Sunday Sermon for 23/03/2014

8/12/2019 Sunday Sermon for 23/03/2014

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EPISTLE RE DINGHeb. 4:14-5:6rethren, since we have a great highpriest who has passed through theheavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us

hold fast to our confession. For we donot have a high priest who is unable tosympathize with our weaknesses, but wehave one who in every respect has beentested as we are, yet without sin. Let ustherefore approach the throne of gracewith boldness, so that we may receivemercy and find grace to help us in timeof need. For every high priest chosenfrom among men is put in charge ofthings pertaining to God on their behalf,to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He isable to bear patiently with the ignorantand wayward, since he himself is subjectto weakness; and because of this he mustoffer sacrifice for his own sins as well asfor those of the people. And one doesnot presume to take this honour foroneself, but only when called by God,just as Aaron was. So also Christ did notglorify himself in becoming a highpriest, but the one who said to him, Youare my Son, today I have begotten you.As he says also in another place, You area priest forever, according to the orderof Melchizedek.

RESURRECTION POLYTIKIONAngelic powers were at your grave, and those who guarded it became as dead, and Marystood by the tomb, seeking your most pure Body; you despoiled Hell, and emergedunscathed; you met the Virgin and granted life. Lord, risen from the dead, glory to you

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ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATEARCHDIOCESE OFTHYATEIRA & GREAT BRITAIN

BULLETIN OF SPIRITU L EDIFIC TION3rdSUNDAY OF LENT (Veneration of the Cross)

23 March 2014Plagal of the 2ndMode. No. 1328 ( )

23 2014 .. . 1328

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GOSPEL RE DINGMark 8: 34 9:1he Lord said, Whoever wishes tobecome my follower, let him denyhimself and take up his cross and followme. For whoever wishes to save his lifewill lose it, while whoever loses his life

for my sake, and that of the gospel, willsave it. For what will it profit someoneto gain the whole world and forfeit hislife? Or what will someone give inexchange for his life? Whoever isashamed of me and of my words in thisadulterous and sinful generation, ofhim the Son of Man will also beashamed when he comes in the glory ofhis Father with the holy angels. And hesaid to them, 'Truly, I tell you, there aresome standing here who will not tastedeath until they see that the kingdomof God has come with power.

HYMN OF THE TRIODIONHaving passed beyond the middle pointin this holy season of the Fast, with joylet us go forward to the part that stillremains, anointing our souls with theoil of almsgiving. So may we be countedworthy to venerate the divine Passionof Christ our God, and to attain Hisdread and holy Resurrection. (3rdtroparion of Vespers, 4th Sunday ofLent)

., , , , , .POLYTIKION OF THE THE CROSS

1stModeLord, save your people and bless yourinheritance, granting to faithful Christiansvictories over their enemies, and protectingyour commonwealth by your Cross.

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SERMON ON THE GOSPEL RE DINGven in a society where many know little of the Churchs feasts and fasts, peopleunderstand that Lent is a time for self-denial. They speak about giving things upfor Lent maybe chocolate, cakes, or alcohol. Sometimes this kind of periodic self-denial is presented as a good way to detox, or to lose weight. Of course, we know thatfasting must go far beyond this If we keep the fast strictly, we dont pick and choose

what we give up for Lent: its not just chocolate and cakes, but meat, cheese, butter,olive oil ... and so on. But if we arent careful, the same attitude that sees Lent as afitness regime creeps into our own thinking, so that we see self-denial in a completelyexternal way. In todays Gospel reading Christ says this: If anyone would come afterme, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. These words of Christ(in various forms) are repeated often in the Gospels in fact, no saying of Christ isrepeated more often. Their very frequency shows us that they are words that go to theheart of Christian discipleship. This is because they go to the heart of us as disciples.The self-denial that Christ speaks of is not about denying ourselves some externalthing, however pleasurable. Christ does not say If anyone would come after me, lethim deny himself chocolate. But nor does he say ... let him deny himself meat duringGreat Lent. He is speaking about denying the self. This means everything in us thatstrives against God; everything that puts our own wants and desires before God and ourneighbour. To deny myself means to refuse every desire that contradicts the will ofGod. Self-denial is the opposite of being self-centred. It means renouncing our ownpersonal fulfilment our wants, our rights, our dreams, our comfort, our welfare, ourpersonal glory if any of these is contrary to what God wants.Self-denial does not mean depriving ourselves of the necessities of life so thatwe become paupers and live in rags. Nor does it mean that we must lose ourindividuality, personality, and identity. It does mean bringing under control our anger,our impatience and impetuosity, our idleness and our judgement of one another. Itmeans subduing our temperament and disposition so that we can master them, ratherthan allowing them to master us.During Lent, Christ renews his invitation to us to be his disciples. In particular,the Church gives us the third Sunday of Lent the Veneration of the Cross to pausewith Christ, to assess our Lenten journey, and to continue with greater determination.There are no short cuts in the Way of the Cross. There is no way we can arrive at Paschaunless we live through the agony of Good Friday. There is no way we can achieveeternal life with God unless we deny ourselves utterly and totally in Christ. May he giveus all strength to take up our cross and follow him. Amen.Meekness is a mind consistent amid honour or dishonour. Meekness prays quietly and sincerely for aneighbour however troublesome he may be. Meekness is a rock looking out over the sea of anger which breaksthe waves which come crashing on it and stays entirely unmoved. Meekness is the bulwark of patience, thedoor, indeed the mother of love, and the foundation of discernment. . . . It is meekness that earns pardon for our

sins, gives confidence to our prayers and makes a place for the Holy Spirit Meekness works alongsideobedience, guides a religious community, checks frenzy, curbs anger. It is a minister of joy, an imitation ofChrist, the possession of angels, a shackle for demons, a shield against bitterness. The Lord finds rest in thehearts of the meek, while the turbulent spirit is the home of the devil. (St. John of the Ladder)

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Sunday Sermon for 23/03/2014