Wow! What a message. God wants us to be productive in our lives. He wants us to have more than just head knowledge, he wants us to put it to work in our lives and be effective and productive with it. But for me, I've got to put out some effort and try to grow in these qualities. Peter is saying, "Okay folks, God wants you to get after it and make a difference through your life!" I'm ready! Let's begin today.
Day 26 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Amshir, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins after forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers.
Amen.
The Twenty-Sixth Day of the Blessed Month of Amshir
Departure of St.Hosea the Prophet
On this day, St. Hosea, the prophet, one of the twelve minor prophets of Israel, departed. This righteous man prophesied during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, the son of Joash, King of Israel. (Hosea 1:1) He mentioned in his prophecy some remarkable and marvelous things. He rebuked the children of Israel for their sins and their transgressions, and warned them in advance about the evil things that would befall them because of their offenses. He promised them the uplifting of these calamities if they returned to the Lord their God. He also prophesied about the passions of our Savior, His resurrection and the salvation of the human race. He said, "He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in his sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord... " (Hosea 6:1-3) He prophesied also about the abolishment of the sting of death and the dominion of hell by saying, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death, O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction." (Hosea 13:14)"O Death, where is your sting? 0 Hades, where is your victory?" (I Corinthians 15:55) He departed at a blessed old age.
May His prayers be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Zadok and the One Hundred and Twenty-Eight who were with him
On this day also, St. Zadok and the 128 saints with him were martyred in Persia. Behram, King of Persia, brought them before him and ordered them to worship the sun. St. Zadok said to him, "I do not worship except God, the Creator of the sun and all the universe." The King asked, "Does this Sun have a god?" The saint replied, "Yes, and He is the Lord Christ, our God." The King ordered him beheaded. The saint prayed and the executioner cut his head. A great light appeared and all those who were present saw it and cried, saying, "We are all Christians." The King ordered that their heads be cut off and they received the crown of martyrdom.
May Their prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 119 : 57 - 58
Chapter 119
| 57 | You are my portion, O LORD; I have said that I would keep Your words. |
| 58 | I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. |
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
Matins Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Matthew 5 : 25 - 37
Chapter 5
| 25 | Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. |
| 26 | Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. |
| 27 | "You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not commit adultery.' |
| 28 | But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. |
| 29 | If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. |
| 30 | And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. |
| 31 | "Furthermore it has been said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' |
| 32 | But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. |
| 33 | "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' |
| 34 | But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; |
| 35 | nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. |
| 36 | Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. |
| 37 | But let your "Yes' be "Yes,' and your "No,'"No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. |
And Glory be to God forever.
Liturgy Gospel
Paulines Epistle
Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Romans .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
Romans 12 : 1 - 21
Chapter 12
| 1 | I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. |
| 2 | And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. |
| 3 | For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. |
| 4 | For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, |
| 5 | so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. |
| 6 | Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; |
| 7 | or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; |
| 8 | he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. |
| 9 | Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. |
| 10 | Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; |
| 11 | not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; |
| 12 | rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; |
| 13 | distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. |
| 14 | Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. |
| 15 | Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. |
| 16 | Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. |
| 17 | Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. |
| 18 | If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. |
| 19 | Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. |
| 20 | Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." |
| 21 | Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. James .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
James 1 : 1 - 12
Chapter 1
| 1 | James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. |
| 2 | My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, |
| 3 | knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. |
| 4 | But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. |
| 5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. |
| 6 | But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. |
| 7 | For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; |
| 8 | he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. |
| 9 | Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, |
| 10 | but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. |
| 11 | For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. |
| 12 | Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. |
Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen.
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.
Acts 21 : 27 - 39
Chapter 21
| 27 | Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, |
| 28 | crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." |
| 29 | (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) |
| 30 | And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. |
| 31 | Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. |
| 32 | He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. |
| 33 | Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. |
| 34 | And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. |
| 35 | When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. |
| 36 | For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, "Away with him!" |
| 37 | Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, "May I speak to you?" He replied, "Can you speak Greek? |
| 38 | Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?" |
| 39 | But Paul said, "I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people." |
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.
Divine Psalm
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet, and the Good King.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 5 : 1 - 2
Chapter 5
| 1 | Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my meditation. |
| 2 | Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray. |
Hallelujah.
Divine Gospel
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
Matthew 5 : 38 - 48
Chapter 5
| 38 | "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' |
| 39 | But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. |
| 40 | If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. |
| 41 | And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. |
| 42 | Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. |
| 43 | "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' |
| 44 | But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, |
| 45 | that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. |
| 46 | For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? |
| 47 | And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? |
| 48 | Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. |
And Glory be to God forever.
اختبرني يا الله واعرف قلبي. امتحني واعرف أفكاري. وانظر إن كان في طريق باطل, واهدني طريقا أبديا
(مز139:23-24)
+ جيد أن يجلس الإنسان مع نفسه, ويراجع ذاته ويفحص نفسه.
+ داود النبي وهو رجل صلاة.. قلبه حسب قلب الله, فرغم كل ذلك يقف أمام الله ويقول: جربني يارب وامتحني, وذلك لأن داود مهتم بخلاص نفسه وأنت مسئول عن نفسك, وسوف تسأل عن هذه النفس.
أولا:- فحص الفكر
الفكر هو مؤشر القلب.. فأفكارنا هي التي تشير إلي ما بداخل القلب.
