The grass withereth, the flower fadeth
Which is repeated, to raise attention to it, as being a matter of importance, and for the confirmation of it: but the word of our God shall stand for ever;
the Apostle Peter adds, by way of explanation, and this is the word, which by the Gospel is preached unto you;
who seems to distinguish the word from the Gospel, by which it is preached, and to intend Christ the essential Word; who stands or abides for ever as a divine Person; in his office as Mediator, being Prophet, Priest, and King for ever; in the efficacy of his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; and in the fulness of his grace: it is true of the written word or Gospel, which remains, is everlasting, and will stand and continue, notwithstanding the persecutions of tyrants, the craft of false teachers, the reproach of ungodly men, and the death of the best of men, even of ministers; though all flesh is grass, fading and withering, the word of God is fresh and lively, firm and durable; and so it is as transcribed into the hearts of men, where it becomes the ingrafted word, and issues in everlasting life. It may be applied to God's word of promise, which is for ever settled in heaven, and is always fulfilled.
Day 2 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramhat, 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 Second Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Martyrdom of St.Macrobius (Makrawy) the Bishop
On this day the blessed Saint Anba Makrawy (Macrobius) the bishop was martyred. This father was of the nobles of Ashmun Grais (Ashmun Kharirat) and he was ordained bishop for Nikiu (Nakiyos). When persecution against Christians started, Youfanyous, the Governor, sent for the Saint to appear before him. Before he went to the Governor, he went before the Holy Altar, lifted up his hands and prayed. He hid the Altar accessories (Utensils) and the service vestments in a place in the altar. He prayed again to the Lord Christ to guard His church. Then he went with the messengers to the Governor who asked him about his name and his hometown. When the Governor realized that he was the Bishop of the city, he ordered him to be beaten and humiliated. They mixed lime with vinegar and poured it down his throat. Nevertheless, God guarded him and he was unharmed. Later, the Governor sent him to Armenius, the Governor of Alexandria, who casted him into prison. The Lord made, through his hands, many signs. Eucharistos, the son of Julius EL-Akfahsi, the writers of the biography of the martyrs, was paralytic. St.Macrobius prayed over him and God healed him through his prayers. He celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Julius home, administered the Holy Mysteries to them, and asked Julius to care for his body and to write his biography.
When Armenius heard what this Saint was performing signs and wonders, he ordered him to be tortured with different kinds of tortures: to be squeezed with the wheel, to cut off his members, to cast him to ferocious lions, to throw him into the sea, and to cast him into hot fire. The Lord strengthened him and all these tortures did not harm him. This Saint had a virgin sister called Mariam who served the church and two brothers named Yoannis and Isaac. They came to him while he was in prison and wept before him saying: "You have been a father to us, after our father; so how can you depart and leave us orphans?" He comforted, encouraged, consoled, and asked them to leave in peace. Finally, not wanting to see the Saint tortured any more, Julius EL-Akfahsi advised the governor saying: "Write the decree of this old man and get rid of him" The Governor listened to him and ordered his head to be cut off. Julius took his body and swathed it in wrappings embroidered in gold. He placed a golden cross on his chest and sent the body with his men in a ship to his Episcopal seat in Nikiu. The ship sailed until it arrived to the city of Ashmun Grais (Ashmun Kharirat). It stopped as if it had been tied with chains and all attempts to move it failed. While they were trying to do that, a voice came out of the body saying: "This is the place wherein God is pleased that my body shall rest." When they told the people of the city, they came out to the ship carrying palm branches. They carried the body with great honor to their city. He lived for one-hundred thirty one years; thirty of them as a priest, thirty nine as a bishop, and he completed his good strife and received the crown of life.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Readings for Tuesday of third week of Great Lent
Matins
Proverbs 2 : 1 - 15 Isaiah 10 : 12 - 20 Joshua 7 : 1 - 26
Proverbs 2 : 1 - 15
Chapter 2
| 1 | My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, |
| 2 | So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; |
| 3 | Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, |
| 4 | If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; |
| 5 | Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. |
| 6 | For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; |
| 7 | He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; |
| 8 | He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. |
| 9 | Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. |
| 10 | When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, |
| 11 | Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, |
| 12 | To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, |
| 13 | From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; |
| 14 | Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the wicked; |
| 15 | Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths; |
Isaiah 10 : 12 - 20
Chapter 10
| 12 | Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks." |
| 13 | For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. |
| 14 | My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, And as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved his wing, Nor opened his mouth with even a peep." |
| 15 | Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood! |
| 16 | Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Will send leanness among his fat ones; And under his glory He will kindle a burning Like the burning of a fire. |
| 17 | So the Light of Israel will be for a fire, And his Holy One for a flame; It will burn and devour His thorns and his briers in one day. |
| 18 | And it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, Both soul and body; And they will be as when a sick man wastes away. |
| 19 | Then the rest of the trees of his forest Will be so few in number That a child may write them. |
| 20 | And it shall come to pass in that day That the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. |
Joshua 7 : 1 - 26
Chapter 7
| 1 | But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel. |
| 2 | Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, "Go up and spy out the country." So the men went up and spied out Ai. |
| 3 | And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few." |
| 4 | So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. |
| 5 | And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water. |
| 6 | Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. |
| 7 | And Joshua said, "Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all--to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! |
| 8 | O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? |
| 9 | For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?" |
| 10 | So the LORD said to Joshua: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? |
| 11 | Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. |
| 12 | Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. |
