Many of the struggles in our lives are not mere accidents! Many of them are not put there by God. Our challenges often come from the hand of our enemy, Satan. He always prowls about looking for the best scheme to knock us out of our commitment to and relationship with the Lord. Placing ourselves firmly in the hands of the Lord and using his tools of warfare will help us defeat our enemy who has already been humiliated by Jesus and the cross.
Day 3 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 Third Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Departure of St.Cosmas, the Fifty-Eighth Pope of Alexandria
On this day of the year 648 A.M. (27th of February 932 A.D.) the blessed father Anba Cosmas, the Fifty-Eighth Pope of Alexandria, departed. This father was righteous, pure, merciful, chaste, and knowledgeable of the books of the church and in the interpretations thereof. When he was chosen Patriarch, on the 4th of Baramhat 636 A.M. (28th of February 920 A.D.), he shepherded his flock in the fear of God and with wisdom. He distributed to the poor, the needy and to building churches, all of the church revenue after the little he used. The evil one, however, did not leave St. Cosmas without grief when he saw his pure life. He ordained a Metropolitan for Ethiopia from the monks, whose name was Peter, and sent him there. The king received him with great joy. A short while later, the king fell sick and felt that his end was near, so he brought his two sons and asked the Metropolitan to come to him. The king took off his crown and handed it to the Metropolitan saying: "I am going to my Lord Christ and whomever you see fit from my sons to rule the kingdom enthrone him."
When the King departed to the Lord, the Metropolitan and the Cabinet saw that the younger son was more suitable for ruling the kingdom, so they crowned him. Shortly afterwards, a monk from the monastery of Anba Antonius called Victor and along with him a companion named Mina came to Ethiopia. They asked the Metropolitan for money; but he refused to give it to them. The devil enticed them to scheme against him. One of them put on the garb of the bishops and the other one as his disciple. They falsified a letter from the father, the Patriarch, to the nobles of the government saying in it: "We have been informed that a deceptive man called Peter came to you claiming that we have sent him as a Metropolitan for you and he is lying in that. The one who is carrying this massage to you is the legitimate Metropolitan Mina. We have been informed also that Peter has enthroned the younger son of the king instead of his older brother, against the church and civic laws. On the arrival of this message, you should exile both the Metropolitan and the king, consider Abba Mina the carrier of our message to be your legitimate metropolitan and to allow him to enthrone the older son a king."
The two monks handed the forged letter to the older son of the king. When he read the letter he gathered the cabinet and the nobles of the government and read it to them. They ordered the exile of Metropolitan Peter and seated Mina in his place. They then took away the crown from the younger son and crowned his older brother. Nevertheless, a dispute occurred between the false Metropolitan and his assistant, who took the liberties of the absence of his Metropolitan and expelled the servants, plundered all what he found, returned to Egypt, and became a Moslem. When the news reached Pope Cosmas, he grieved exceedingly. He sent a letter to Ethiopia excommunicating Mina the liar. The King of Ethiopia was outraged from Mina's actions and slew him. He asked for the return of Metropolitan Peter from his exile but found that he had departed to his Lord and Savior. The father, the Patriarch, refused to ordain for them another Metropolitan and so the four Patriarchs that followed him. The days of this father were peaceful and tranquil, if not for this accident. He occupied the throne of St. Mark for twelve years and departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Porphyry
On this day also St. Porphyry (Porphorius) was martyred. He was one of the most nobles of Banias, most charitable and caring for the poor. He visited those in prison because of their debts and paid off their obligations. When the era of persecution started, it was called in every place to worship the idols. The Saint heard that the prince was passing by, he stood in front of his house and shouted in his face, saying: "I am Christian." After many failed trials from the prince to dissuade him on changing his faith, the prince ordered his neck to be cut off. The Saint received the crown of life, and the people of his town took his body, and shrouded it with expensive shrouds.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Hadid the priest
On this day also, the blessed father and the lover of God Anba Hadid the priest departed. He was righteous and virtuous. The Lord granted him the gift of performing miracles and wonders and granted him the spirit of prophecy and knowing the hidden things. He revealed what was in the hearts of his visitors and healed those who were sick. It was said that he raised a dead man through his prayers. He departed, when he was one hundred years old, in a good old age.
