Readings: Joshua 5:13-15, Romans 12:9-21

We have entered the time when our wakefulness begins with the world clothed in darkness and the mornings start to feel like an endless night. The days when the candle flames flicker and the fires are lit for warmth; the days when it is not too early to witness the dawn of a new day – of looking to the horizon where earth and sky meet – and the sun appears rising having broken free from its earthly grave. The boundary of the day echoes the finitude of times; days or seasons, years or of our lifetimes.

A day marks a time of the world visible to us, and night a time of the unseen, yet also a time to be lit up by dialogue, by a seeking of relationship, of a coming or gathering together, to rest and recover until the earthly turn brings the moment of light once more.

Yet we’re always moving forward to the end. Toward the heavenly city, to a banquet with a king, to the home of love. What do we take with us on this journey? We take each other – for no-one is saved alone. A heart filled with love is the treasure of heaven; God is love, and He sees not as man sees, for the Lord sees the heart.

As with the coming of winter, so it is for every soul living under the oppressive darkness of war. To act with rage or to avenge without trial is to act indiscriminately, without sound judgement, this is not the justice of God. Do not repay evil for evil, for the stain of injustice is written on the soul. The soul is the mirror of the body, a sacred and holy place where, as Christians, the Holy Spirit was invited in at our baptism to belong in the space within that we created for Him. A place within us that we have opened to allow another to walk with us on this journey of life, a free choice to journey with Jesus.

At every moment we are free to choose to walk alone or with another – a choice that is a turning toward or away from love. For whatever exists outside of love is empty and fruitless. Therefore we do not hate a brother or sister, instead we share with those in need, and practice hospitality – even to strangers – for in so doing we may entertain angels without knowing it – and we are supposed to be the angels, God’s messengers one to another in the gift of this life we have been given.

Outwardly the deeds, the hard work and perseverance are plain to see, yet can become mechanistic and ends in themselves. St Paul tells us to keep our spiritual fervour like an intense heat – for God gives all His ministers flames of fire. Love is hot with the fire of the Lord, like the burning coals that purify.

Only love is credible, and love is the root of life – love visible and invisible, the foundation of the life now and the life to come. Love does not divide one from another, love is not founded upon islands but in the communities that work together for each other.

Life is born of mystery, our earthy home chosen as if by lot – yet however we are, whether we are born this way from our mother’s womb, created by circumstance or self-made – we have a choice what to do with the time that we are given; to accept or reject, to suffer with or oppress.

But the Lord, in Jesus Christ has shown us what is good – to act in accordance with the truth, to be devoted to one another in love, to show mercy. The cross is the Exodus action of God – making a way to the promised land of His love when there is no other way. Love is the place of unity, not of separation. The place of all things, across all of time, colliding into a moment of God’s absolute goodness.

In the beginning God created us, and all that He created was called good. To hate what is evil is therefore not to hate another, whether a brother or sister, but to turn away from wickedness. To seek the Lord always. To take responsibility for the contents that reside within our hearts. To be pure is to have genuine affection for our humanity which belongs to the one and the many.

The Lord asks us to meet each other in our need, our common humanity that requires food, water, shelter, safety, and family. To guard what is sacred, to protect that which leads to life not death, love not hate, wisdom not foolishness and truth rather than lies.

Let us love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength – walking with him in relationship founded upon prayer, for the Lord turns His face always towards us, so that no one may boast or claim favour or position.

Living in harmony creates a home, a place for joy and delight. A consistent finding by neuroscientists is that our brain waves synchronize when we interact, in all our thinking, speaking, and actions. Love is the foundation for all things working together within us, and within our communities. We do not seek for our own purposes; we walk tall with our feet firmly on the ground yet our heads in the sky. Imagination takes us beyond the bounds of our nature, yet it is our feet that determine the path.

Therefore, we walk humbly with Jesus along the way of peace set before us. Peace, the belonging to the moment of now, in the stillness of the place that we are. We do not let our hearts be troubled by what others have done, we are not to be overcome by the images of evil, the dehumanising of others, we are called to overcome evil with good. We are not to be set against each other for basic needs, yet what if we did seek to outdo one another in love? For love covers a multitude of sins.

And it is here that we meet the commander of the army of the Lord – the archangel Michael who cast the dragon out of heaven. For when Joshua asked him, who are you for? For us or for our enemies? He replies ‘neither’ because he is for God.

In facing God, in the place of love, at the altar of sacrifice, in the bread and the wine of the Eucharist – the testimony is of our participation in His life, and of our love for Jesus, in all our thoughts, words and deeds. By turning up at the banquet prepared, wearing the wedding clothes ready to meet and belong with the king of heaven – the works of evil are overcome, and those who keep God’s command and hold firm to their testimony about Jesus will triumph.

Amen.