“Ways of offering Love as we see it in the Weeks of Holy Lent” is a New Series of Sermons by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the Wednesday Sermon
You can find a video at the end of the text.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, delivered his weekly sermon at the Wednesday meeting on March 20th 2024, from the Church of St. Anba Anthony at the Papal Residence in Cairo, without a public presence. The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels, the Official Website of the Coptic Orthodox Church and the COC channel of the Church’s Media Center on the Internet.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II began a new series of sermons under the title “Ways of Providing Love and Support” by linking them to the Sundays of Holy Lent. H.H. pointed out the characteristics of love as follows:
1- It is the essence of God’s nature and being.
2- It is the highest human emotion.
3- It is the path of holiness and continues with man on earth and continues with him even when he is in heaven.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
(I Corinthians 13:13)
4- Acquiring it constitutes a person’s credit in heaven.
“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
(I John 3:18)
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II pointed out that the definition of “love” is: going out from oneself to God and to all people.
His Holiness added that the world calls the ways of love “the languages of offering love,” and they are:
1- Gifts: without regard to their size or value, and presented as a surprise.
2- Service and assistance: provided on the basis of reality and truth, and not for bragging and appearance.
3- Time: It is the most precious thing given to others, because it is an irreplaceable gift.
4- Gentle touches: It is pure physical contact, such as a mother hugging her daughter or son.
5- Dialogue: It is listening and understanding the other to understand his goals, through encouragement, appreciation, and eye contact.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II explained that he would explain these languages and their application through the events of the Gospel scene of the Mass on Sunday of every week during Holy Lent, and he continued his talk about the five languages through general scenes in the Holy Bible, as follows:
1- Gentle touches: through the scene of the leper being healed:
“Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.”
(Mark 1:40-42)
The patient needs the touch of tenderness, support and love, and so does every human being, taking into account community etiquette.
2- The language of dialogue: through Jesus Christ’s questions to his disciples
“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?””
(Matthew 16:13-15)
“Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
(Matthew 16:16-18)
Dialogue involves listening, discussion, and a smile that receives speech, because speech shows ideas, and the arts shows feelings, such as writing poetry, and this is successful dialogue because it is based on the foundation of love.
3- Time: Through the scene of Jesus Christ’s incarnation on earth, His crucifixion and then His resurrection.
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”
(John 13:1)
This time that Christ spent on earth is the vessel that carries the love of Christ. The good time is the special time to provide love and intense concern for others, such as the priest visiting the people.
4- Acts of Service: through the scene of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples
“rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”
(John 13:4-5)
“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””
(Matthew 20:25-28)
Service is provided without request at the family and social level, and it is a language that every person can, no matter how simple.
5- Gifts: through the scene of the Cross, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
(John 15:13)
“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
(John 19:30)
The gift and work that Jesus Christ presented in the most beautiful way was for the sake of man’s redemption. Therefore, the gift must carry feelings, even if it is simple, and the person must be certain that the other will rejoice in it.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II is scheduled to deliver a Sermon on Wednesday in the Church of St. Anba Anthony at the Papal Residence in Cairo throughout the Holy Fortieth Lent, without a public presence…
This news was originally published on the website of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Please click here to read the full text.