May his prayers be with us 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 88 : 1 - 2
Chapter 88
| 1 | O LORD, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You. |
| 2 | Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry. |
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 Matthew the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Matthew 15 : 1 - 20
Chapter 15
| 1 | Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, |
| 2 | "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." |
| 3 | He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? |
| 4 | For God commanded, saying, "Honor your father and your mother'; and, "He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' |
| 5 | But you say, "Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"-- |
| 6 | then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. |
| 7 | Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: |
| 8 | "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. |
| 9 | And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."' |
| 10 | When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand: |
| 11 | Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." |
| 12 | Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" |
| 13 | But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. |
| 14 | Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." |
| 15 | Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us." |
| 16 | So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? |
| 17 | Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? |
| 18 | But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. |
| 19 | For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. |
| 20 | These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." |
And Glory be to God forever.
الأحد, 24 مارس 2019 --- 15 برمهات 1735
Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 55 : 1,2,16
Chapter 55
| 1 | Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. |
| 2 | Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily, |
| 16 | As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me. |
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 20 : 1 - 16
Chapter 20
| 1 | "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. |
| 2 | Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. |
| 3 | And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, |
| 4 | and said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. |
| 5 | Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. |
| 6 | And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day?' |
| 7 | They said to him, "Because no one hired us.' He said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.' |
| 8 | "So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, "Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.' |
| 9 | And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. |
| 10 | But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. |
| 11 | And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, |
| 12 | saying, "These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' |
| 13 | But he answered one of them and said, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? |
| 14 | Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. |
| 15 | Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' |
| 16 | So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen." |
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 Corinthians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
2 Corinthians 6 : 2 - 13
Chapter 6
| 2 | For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. |
| 3 | We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. |
| 4 | But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, |
| 5 | in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; |
| 6 | by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, |
| 7 | by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, |
| 8 | by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; |
| 9 | as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; |
| 10 | as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. |
| 11 | O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. |
| 12 | You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. |
| 13 | Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. |
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 3 : 1 - 12
Chapter 3
| 1 | My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. |
| 2 | For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. |
| 3 | Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. |
| 4 | Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. |
| 5 | Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! |
| 6 | And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. |
| 7 | For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. |
| 8 | But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. |
| 9 | With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. |
| 10 | Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. |
| 11 | Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? |
| 12 | Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. |
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 24 : 1 - 23
Chapter 24
| 1 | Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. |
| 2 | And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: "Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, |
| 3 | we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. |
| 4 | Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. |
| 5 | For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. |
| 6 | He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. |
| 7 | But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, |
| 8 | commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him." |
| 9 | And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. |
| 10 | Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: "Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, |
| 11 | because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. |
| 12 | And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. |
| 13 | Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. |
| 14 | But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. |
| 15 | I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. |
| 16 | This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. |
| 17 | "Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, |
| 18 | in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. |
| 19 | They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. |
| 20 | Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, |
| 21 | unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, "Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day."' |
| 22 | But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case." |
| 23 | So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. |
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 79 : 8 - 9
Chapter 79
| 8 | Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, For we have been brought very low. |
| 9 | Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name's sake! |
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 15 : 11 - 32
Chapter 15
| 11 | Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. |
| 12 | And the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. |
| 13 | And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. |
| 14 | But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. |
| 15 | Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. |
| 16 | And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. |
| 17 | "But when he came to himself, he said, "How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! |
| 18 | I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, |
| 19 | and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' |
| 20 | "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. |
| 21 | And the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' |
| 22 | "But the father said to his servants, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. |
| 23 | And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; |
| 24 | for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. |
| 25 | "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. |
| 26 | So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. |
| 27 | And he said to him, "Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' |
| 28 | "But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. |
| 29 | So he answered and said to his father, "Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. |
| 30 | But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' |
| 31 | "And he said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. |
| 32 | It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found."' |
And Glory be to God forever.
St. Athanasius
Taking what was ours, He invested us with what was His
Being by nature intangible, the Word yet said: “I gave My back to the stripes, and My cheeks to blows, and hid not My face from shame and spitting” (Isa 50:6). For what the human Body of the Word suffered, this the Word, dwelling in the body, ascribed to Himself, in order that we might be enabled to be partakers of the Godhead of the Word. And verily it is strange that He it was Who suffered and yet suffered not. Suffered, because His own Body suffered, and He was in it, which thus suffered; suffered not, because the Word, being by Nature God, is impassible. And while He, the incorporeal, was in the passible Body, the Body had in it the impassible Word, which was destroying the infirmities inherent in the Body. But this He did, and so it was, in order that Himself taking what was ours and offering it as a sacrifice, He might do away with it, and conversely might invest us with what was His, and cause the Apostle to say: “This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality” (1Co 15:53).
Letter to Epictetus, 6; NPNF, 2nd Ser., Vol. IV, p. 572