There are many kinds of fear. Some of these are legitimate. Others are imagined. Still others are irrational. Thankfully, as Christians, we don't have to be afraid of the one crucial event in our life — judgment. God's love saves us, empowers us, blesses us, works in us, and touches others through us. Most of all, having experienced this love, we can cast fear out of our hearts because we know where we stand with God. He is our loving Father who longs to bring us home!
Day 5 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 Fifth Day of the Blessed Month of Amshir
Departure of St.Agrippinus, the Tenth Pope of Alexandria
On this day of the year 181 A.D., the holy father Anba Agrippinus, 10th Pope of Alexandria, departed. This father was holy and pure and he feared God. He was ordained a priest on the church of Alexandria. When Pope Cladianus, 9th Pope departed, Anba Agrippinus was chosen Patriarch by the people and clergy of Alexandria. By the grace of God, he took over the apostolic throne of Alexandria and walked in the footsteps of the apostles. Anba Agrippinus preached the word of God and taught the principle of faith with its life-giving laws. He Guarded his flock, with all his strength, by teaching them and praying on their behalf. He did not own any silver or gold, except for what met his basic personal needs. He completed his course after 12 years on the throne of St. Mark, and he departed in peace.
May His prayers be with us. Amen.
Commemoration of the Saints Anba Bishay and Anba Abanoub
On this day also, the church celebrates the commemoration of the saints Anba Bishay of Akhmim monastery, and Anba Abanub, known as the owner of the Golden Fan.
May Their prayers be with us all. Amen.
Departure of St.Apollo, the Companion of Anba Abib
On this day also, the church commemorates the departure of St. Apollo, friend of St. Abib.
May His prayers be with us all. Amen.
Commemoration of the Relocation of the Relics of the Forty-Nine Elders of the Wilderness of Shiheet
Today also, we celebrate the commemoration of the relocation of the relics of the forty-nine saints of the wilderness of Shiheet to their church in the monastery of St. Macarius.
May Their prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
Vespers
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 105 : 1 - 3
Chapter 105
| 1 | Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! |
| 2 | Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! |
| 3 | Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! |
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 9 : 1 - 6
Chapter 9
| 1 | Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. |
| 2 | He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. |
| 3 | And He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. |
| 4 | "Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. |
| 5 | And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them." |
| 6 | So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. |
And Glory be to God forever.
Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 68 : 24,26
Chapter 68
| 24 | They have seen Your procession, O God, The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. |
| 26 | Bless God in the congregations, The Lord, from the fountain of Israel. |
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 17 : 5 - 10
Chapter 17
| 5 | And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." |
| 6 | So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. |
| 7 | And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, "Come at once and sit down to eat'? |
| 8 | But will he not rather say to him, "Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? |
| 9 | Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. |
| 10 | So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, "We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do."' |
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 Colossians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
Colossians 4 : 2 - 18
Chapter 4
| 2 | Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; |
| 3 | meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, |
| 4 | that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. |
| 5 | Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. |
| 6 | Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. |
| 7 | Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. |
| 8 | I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, |
| 9 | with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here. |
| 10 | Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), |
| 11 | and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me. |
| 12 | Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. |
| 13 | For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. |
| 14 | Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. |
| 15 | Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. |
| 16 | Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. |
| 17 | And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it." |
| 18 | This salutation by my own hand--Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. Peter .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
1 Peter 3 : 15 - 22
Chapter 3
| 15 | But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; |
| 16 | having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. |
| 17 | For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. |
| 18 | For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, |
| 19 | by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, |
| 20 | who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. |
| 21 | There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, |
| 22 | who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to 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 1 : 1 - 14
Chapter 1
| 1 | The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, |
| 2 | until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, |
| 3 | to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. |
| 4 | And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; |
| 5 | for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." |
| 6 | Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" |
| 7 | And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. |
| 8 | But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." |
| 9 | Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. |
| 10 | And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, |
| 11 | who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." |
| 12 | Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. |
| 13 | And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. |
| 14 | These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. |
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 96 : 2 - 3
Chapter 96
| 2 | Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. |
| 3 | Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. |
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.
Luke 10 : 1 - 20
Chapter 10
| 1 | After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. |
| 2 | Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. |
| 3 | Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. |
| 4 | Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. |
| 5 | But whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house.' |
| 6 | And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. |
| 7 | And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. |
| 8 | Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. |
| 9 | And heal the sick there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you.' |
| 10 | But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, |
| 11 | "The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.' |
| 12 | But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. |
| 13 | "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. |
| 14 | But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. |
| 15 | And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. |
| 16 | He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." |
| 17 | Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." |
| 18 | And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. |
| 19 | Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. |
| 20 | Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." |
And Glory be to God forever.
The highest expression of the spirit is the one that opens us to the Great Other, in love and trust. It establishes a dialogue with God, listens from the conscience to God’s call, and delivers us trustingly into the palm of God’s hand. This communion can be so intense, say the mystics of every tradition, that the soul of the beloved is fused with the Lover in an experience of nonduality; by grace we participate in God’s very being. Here the human spirit is touching the hem of the Holy Spirit’s garment. —Leonardo Boff [1]
The Holy Spirit is the love relationship between the Father and the Son. It is this relationship itself that is gratuitously given to us! Or better, we are included inside this universal love. This is salvation in one wonderful snapshot.
Jesuit Richard Hauser (1937–2018), who focused much of his teaching and writing on the Holy Spirit, saw that the indwelling Spirit leads to union and love:
This love has as its object God, as well as other people. Christian theological tradition has most often seen the Holy Spirit in the Trinity as the bond of love between the Father and the Son. . . . The primary effect of the Spirit acting in people . . . will be love, both for one another and for God. . . .
God’s Spirit joins our spirit; it does not replace it. The good acts we perform are truly our acts, not simply acts of the Holy Spirit in us. The deepest part of the self is the spiritual dimension. From the center flows all our freedom and love; at this level we remain free to choose to move or not to move with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is indeed active in us at all times drawing us toward greater love and service of God and others, but the Spirit does not control our response. That flows from our freedom. [2]
This loving relationship shows itself in myriad forms, such as the endless diversity of insects and wildflowers, culture and art, medicine and science. Each manifestation expresses God’s endless desire to create new forms of life and externalized love. All things good, true, and beautiful are already baptized in the one, same Spirit. (Read Ephesians 4:4-7 anew!)
The Holy Spirit shows up as the central and healing power of absolute newness and healing in our relationship with everything else. Anglican mystic Evelyn Underhill (1875–1941) defined mysticism as “the art of union with Reality.” [3] The Spirit is the artist painting this union through us!
The Spirit’s work is helping us stay in relationship and building connection. The Spirit warms, softens, mends, and renews all the broken, cold places in and between things. Invisible but powerful, willing to be anonymous, the Spirit does not care who gets the credit for the wind from nowhere, the living water that we take for granted, or the bush that always burns and is never consumed.
References:
[1] Leonardo Boff, Come Holy Spirit (Orbis Books: 2015), 42.
[2] Richard J. Hauser, In His Spirit (Beacon Publishing: 2011), 37, 38.
[3] Evelyn Underhill, Practical Mysticism: A Little Book for Normal People (E. P. Dutton & Company: 1915), 3.