Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We are like the moon; the glory we show is the reflection of the greater life in our lives that does not originate in us but is a blessing to others through us. Look to God for your hope, your strength, your values, your foundation, your security, and your light.

Day 25 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Tute, 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-Fifth Day of the Blessed Month of Tute

Departure of Jonah the Great Prophet

On this day departed the great prophet Jonah, the son of Amittai. It was said that he was the son of the widon of Zarephatah whom Elijah the prophet had raised from the dead. Jonah followed Elijah and served him and gained the grace of prophesying. God, blessed and exalted, told him to go to the city of Nineveh to admonish its people and to tell them that after forty days the city shall be overthrown. Jonah pondered in his heart saying, "If God wished to destroy them He would not warn them. I am afraid if I go to them and preach this warning to them, they might repent and He would not destroy them and I shall be a liar and no one will listen to me and maybe I will get killed becuase I conveyed to them a false message from God. I will arise and flee."

      What did this prophet think of ? How could anyone flee from the face of God ? By escaping, he wanted to get away from the city of Nineveh because he did not want to admonish them knowing that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and repentent of the evil. He thought that by staying away from Nineveh the Lord would send another prophet to preach to this city. The escape of Jonah the prophet and his having been cast into the city are to make manifest the miracle of his remaining in the belly of the whale for three days and the coming out safely. It is a symbol of, and evidence for, the resurrection of our Savior from the sepulchre, unchanged, after three days. Jonah rose up to flee from the presence of the Lord and went down to Joppa; he found a ship going to Tarshish and sailed on it. The Lord sent out a great wind and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken. The people were all afraid, and cried every man to his god. They said everyone to his fellow, "Come and let us cast lots, that we may know because of whom this evil has befallen us." And when they had cast lots, it fell upon Jonah. They said to him, "What have you done that brought such an affliction on us ?" He replied, "Cast me in the sea and you shall be saved." They begged the Lord's pardon. Then they cast him into the sea, and a great whale swallowed him. He remained in its belly for three days and three nights and then he was cast out on the seashore. He rose up straightaway and came into Nineveh. He preached to its people and they all repented: The King, the nobles, and the poor, the old and the young. They all cried to God with fasting and everyone turned from their way, and the Lord accepted their repentance and had mercy upon them.

      Then Jonah rose up and returned to the land of Israel and died there. He was more than 900 years before the advent of the Lord Christ. He prophesied in the days of Amos and his son Hosea. He lived nearly 100 years, out of which he prophesied more than 70 years.

May his prayers and blessings be with us all, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.

Vespers

Vespers Psalm

From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 105 : 14 - 15

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. 

Vespers Gospel

Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.

Luke 11 : 37 - 51

And Glory be to God forever. 

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Matins

Matins Psalm

From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 105 : 26,27,45

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 17 : 1 - 9

And Glory be to God forever. 

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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 Hebrews .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.

Hebrews 11 : 17 - 27

The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen. 

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Catholic Epistle

A Reading from Epistle 2 of St. Peter .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.

2 Peter 1 : 19 - 2 : 8

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. 

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Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.

Acts 15 : 21 - 29

The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen. 

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Synaxarium

Day 25 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Tute, 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-Fifth Day of the Blessed Month of Tute

Departure of Jonah the Great Prophet

On this day departed the great prophet Jonah, the son of Amittai. It was said that he was the son of the widon of Zarephatah whom Elijah the prophet had raised from the dead. Jonah followed Elijah and served him and gained the grace of prophesying. God, blessed and exalted, told him to go to the city of Nineveh to admonish its people and to tell them that after forty days the city shall be overthrown. Jonah pondered in his heart saying, "If God wished to destroy them He would not warn them. I am afraid if I go to them and preach this warning to them, they might repent and He would not destroy them and I shall be a liar and no one will listen to me and maybe I will get killed becuase I conveyed to them a false message from God. I will arise and flee."

      What did this prophet think of ? How could anyone flee from the face of God ? By escaping, he wanted to get away from the city of Nineveh because he did not want to admonish them knowing that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and repentent of the evil. He thought that by staying away from Nineveh the Lord would send another prophet to preach to this city. The escape of Jonah the prophet and his having been cast into the city are to make manifest the miracle of his remaining in the belly of the whale for three days and the coming out safely. It is a symbol of, and evidence for, the resurrection of our Savior from the sepulchre, unchanged, after three days. Jonah rose up to flee from the presence of the Lord and went down to Joppa; he found a ship going to Tarshish and sailed on it. The Lord sent out a great wind and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken. The people were all afraid, and cried every man to his god. They said everyone to his fellow, "Come and let us cast lots, that we may know because of whom this evil has befallen us." And when they had cast lots, it fell upon Jonah. They said to him, "What have you done that brought such an affliction on us ?" He replied, "Cast me in the sea and you shall be saved." They begged the Lord's pardon. Then they cast him into the sea, and a great whale swallowed him. He remained in its belly for three days and three nights and then he was cast out on the seashore. He rose up straightaway and came into Nineveh. He preached to its people and they all repented: The King, the nobles, and the poor, the old and the young. They all cried to God with fasting and everyone turned from their way, and the Lord accepted their repentance and had mercy upon them.

