Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Cross

Title

The Core of History is Incarnation and Cross

Outline

There are two focal points of the Christian faith

One is the incarnation, Christ’s descent from heaven - “No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.”

The other is the passion or crucifixion - “so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

It is true that no one can fully comprehend God, for he is beyond and behind our experience of the physical world - most of what is said about God is metaphor used so we can grasp something about him - but these two points of history are the most critical

I have recently been listening to the Screwtape Letters

What the demons cannot comprehend and find disgusting is that the Son would, in the will of the Father and by the power of the Spirit, become fully human because God is love (and therefore a Trinity), created human beings out of love, and loves them enough to rescue them

That sets the stage for what Paul is talking about

God’s love went so far as to take upon himself human evil so as to share with us his life - that is the core event of history

That is what Paul is talking about when he says, “far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

This is incomprehensible to a world built on power and honor, but in God’s universe built on love this is honor

The resurrection is important for Paul (as we read in Philippians), for it is our resurrection too, but it is the “it is finished” of the cross spoken by God and a taking of humanity into the eternal sphere by Jesus

His second coming is when he completes the outworking of the crucifixion and resurrection - having called humankind for millennia to accept his love, he then grants them what they chose

Brothers and sisters, this is the simplicity and the depth of the Christian proclamation.

God created us; we rebelled against his rule

God became one of us to rescue us - a core wonder

God died to take on him our evil and grant us his life

God is now working to call all people to himself so that they may be, in Paul’s words, “a new creation.” following the way of the cross to glory

God will in his timing finish this phase of history and give human beings what they have chosen

That is why the cross is central, that is why it is also incomprehensible, and that is why we glory in it, shameful as it is.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 9-12-2021: Leavetaking of the Nativity of the Theotokos

EPISTLE

Galatians 6:11–18

11  See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16  Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.

17 Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

(Philippians 2:5-11) Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 9-12-2021: Leavetaking of the Nativity of the Theotokos

GOSPEL

John 3:13–17

13  No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. 14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

16  For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17  For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

(Luke 10:38-42,11:27-28) Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 9-12-2021: Leavetaking of the Nativity of the Theotokos

ON THE SAME DATE | ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

SUNDAY BEFORE HOLY CROSS

On the same date: Leavetaking of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Epistle Galatians 6:11–18

Gospel John 3:13–17

St Autonomous, Priest-Martyr (m 300)

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 9-12-2021: Leavetaking of the Nativity of the Theotokos

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 | NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS

LEAVETAKING OF THE NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS

Bright Vestments

On the same date: Sunday before Holy Cross

Epistle 2 Corinthians 8:7–15 (Greek) or Philippians 2:5–11 (Slavic)

Gospel John 11:47–54 (Greek) or Luke 10:38–42, 11:27–28 (Slavic)