+ تنقسم الأفكار التي يجب فحصها إلي:-
1- أفكار عابرة
(فكرة تيجي وتروح) والفكرة عابرة لا نقدر أن نتحكم فيها.
2- أفكار تستدعي
بعض الأفكار يستدعيها الإنسان بإرادته وقوة الخيال التي في ذهنه, يستدعيها في الصحو والنوم ويتلذذ بها..
3- أفكار مستقرة
وهي التي تسكن القلب وتكون عادة.. إذا ابحث عن أفكارك.. ما هو شكلها ونوعها؟
ثانيا:- فحص مصدر الفكر
1- قد يكون المصدر صداقة معينة.
2- ارتباط معين بشخص.
3- ارتباط بفكرة
4- ارتباط بجهاز وهكذا.
+ افحص مصدر الأفكار التي تجرح مشاعرك ونقاوتك.
+ افحص مقدار النقاوة, فبغير النقاوة لا يري الإنسان الله.
+ نقاوتك هي جواز عبورك ومكانك في السماء.
ثالثا:- فحص الأفعال
+ بالتأكيد توجد في حياتك أفعال جميلة ومرضية أمام الله وهناك أفعال أخري لا ترضي الله.
+ افحص أفعالك بروح الصلاة, ارفع صلوات حارة وقل له: يارب اكشف عن ذاتي.
+ دائما قل لذاتك أنا أفحص ذاتي في نور الله كطبيب حقيقي يكشف للإنسان ضعفاته.
+ أحيانا الله لا يكشف للإنسان كل ضعفاته مرة واحدة لئلا يسقط في صغر النفس, فيكشف الله عن خطاياك جزءا جزءا إذا كنت صادقا مع نفسك.
+ ارفع صلواتك وبروح الصلاة, اكتشف خطاياك واطرحها أمام أب اعترافك.
رابعا:- فحص الذات
1- لا تبرر ذاتك ولا تضع أعذارا.
2- لا تلقي اللوم علي غيرك بل تحمل المسئولية.
3- كن حازما مع نفسك أنت بلا عذر أيها الإنسان (رو2:1)
4- الإنسان مسئول أمام الله عن كل فكر وكل فعل.
+ هذه بعض الخطوط العريضة التي تضعها أمامك مع قراءة المزمور رقم 6 ورقم 139, وتفحص ذاتك في ضوئهما.
خامسا:- عهد مع الله:
العهد الذي من الممكن أن تأخذه مع الله
1- أن تكون منتظما في فحص ذاتك.
2- أن تحاسب نفسك علي كل فعل.
3- أن تكون واضحا وعندك إرادة.
+ الإنسان إذا قال لأخيه: يا أحمق (مت5:22) يمنع من دخول السماء, وهي كلمة من أربعة حروف فقط.
+ الإنسان الحكيم يكون حذرا من فكره, فهو مؤشر القلب.
نظام الاعتراف.. خطايا الإنسان لها ثلاثة أبعاد
أولا:- علاقتك مع الله
+ لا تنس أنك إنسان مخلوق, والله خالقك فأنت ملك لله.. فكرا وقلبا وجسدا وروحا..
1- ما هي علاقتك بالله؟
أ- هل تعيش خارج دائرة الله.
ب- هل تتذكر الله في المناسبات.
ج- هل أنت في علاقة دائمة ويومية مع الله.
2- اكتشف أبعاد علاقتك مع الله
أ- صلواتك.
ب- أصوامك.
ج- ارتباطك بالكتاب المقدس.
د- ارتباطك بالأسرار المقدسة.
هـ- ارتباطك بنصيب الله فيما بين يدك من مال أو وقت أو جهد.
و- ارتباطك بسير القديسين الذين طبقوا وصايا الله في حياتهم.
3- هل تفكر في نصيبك السماوي؟
أم مهموم بالأرض؟ هل تفكر في اليوم الذي ستقف فيه أمام الله؟ وماذا ستقول له؟ وماذا سيقول لك؟
مخيف هو الوقوع في يدي الله الحي! (عب10:31).
ثانيا:- علاقتك مع البشر
1- ما هي علاقتك بالمجتمع الذي تعيش فيه
أ- أسرة صغيرة.
ب- عائلة كبيرة.
ج- عملك.
د- جيرانك.
+ هناك إنسان من الصعب عليه أن يقول أخطأت أو يلوم نفسه.
2- هل وجودك في مجتمعك سبب فرح أم سبب حزن؟
+ هل أنت مصطلح مع مجتمعك؟ هل تصنع السلام مع من حولك؟ هل تتحمل الآخر؟
3- لا تتخيل أن حياتك سوف تنتهي علي الأرض, فالإنسان كائن سام مخلوق علي صورة الله والحكمة والعقل والحرية, سوف يحاسبه الله عنها يوما ما.
ثالثا:- علاقتك مع ذاتك
1- فكرك: من الضروري أن تكشفه لأب اعترافك, وتحترس من الأفكار التي تلح عليك.
2- كلامك: ما هو شكل كلامك؟ ألفاظك؟ حديثك عن الآخرين؟ نقلك للأخبار؟ بكلامك تتبرر وبكلامك تدان (مت12:37).
3- أفعالك: التي تصنعها سواء كانت خفية أو ظاهرة, بسيطة أو كبيرة.