      Then Jonah rose up and returned to the land of Israel and died there. He was more than 900 years before the advent of the Lord Christ. He prophesied in the days of Amos and his son Hosea. He lived nearly 100 years, out of which he prophesied more than 70 years.

May his prayers and blessings be with us all, and Glory be to God forever. Amen. 

↑ Top of Page ↑ 

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 99 : 6 - 7

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 23 : 13 - 36

And Glory be to God forever.

‏هأنذا‏ ‏واقف‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الباب‏ ‏وأقرع‏.‏

أن‏ ‏سمع‏ ‏أحد‏ ‏صوتي‏ ‏وفتح‏ ‏الباب‏,‏
ادخل‏ ‏إليه‏ ‏وأتعشي‏ ‏معه‏ ‏وهو‏ ‏معي‏ (‏رؤ‏3:14).‏
الكتاب‏ ‏المقدس‏ ‏يمتلئ‏ ‏بفعل‏ ‏السمع‏ ‏أو‏ ‏الاستماع‏, ‏منها‏:‏
‏+ ‏في‏ ‏العهد‏ ‏القديم‏: ‏أميلوا‏ ‏آذانكم‏ ‏وهلموا‏ ‏إلي‏. ‏اسمعوا‏ ‏فتحيا‏ ‏أنفسكم‏. ‏وأقطع‏ ‏لكم‏ ‏عهدا‏ ‏أبديا‏, ‏مراحم‏ ‏داود‏ ‏الصادقة‏ (‏إش‏55:3) ‏وفي‏ ‏صموئيل‏ ‏الأول‏: ‏هوذا‏ ‏الاستماع‏ ‏أفضل‏ ‏من‏ ‏الذبيحة‏, ‏والإصغاء‏ ‏أفضل‏ ‏من‏ ‏شحم‏ ‏الكباش‏ (1‏صم‏15:22).‏
‏+ ‏وفي‏ ‏العهد‏ ‏الجديد‏: ‏اليوم‏, ‏إن‏ ‏سمعتم‏ ‏صوته‏ ‏فلا‏ ‏تقسوا‏ ‏قلوبكم‏ (‏مز‏95:9).‏
‏+ ‏خلاصة‏ ‏هذه‏ ‏الآيات‏ ‏أن‏ ‏الله‏ ‏يتكلم‏, ‏ولكن‏ ‏من‏ ‏يسمعه؟‏!‏
‏+ ‏كلمة‏ ‏اسمعوا‏ ‏أو‏ ‏فعل‏ ‏السمع‏ ‏مرادف‏ ‏للطاعة‏, ‏ولأن‏ ‏هذا‏ ‏الفعل‏ ‏تكرر‏ ‏كثيرا‏ ‏في‏ ‏الكتاب‏ ‏المقدس‏, ‏تكون‏ ‏طاعة‏ ‏صوت‏ ‏الله‏ ‏هي‏ ‏من‏ ‏أولويات‏ ‏حياة‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏المسيحي‏.‏

أولا‏:‏ـ‏ ‏ما‏ ‏هو‏ ‏صوت‏ ‏الله؟

‏1- ‏صوت‏ ‏الله‏ ‏في‏ ‏العهد‏ ‏القديم‏ ‏كان‏ ‏من‏ ‏أجل‏ ‏الإرشاد‏ ‏والتوجيه‏.‏
‏2- ‏كانت‏ ‏وسيلة‏ ‏صوت‏ ‏الله‏ ‏في‏ ‏العهد‏ ‏القديم‏ ‏الشريعة‏ ‏المكتوبة‏ ‏وأصوات‏ ‏الأنبياء‏.‏3- ‏في‏ ‏العهد‏ ‏الجديد‏ ‏استمر‏ ‏صوت‏ ‏الله‏ ‏يصل‏ ‏للبشر‏ ‏من‏ ‏خلال‏ ‏الأسفار‏ ‏المقدسة‏ ‏والكنيسة‏ ‏وآبائها‏, ‏لأن‏ ‏روح‏ ‏الله‏ ‏يعمل‏ ‏كل‏ ‏يوم‏.‏

