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.
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