SYNOD 2023 CLOSING SERVICE SERMON DELIVERED BY THE RT. REV. OLUWAGBEMIRO AYODELE FABULUJE ON THE SYNOD THEME “ANGLICAN SPIRITUALITY: EXPLORING THE POWER IN THE EUCHARIST

The closing sermon at the Third session of the 12th Synod which held at the Cathedral Church of All Saints’ Cathedral, Osogbo was preached by Rt. Rev. Oluwagbemiro Ayodele Fabuluje, Bishop of Oke Osun Diocese.

Anglican Spirituality, according to the preacher is founded on the Bible. From the very beginning, the very earl converts met weekly to study the tenets of Anglicanism. Our spirituality was also shown in our morning and evening prayers. These strengthened the faith of Anglicans and must also strengthen us today. The preacher strongly laced his sermons with soul-raising Anglican hymns to buttress the basis of the doctrine and faith of Anglicans in the Eucharist.

He mentioned discipline and perseverance are basic tenets of our faith as we celebrate the Eucharist which is mainly a sacrament of thanksgiving.

He made reference to 1Corinthians 10: 9 which says we cannot and must not eat the Eucharist with meals devoted to idols, nor may Anglicans take the Eucharist while engaged in immorality and all other social vices. Spouses taking the Eucharist must not betray their bridal vows.

The preacher said all of us have sinned and come short of the grace and favour of God. Taking the Eucharist cleanses with Christ’s Blood all the shortcomings and guilt of the true believer. Christ made His Blood and Body a blameless and perfect sacrifice for the propitiation of our sins. The perfect Blood replaces once and for all, the age-old animals’ blood that was earlier used to atone for sins. This was collaborated with John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son so that whosoever believeth in Him shall be saved.”

Jesus is the Bread or (source) of Life (John 6: 15) Jesus is the sustainer of life. The Eucharist strengthens us but it despises pollution with evil deeds, whether public or hidden.

The Eucharist bestows forgiveness on all who take it (Hebrews 4: 6). Whoever takes it in faith receives healing. Therefore, when we are about to take it, we must prepare our minds before that all his sufferings were for our reprieve. Jeremiah 50: 3; Isaiah 53: 4.

Rt. Rev. Oluwagbemiro Ayodele Fabuluje concluded that whenever we are going through crisis, we should remember the basic solution for our crisis has been performed by Jesus on the cross. There Jesus paid our debts. We are justified by His piercings, the shedding of His blood and all the agony of His passion and crucifixion. He that is standing must be careful, lest he falls, “our sickness is healed”, we are no longer under any curse, and all ancestral curses are blotted away because we believe in the efficacy of the bloodshed for us in the Eucharist.