“Freedom” is a powerful word. When we hear it we think of our rights as citizens and individuals in a democracy. It is a word that appears no fewer than twenty-one times in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, most notably in the opening sentence (“…recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world…”)
In political discourse today—both here in Europe and in the United States—the idea of freedom has taken on a different, more destructive meaning. It has come to be understood to mean the absence of responsibility toward, or concern for, others. It is a destructive kind of freedom—the right not to be answerable for your actions.
Seen from the perspective of the Christian gospel, that isn’t freedom—it’s foolishness. Martin Luther, in his treatise On the Freedom of a Christian (1520), argued that two things were simultaneously true for Christians as individuals in society: “A Christian…is the most free lord of all, subject to none; A Christian…is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to everyone.”
That idea is beautifully expressed in what some of us grew up reciting as the second collect at Morning Prayer: “O God, the author of peace and lover of concord; to know you is eternal life, and to serve you is perfect freedom….”
“Service” and “Freedom” feel like opposites—but in the life of faith they are not only connected, but interdependent. On Sunday we’ll hear different takes from our readings on the idea of freedom, and maybe it will spark some of our conversations at lunch following the service.
See you in church,
Mark
Fr. Austin’s Farewell Service
A gift from the parish
Written by young artist Herciu Alin-Gabriel from Romania
Inspired by the mosaic of Christ in the Apse
Click on the button below to view all of the photos from Sunday. Feel free to save and share them!
Online 19.30- 21.00 CET Zoom link
21, 28 Feb; 6, 13, 20 March
5 Wednesdays in Lent,
“Pray as you can, not as you can’t”.
During lent the Canon for Spiritual Development Ali Gray, will be hosting 5 weekly sessions on zoom to help deepen our prayer lives. The sessions will be relaxed, gentle and invitational, we will practice centring prayer and journaling, the Examen, Lectio Divina, imaginative prayer and praying with art and poetry. They will last 90 minutes and will include time sharing our experiences- both struggles and joys, introduction to, and guided practice of each mode of prayer, and finish with compline.
All are welcome, beginners and experts, for one session or every week. There’s no need to book just turn up. Further information, clarification or questions- agray@tec-europe.org.
St. Paul’s Book Club
Join an international online group of book friends to explore the timeless themes of love and betrayal, the powerful vs. the powerless, the value of outer beauty vs. inner beauty, cruelty vs. kindness, and selfishness vs. selflessness.
ZOOM Meeting 7:00 pm Rome Time Thursday, 15 February Request ZOOM link from Larry.spqr@gmail.com.
“Here for the Real” Giving Estimates
It’s time again to consider your giving estimates! Read the message from Fr. Austin below.
On these upcoming Sundays, consider filling out a giving estimate form and putting in the offering plate!