ثانيا‏:‏ـ‏ ‏كيف‏ ‏نسمع‏ ‏صوت‏ ‏الله؟1- ‏طاعة‏ ‏إيمانية‏: ‏بالرغم‏ ‏من‏ ‏صعوبة‏ ‏الأحداث‏ ‏المحيطة‏ ‏بنا‏.. ‏هل‏ ‏كان‏ ‏أبونا‏ ‏إبراهيم‏ ‏يعرف‏ ‏المكان‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏طلب‏ ‏منه‏ ‏الله‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يذهب‏ ‏إليه؟‏! ‏أو‏ ‏لديه‏ ‏فكرة‏ ‏عن‏ ‏إمكانيات‏ ‏المكان؟‏! (‏تكوين‏ 12).‏

‏2- ‏انفتاح‏ ‏قلبي‏: ‏ليديا‏ ‏بائعة‏ ‏الأرجوان‏, ‏امرأة‏ ‏من‏ ‏قمة‏ ‏السلم‏ ‏الاجتماعي‏ ‏في‏ ‏مدينة‏ ‏فيلبي‏, ‏عندما‏ ‏استمعت‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏بولس‏ ‏الرسول‏ ‏فتحت‏ ‏قلبها‏ ‏فصارت‏ ‏أول‏ ‏مؤمنة‏ ‏في‏ ‏مدينة‏ ‏فيلبي‏ (‏أع‏16).‏
‏3- ‏عمل‏ ‏بالوصية‏: ‏الحياة‏ ‏المسيحية‏ ‏حياة‏ ‏عمل‏, ‏حياة‏ ‏فعل‏, ‏فالسيد‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏علمنا‏ ‏العمل‏, ‏تعمل‏ ‏بما‏ ‏استجبت‏ ‏له‏ ‏إيمانيا‏ ‏وفتحت‏ ‏له‏ ‏قلبك‏.‏

ثالثا‏:‏ـ‏ ‏أسباب‏ ‏عدم‏ ‏سماع‏ ‏صوت‏ ‏الله

‏1- ‏غلظة‏ ‏القلب‏: ‏أو‏ ‏بمعني‏ ‏أصح‏ ‏قلبه‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏فيه‏ ‏محبة‏, ‏والمثال‏ ‏القريب‏ ‏هو‏ ‏مثال‏ ‏الشاب‏ ‏الغني‏. ‏قال‏: ‏ماذا‏ ‏أعمل‏ ‏لأرث‏ ‏الحياة‏ ‏الأبدية؟‏. ‏فنظر‏ ‏إليه‏ ‏يسوع‏ ‏وأحبه‏, ‏وقال‏ ‏له‏: ‏يعوزك‏ ‏شيء‏ ‏واحد‏: ‏اذهب‏ ‏وبع‏ ‏كل‏ ‏ما‏ ‏لك‏ ‏وأعط‏ ‏الفقراء‏, ‏فيكون‏ ‏لك‏ ‏كنز‏ ‏في‏ ‏السماء‏, ‏وتعال‏ ‏اتبعني‏ ‏حاملا‏ ‏الصليب‏ (‏مر‏10:21), ‏فيقول‏ ‏عنه‏ ‏الكتاب‏: ‏إنه‏ ‏مضي‏ ‏حزينا‏. ‏ولا‏ ‏نعرف‏ ‏كيف‏ ‏انتهت‏ ‏حياته‏!‏
‏2- ‏الكبرياء‏: ‏أحيانا‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏لا‏ ‏يري‏ ‏إلا‏ ‏ذاته‏ ‏ولا‏ ‏يسمع‏ ‏إلا‏ ‏ذاته‏.. ‏وأقرب‏ ‏مثال‏ ‏هم‏ ‏الكتبة‏ ‏والفريسيون‏ ‏الذين‏ ‏رأوا‏ ‏حقائق‏ ‏كما‏ ‏في‏ ‏قصة‏ ‏شفاء‏ ‏المولود‏ ‏أعمي‏ (‏يوحنا‏9) ‏ومع‏ ‏ذلك‏ ‏بدأوا‏ ‏يحققون‏ ‏معه‏.‏
‏3- ‏العناد‏: ‏أمر‏ ‏مدمر‏ ‏في‏ ‏حياة‏ ‏أي‏ ‏خادم‏ ‏أو‏ ‏بيت‏ ‏أو‏ ‏في‏ ‏كنيسة‏ ‏من‏ ‏الكنائس‏.‏
‏4- ‏الخوف‏: ‏مثال‏ ‏بيلاطس‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏عرضت‏ ‏عليه‏ ‏القضية‏, ‏وهو‏ ‏لم‏ ‏يستطع‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يحكم‏, ‏وغسل‏ ‏يديه‏, ‏ولكنه‏ ‏لم‏ ‏يستمع‏ ‏بسبب‏ ‏الخوف‏.‏

