Christ is in our Midst
Sermon preached by Fr. Antony Hughes on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at St. Mary Orthodox Church in Cambridge, MA
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
I am happy to report to you that He who promised to be always with us is in our midst. There is nothing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that promises that we would be free from the suffering that is inherent in this fallen world. The promise is that through it all we would never be alone. There is in the very core of us a place that cannot be touched by disease or death or suffering. This is the kingdom of heaven within.
I dare to quote George Harrison tonight from his song “Awaiting For Us All” with these lines from his lyric, “We don’t need to designate or to emigrate before we can see Jesus. If you open up your heart, you’ll see he’s right there. He always was and will be, he will relieve you of your cares.”
This is so true. And allow me to quote this beautiful sacred poetry, wisdom from the East: “Know him to be enshrined within your heart, Always. Truly there is nothing more to know in life…realize that the world is filled with the presence of God.” “Wake up from this dream of separateness. Know God and all fetters will fall away.”
Open up your hearts then. Wherever you are, there He is. Wherever He is, there you are. Although we cannot all be together this Holy Week, we are always united. Nothing writes St. Paul can separate us from the love of God. And since this is true, then our love for Him and one another flows freely. If we are open to the energies of God flowing in us, around us, through us, then “all manner of things will be well.”
Listen carefully to the tremendous longing in the incomparable Hymn of Kassiani, the song of the Woman Who anointed his feet with spikenard, her longing for the Lord’s mercy and for the Lord Himself is intense and powerful. Pray with us wherever you are.