For what would we be if we were only “fair weather” Christians? If the Son of God partakes in our human vulnerability, can we not stand with Him as He stands by us now? This is the first of three Divine subversions of human worldliness, which I wish to highlight, namely, human frailty need not lead to hopelessness, if we grow in faith through the experience. It is easy to speak about this it requires us to dig down deep in our faith to see it through. Cyprian comments: “When, therefore, weakness and frailness and devastation attack us, then our strength is made perfect then our faith, if it withstands trial, is crowned” ( De mortalitate). He speaks of how with the eyes of faith, our approach to times of trial can be transformed and become a “profitable proof of faith”. He says of Job’s faith that it was “not overcome, but proved”. Cyprian picks up on St Paul’s autobiographical reflection on struggle in 2 Corinthians 12. “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ,” writes St Paul, “for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12.10). + One of the questions asked by some in my congregation is, what theologians of the past can speak to the reality of living with this pandemic? Well, last week provided one candidate: St. Cyprian, third century bishop of Carthage, whose episcopate was marked by persecution, schism and plague, himself dying as a martyr in 258 AD. Cyprian takes as models the Biblical figures of Job, Tobias, and the Apostle Paul. This pulpit swap was organised for the ecumenical Season of Creation. Fr Dominic Robinson preached at the Grosvenor Chapel on the 13th September and we were delighted to welcome Fr Richard to preach at Farm Street Church a week later.

The following sermon was preached by the Reverend Dr Richard Fermer, priest-in-charge of our neighbouring Church of England parish, the Grosvenor Chapel.

Grosvenor chapel