| 13 | Get up, sanctify the people, and say, "Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD God of Israel: "There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you." |
| 14 | In the morning therefore you shall be brought according to your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which the LORD takes shall come according to families; and the family which the LORD takes shall come by households; and the household which the LORD takes shall come man by man. |
| 15 | Then it shall be that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel."' |
| 16 | So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken. |
| 17 | He brought the clan of Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites; and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. |
| 18 | Then he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. |
| 19 | Now Joshua said to Achan, "My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me." |
| 20 | And Achan answered Joshua and said, "Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done: |
| 21 | When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it." |
| 22 | So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. |
| 23 | And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. |
| 24 | Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor. |
| 25 | And Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day." So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. |
| 26 | Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day. |
Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 32 : 10 - 10
Chapter 32
| 10 | Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. |
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 Luke the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Luke 12 : 54 - 59
Chapter 12
| 54 | Then He also said to the multitudes, "Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, "A shower is coming'; and so it is. |
| 55 | And when you see the south wind blow, you say, "There will be hot weather'; and there is. |
| 56 | Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? |
| 57 | "Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? |
| 58 | When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. |
| 59 | I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite." |
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 4 : 1 - 8
Chapter 4
| 1 | What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? |
| 2 | For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. |
| 3 | For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." |
| 4 | Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. |
| 5 | But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, |
| 6 | just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: |
| 7 | "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; |
| 8 | Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." |
The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. John .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
1 John 2 : 1 - 11
Chapter 2
| 1 | My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. |
| 2 | And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. |
| 3 | Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. |
| 4 | He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. |
| 5 | But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. |
| 6 | He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. |
| 7 | Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. |
| 8 | Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. |
| 9 | He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. |
| 10 | He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. |
| 11 | But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. |
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 27 : 9 - 12
Chapter 27
| 9 | Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, |
| 10 | saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." |
| 11 | Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. |
| 12 | And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. |
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.
Synaxarium
Day 2 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramhat, 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 Second Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Martyrdom of St.Macrobius (Makrawy) the Bishop
On this day the blessed Saint Anba Makrawy (Macrobius) the bishop was martyred. This father was of the nobles of Ashmun Grais (Ashmun Kharirat) and he was ordained bishop for Nikiu (Nakiyos). When persecution against Christians started, Youfanyous, the Governor, sent for the Saint to appear before him. Before he went to the Governor, he went before the Holy Altar, lifted up his hands and prayed. He hid the Altar accessories (Utensils) and the service vestments in a place in the altar. He prayed again to the Lord Christ to guard His church. Then he went with the messengers to the Governor who asked him about his name and his hometown. When the Governor realized that he was the Bishop of the city, he ordered him to be beaten and humiliated. They mixed lime with vinegar and poured it down his throat. Nevertheless, God guarded him and he was unharmed. Later, the Governor sent him to Armenius, the Governor of Alexandria, who casted him into prison. The Lord made, through his hands, many signs. Eucharistos, the son of Julius EL-Akfahsi, the writers of the biography of the martyrs, was paralytic. St.Macrobius prayed over him and God healed him through his prayers. He celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Julius home, administered the Holy Mysteries to them, and asked Julius to care for his body and to write his biography.
When Armenius heard what this Saint was performing signs and wonders, he ordered him to be tortured with different kinds of tortures: to be squeezed with the wheel, to cut off his members, to cast him to ferocious lions, to throw him into the sea, and to cast him into hot fire. The Lord strengthened him and all these tortures did not harm him. This Saint had a virgin sister called Mariam who served the church and two brothers named Yoannis and Isaac. They came to him while he was in prison and wept before him saying: "You have been a father to us, after our father; so how can you depart and leave us orphans?" He comforted, encouraged, consoled, and asked them to leave in peace. Finally, not wanting to see the Saint tortured any more, Julius EL-Akfahsi advised the governor saying: "Write the decree of this old man and get rid of him" The Governor listened to him and ordered his head to be cut off. Julius took his body and swathed it in wrappings embroidered in gold. He placed a golden cross on his chest and sent the body with his men in a ship to his Episcopal seat in Nikiu. The ship sailed until it arrived to the city of Ashmun Grais (Ashmun Kharirat). It stopped as if it had been tied with chains and all attempts to move it failed. While they were trying to do that, a voice came out of the body saying: "This is the place wherein God is pleased that my body shall rest." When they told the people of the city, they came out to the ship carrying palm branches. They carried the body with great honor to their city. He lived for one-hundred thirty one years; thirty of them as a priest, thirty nine as a bishop, and he completed his good strife and received the crown of life.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. 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 32 : 2 - 3
Chapter 32
| 2 | Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. |
| 3 | When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. |
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.
