THE PRESENCE OF GOD DISCERNED IN COMMUNITY: A SERMON FOR THE 18TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

 

The Body of Christ is Discerned In, Among, Around and Through the Life of the Church, Our Holy Sacraments, and Especially in the Breaking of Bread and the Communing of the Faithful

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West) 

INTRODUCTION 

Beloved in Christ, on this 18th Sunday after Trinity, we gather together to experience the profound reality of God's presence as it is discerned within the very fabric of our human community, in the synaxis of the faithful, in the Body of the Church. As we hear in today’s Scriptures, the Lord reveals Himself not only through the splendor of creation or in moments of divine intervention, but also in the love and service we extend to one another. From Moses’ cry for God’s glory in Exodus, to St. Paul’s thanksgiving for the enrichment of the Church in Corinth, and Christ’s command to love God and our neighbor in Matthew’s Gospel, we are invited to behold how God dwells in us and among us, the spiritual threads that sew us together and draw us into a tapestry of life. In our community, through the bonds of faith, hope, and charity, we experience the living God who is ever-present, gracious, and merciful, manifest in our being there for each other, our grace towards one another, and our mercy. As the Holy Spirit first descended upon the Apostles in the Book of Acts while they were in one accord, submitted to one another in love and accountability, so so we discern the presence of God in our midst. As the Ancient Christian Greeting says, “Christ is in our Midst!” And the response, “Truly He is and ever shall be!” Let us then open our hearts to discern His presence in the love we share and the grace we embody together.

OPENING COLLECT 

O Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS 

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 33:12-23 - 

And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

The Epistle - 1 Corinthians 1:4-8

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel - St. Matthew 22:34-46

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

REFLECTION

Beloved in Christ, as we gather today, our hearts are drawn into the theme of God’s presence among us—His grace, His call to holiness, and the community we share in His expressed love and shared life. Today’s Gospel invites us to consider the great commandments: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. These commandments are not merely moral guidelines; they invite us into the very life of God Himself, where grace abounds and community flourishes.

A CRY FOR GOD’S GLORY 

In the Old Testament reading from the Book or Exodus, we witness Moses, yearning for the presence of God, asking, “Show me thy glory.” This cry resonates in the heart of every soul seeking the Divine. God’s response is both profound and protective: “Thou canst not see my face and live.” Here lies a mystery—the veiling of God’s full glory is not to distance us, but to safeguard our frail humanity. God draws near, covering Moses with His hand as His glory passes by, inviting him into a relationship that transcends mere sight. This echoes the words of St. Ephrem the Syrian: “God’s glory is too great for human sight, but He reveals Himself to the humble in ways the heart can bear.” As we seek His presence, we find that God unveils Himself not in grand displays but through grace and humility. As St. Isaac the Syrian reminds us, "The knowledge of God cannot be obtained without a heart made pure by love." This love prepares us to encounter His holiness.

THE CLEFT OF THE ROCK

In our English Patrimonial worship, we sing the hymn "Rock of Ages," beautifully encapsulating this truth: 

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 

Let me hide myself in Thee; 

Let the water and the blood, 

From Thy riven side which flowed, 

Be of sin the double cure, 

Cleanse me from its guilt and power."

Here, Christ, our Rock, offers us shelter and salvation. His grace not only cleanses us but empowers us to love, creating a vibrant community of faith.

INTERCONNECTED THROUGH LOVE

As we turn to the Gospel from St. Matthew, we encounter the inseparability of love for God and love for others. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” Christ teaches, knitting our relationships into a tapestry of divine love. St. Isaac the Syrian encourages us to extend this love beyond our immediate circles: “Do not limit your love to your kindred and your friends, but extend it to all humanity, even to the animals and the birds of the air, for all creation is beloved of God.” His words remind us that the love to which we are called is expansive, generous, and overflowing, reflecting the heart of our Creator. The parable of the Good Samaritan vividly illustrates this love, transcending cultural and religious boundaries, revealing that love knows no limits. 