رابعا‏:‏ـ‏ ‏مواصفات‏ ‏صوت‏ ‏الله

‏1- ‏قريب‏ ‏جدا‏: ‏قد‏ ‏يتكلم‏ ‏إليك‏ ‏الله‏ ‏من‏ ‏قرب‏ ‏إنسان‏ ‏إليك‏, ‏أو‏ ‏من‏ ‏طفل‏ ‏صغير‏, ‏وربما‏ ‏من‏ ‏الشريك‏ ‏أو‏ ‏من‏ ‏الصديق‏. ‏هو‏ ‏فعلا‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الباب‏ ‏يقرع‏ ‏والباب‏ ‏هو‏ ‏باب‏ ‏القلب‏ ‏والقلب‏ ‏هو‏ ‏كيان‏ ‏الإنسان‏, ‏قريب‏ ‏جدا‏.. ‏الله‏ ‏يقرع‏ ‏وينتظر‏ ‏الاستجابة‏.. ‏لذلك‏ ‏عندما‏ ‏تكون‏ ‏حاضرا‏ ‏في‏ ‏قداس‏ ‏أو‏ ‏اجتماع‏, ‏كن‏ ‏في‏ ‏غاية‏ ‏الإصغاء‏ ‏فقد‏ ‏تأتي‏ ‏لك‏ ‏كلمات‏ ‏الله‏ ‏في‏ ‏رسالة‏.. ‏فلا‏ ‏تضيع‏ ‏الفرصة‏.‏
‏2- ‏يشتاق‏ ‏للإنسان‏: ‏كم‏ ‏من‏ ‏مرة‏ ‏قرع‏ ‏الله‏ ‏علي‏ ‏باب‏ ‏قلبك؟‏ ‏كم‏ ‏من‏ ‏مرة‏ ‏قرأت‏ ‏ووجدت‏ ‏رسالة؟‏ ‏أعلم‏ ‏أيها‏ ‏الحبيب‏ ‏أن‏ ‏صوت‏ ‏الله‏ ‏يشتاق‏ ‏إليك‏ ‏دائما‏.‏
‏+ ‏إن‏ ‏قرعات‏ ‏الله‏ ‏تختلف‏. ‏هناك‏ ‏قرعات‏ ‏رقيقة‏.‏
‏+ ‏وله‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏قرعات‏ ‏شديدة‏ ‏كالتجارب‏ ‏وأحيانا‏ ‏المرض‏ ‏أو‏ ‏المشاكل‏ ‏والمتاعب‏, ‏كلها‏ ‏طرق‏ ‏لصوت‏ ‏الله‏ ‏المشتاق‏ ‏إليك‏.‏
‏3- ‏مستعد‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يعمل‏ ‏معك‏ ‏جدا‏: ‏لن‏ ‏يعاتبك‏ ‏لتأخرك‏ ‏أو‏ ‏معرفتك‏ ‏له‏ ‏في‏ ‏آخر‏ ‏سنين‏ ‏عمرك‏ ‏أو‏ ‏بعد‏ ‏أن‏ ‏عشت‏ ‏الحياة‏ ‏طولا‏ ‏وعرضا‏.. ‏بل‏ ‏إن‏ ‏من‏ ‏حلاوة‏ ‏صوت‏ ‏الله‏ ‏أنه‏ ‏لا‏ ‏ينظر‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏الماضي‏, ‏هو‏ ‏يبدأ‏ ‏صفحة‏ ‏جديد‏ ‏كما‏ ‏نصلي‏ ‏كل‏ ‏يوم‏ ‏فلنبدأ‏ ‏بدءا‏ ‏حسنا‏.‏
‏+ ‏فصوت‏ ‏الله‏ ‏يأتيك‏ ‏بحب‏, ‏يأتيك‏ ‏بشوق‏, ‏يأتيك‏ ‏باستعداد‏ ‏للعمل‏ ‏معك‏, ‏فلا‏ ‏تهمل‏ ‏صوت‏ ‏الله‏, ‏وأعط‏ ‏فرصة‏ ‏لصوت‏ ‏الله‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يتكلم‏.‏
تدرب‏ ‏وأنت‏ ‏تصلي‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تجعل‏ ‏في‏ ‏صلواتك‏ ‏فترات‏ ‏صمت‏, ‏لكي‏ ‏تعطي‏ ‏فرصة‏ ‏لله‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يتحدث‏ ‏إليك‏.‏