John 8 : 31 - 39
Chapter 8
| 31 | Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. |
| 32 | And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." |
| 33 | They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, "You will be made free'?" |
| 34 | Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. |
| 35 | And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. |
| 36 | Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. |
| 37 | "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. |
| 38 | I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father." |
| 39 | They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. |
And Glory be to God forever.
وصف معلمنا بولس الرسول السيد المسيح له المجد بأنه “مذخر فيه جميع كنوز الحكمة والعلم”. ووصفه سليمان الحكيم بأنه أقنوم الحكمة، ووصفه يوحنا الرسول بأنه اللوغوس الذى “به كان كل شئ وبغيره لم يكن شئ مما كان”.
لقد أعطى رب المجد لأصفيائه وأنبيائه وحياً من روحه القدوس فكتبوا لنا الأسفار المقدس التى قال عنها المرنم فى المزمور “لكل كمال رأيت حداً أما وصيتك فواسعه جدا” (مز96:119) .
ولكن هل احتوى الكتاب المقدس حقائق العلم ؟ الواقع أن هذا ليس غرض الكتاب المقدس فهو ليس كتاباً علمياً
كتب العلم يكتبها البشر بحسب اجتهادهم وبما يناسب زمانهم ولمنفعتهم فى كل جيل، أما الكتاب المقدس فهو إعلان روحى هدفه بيان مشيئه الله نحو البشر، يتركز حول المخلص الفادى الذى تنبأت عن مجيئه أسفار العهد القديم ثم جاء وتجسد بالفعل فى ملء الزمان فبشر به كتاب العهد الجديد الذين عاينوه .
إذن هدف الكتاب المقدس هو خلاص البشريه، وأن يُظهر لنا محبة الله للبشر التى وصلت إلى “بذل ابنه الوحيد لكى لا يهلك كل من يؤمن به بل تكون له الحياه الأبديه” (يو16:3).
من ذلك ما كتبه لنا سليمان الحكيم فى سفر الجامعه .”كل الأنهار تجرى إلى البحر، والبحر ليس بملآن .إلى المكان الذى جرت منه الأنهار إلى هناك تذهب راجعة” (جا7:1) عباره أدبية جميلة فى بساطتها لكنها تخبرنا عن حقيقة اكتشفها العلماء فى القرن السادس عشر، أى بعد سليمان الحكيم بخمسة وعشرين قرناً، وهى الدوره المائية!!
ليس من أهداف الكتاب المقدس أن يشرح لنا تلك الدورة، فهو أمر بحثه العلماء وشرحوه، ولكنها شذره عرفها سليمان بوحى الروح القدس فسجلها لنا بأسلوبه الجميل.نفس الأمر حدث مع أشعياء النبى الذى وصف الله بأنه: “الجالس على كرة الأرض وسكانها كالجندب . الذى ينشر السماوات كسرادق، ويبسطها كخيمه للسكن “(اش22:40) فمن أخبر أشعياء النبى بأن الأرض كرة وهو الأمر الذى إكتشفه الإغريق بعد أشعياء النبى بأربعه قرون ولم يؤكده العلم إلا فى القرن الخامس عشر على يد العالم البولندى كوبرنيك؟ هى كلمه أوحاها روح الله لأشعياء لكى نوقن انه “لم تأتى نبوه قط بمشيئه إنسان بل تكلم أناس الله القديسون مسوقين من الروح القدس”.
وهكذا ايضا ما قاله أيوب الصديق عن الله: “يمد الشمال على الخلاء، ويعلق الأرض على لا شئ”(أى7:26) وتعبيرات “الخلاء أولا شئ” تشير إلى ما نسميه اليوم بلغتنا العلميه “الفضاء”، فهل كان أيوب الصديق يعلم شيئا عن الفضاء؟! أم أنه قبس من روح الله سجله لنا بأسلوبه الشعرى الجميل ؟
بل ان الله ذاته يسأل أيوب فى أواخر السفر قائلاً له:”أدخلت إلى خزائن الثلج، أم أبصرت مخازن البرد؟” (أى22:38) فما هي خزائن الثلج هذه؟ لقد قرأها أحد العلماء المعاصرين فذهب ذهنه إلى كتل الثلج الضخمه التى تشكل القارتين القطبيتين الشمالية والجنوبية, وهى أماكن لم تراها عين بشر قبل القرن التاسع عشر ونسمع عنها اليوم أنها بدأت تنصهر نتيجه ما يعرف بالاحتباس الحرارى، الناتج عن التزايد المفرط فى استهلاك مصادر الطاقة.
وفى بداية سفر التكوين ضمن أيام الخليقه السته التى هى عصور لا ندرى طولها “لأن يوما واحدا عند الرب كألف سنه وألف سنه كيوم واحد” (2بط8:3)
يقول الوحى المقدس عن اليوم الخامس “لتفض المياه زحافات ذات نفس حيه ,وليطر طير فوقالأرض على وجه جلد السماء ,فخلق الله التنانين العظام وكل ذوات الانفس الحيه الدبابه التى فاضت