Lesson #6 in GHF Series: “Where Are You? – 7 Places Where You Meet With God”, From His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the General Wednesday Meeting
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, delivered his weekly sermon on Wednesday April 6, 2022, from the Church of St. Virgin Mary and St. Anba Bishoy at the St. Mark Cathedral in Abbassia, Egypt, several Church fathers attending. The sermon was preceded by the Prayers for the Feast of the Glorious Annunciation.
The sermon was broadcast across several Christian satellite channels and by Internet on the Church’s Media Center Internet channel, COC, on the World Wide Web. His Holiness Pope Tawadros II continued his contemplations on the Sundays of the Great Holy Fast (GHF), a series based on a question God asked Adam: “Where Are You?”
This sermon corresponds to the sixth Sunday of the GHF whose Gospel Reading comes from the 9th Chapter of the Gospel of our teacher John the evangelist, verses 1-25, and taking the man born blind’s encounter with Christ as an example, H.H. indicated that it is also possible for us to encounter the Christ along the road of life; [in other words, in our everyday life].
And His Holiness Pope Tawadros II highlighted the importance of work and of being proactive when it comes to serving, being that work is one of the principles of Christianity: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (Jas 4:17)
His Holiness the Pope discussed various times during which Christ may accompany us as we “journey along the road”:
1-During travel – “So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.” (Lk 24:15)
2-During pain – “When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’” (Lk 7:13-14)
3-In the form of a needy person – “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in.” (Mt 25:35)
4-In the form of people who are prominent members in the community, but their service requires for them to be “on the streets” (out in the world, serving others) – “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (Jn 9:5)
H.H. the Pope also suggested a few exercises for when we offer service:
1-Have mercy (be merciful) toward everyone – “He who despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.” (Prov 14:21)
2-Offer loving-kindness – “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Mt 10:42)
3-Support and carry the weak – “… encourage the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” (1 Thess 5:14)…
This news was originally published on the Coptic Orthodox Church Spokesperson Official Facebook Page. Please click here to read the full text.