacher:
We shall now sit, enthroned, with him.”
Now the Lord beginneth to shine,
with more brilliance than they ought bear,
as the Light of God burneth away their presumption,
“Dare not I, my Lord, to sit beside thee,” crieth Peter,
“For no man shall see thee and live.
I am unmade and as naught: none may approach thy glory.”
As in answer to the Prince, there appeareth two more,
Who talk with the Lord of the New Exodus to be fulfilled
At the sound of their words he dareth a gaze
which, feareth he, might destroy,
Yet at the sight of Moses and Elias, he reasoneth in his heart,
“Man may stand before the Lord and live,
Here is the Mountain of God
and I shall call the Assembly of the people.
I shall establish this place and all shall dwell here with the Lord.”
“Lord, it is good for us to be here;” he calleth out,
“if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles;
one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.”
And the Lord regardeth him with compassion,
and giveth the answer to all,
“Now is not the hour,” sayeth he, “when my glory
is made manifest to the world.
Now is the hour when ye behold my glory,
That when ye shall see me lifted up,
Ye shall know I do so willingly.”
And in confirmation of these words
the Holy Spirit envelopeth them,
And the voice of the Father proclaimeth,
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;
hear ye him.”
O Lord, who for my sake was transfigured in glory before thy disciples: glory to thee! Amen.
…
Read last Sunday’s Sermon, Come, calleth out the Lord.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 11th August
Discussion on the Divine Liturgy, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 12th August
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Sunday 13th August
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]