THE LADDER OF LOVE 

St. John Chrysostom aptly states, “love is the ladder by which we ascend to God.” Our love for others becomes the means through which we grow closer to Him. But how do we cultivate this love? St. Basil the Great provides insight, saying, “The foundation of love is humility.” We must humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our need for His grace to love as He loves.

Consider the priest and famous preacher, George Herbert, who, despite his privilege as a noblemen, chose to serve as a humble parish priest. One day, he stopped to help a poor man whose cart had broken down, delaying an important meeting. When asked why he would help a stranger, Herbert simply said, “The love of God is shown in the smallest of deeds.” This illustrates that love is revealed not in grand gestures but in the simple, daily acts of kindness we offer, forming the bedrock of a loving community. Herbert did more preaching with his simple action of service, than ascending his mighty pulpit ever could. 

THE GRACE OF THE BODY 

In today’s reading from the Epistle to the Corinthians, St. Paul echoes this theme of love and grace, thanking God for enriching the Church: “In everything, ye are enriched by Him.” This enrichment is meant for the building up of the Body of Christ. We are called to share our gifts—spiritual, emotional, and material—reflecting the love we have received, creating a harmonious community where God’s presence is felt.

Shakespeare reminds us in “The Merchant of Venice” - 

"The quality of mercy is not strain'd, 

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; 

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes."

This mercy—this love—is indeed “twice blessed,” drawing both the giver and receiver closer to the heart of God.

DIVINE LOVE AND COMMUNAL EMBRACE 

Speaking of William Shakespeare, I also call to mind Alfred Lord Tennyson, who, in his “In Memoriam”, captures the essence of divine love: 

"Strong Son of God, immortal Love, 

Whom we, that have not seen thy face, 

By faith, and faith alone, embrace, 

Believing where we cannot prove."

We embrace Christ not through sight but through the love we extend to those around us, embodying His grace in our communities.

THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

As we consider the mystery of community in Christ, we must also turn our attention to the Holy Eucharist, where the physical and spiritual body of Christ becomes discernible in our midst. St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, warns us to approach the Lord's Table with a discerning heart: “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Cor. 11:29). To discern Christ’s Body means more than acknowledging His sacrificial death; it is to recognize His living presence among us through the Holy Eucharist. This mystery of Christ in us and among us becomes visible, physical, and palpable through the Bread and Wine, which by the power of the Holy Spirit are united to Christ.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem, in his Catechetical Homilies, teaches us about the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the Eucharist: “Do not look upon the bread and wine as simply that, for they are, according to the Master’s declaration, the Body and Blood of Christ. Even though your senses suggest otherwise, let faith assure you. For it is by the Holy Spirit that the Eucharist becomes the Body of Christ.” Through this sacred mystery, the Holy Spirit unites the earthly elements of bread and wine with the heavenly reality of Christ’s Body and Blood, so that when we partake, we do not receive mere symbols but the fullness of grace and power that flows from Christ Himself. In the Eucharist, Christ is not merely remembered but encountered, and in Him, we are bound together as one body, one community.

SUMMARY: A REVIVAL IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

Today, as we approach the Holy Table and depart this sacred gathering, let us renew our commitment to live out the presence of God through the love and grace of Christian Community. May we be mindful of the poor and the suffering, seeking to love our neighbors not just in word but in deed. As St. Ephrem beautifully stated, "The love of God is a fire that kindles every heart; it does not burn the hands, but it warms the soul and makes it new." 

May that fire burn within us, renewing our hearts and fostering a vibrant community, reflecting the glory of God in all we do.

FINAL COLLECT 

Let us pray: 

O Lord our God, who art the source of all grace and love, we beseech Thee to kindle within our hearts the fire of Thy divine love. Grant us the humility to seek Thy face, that we may be transformed by Thy glory and strengthened to embody Thy grace in our lives. Help us to love Thee with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to extend that love to our neighbors, that our community may reflect the beauty of Thy presence. May we, united in the bonds of charity, serve one another with kindness and mercy, ever mindful of the needs of the least among us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.