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DAILY VERSE
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. —Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Jesus told us not to fear other human opponents (Lk. 12:4-5). When we try to please others, when we fear what others may say or do to us, we place ourselves in a position of great vulnerability. Our lives no longer remain our own. We become captive to what others think, want, or threaten. We are only to trust the LORD and reverence him. In God is our safety, both now, and forevermore.

DAILY SYNEXARIUM
6 Baramhat 1738

Day 6 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 Sixth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat

Martyrdom of St.Dioscorus

      On this day, St. Dioscorus was martyred at the time of the Arabs. He was from Alexandria, and was brought up as Christian but for unexplained reason he left the faith of his fathers and adopted the faith of the Arabs. He had a married sister in the city of Fayyum. When she knew what her brother did, she sent a letter to him saying: "I would have preferred that the news had come to me telling me that you had died a Christian, and I would have rejoiced, than that the news that reached me, that you are not dead, and you have abandoned the Faith of Christ your God." At the end she said: "Know that this letter marks the end of the relation between you and me. From this time on do not show me your face and do not write me." When he had read his sister's letter, he wept bitterly, and he smote his face and tore his beard. Then he rose in haste and girded up his loins, prayed entreating God fervently and made the sign of the cross over himself. He went out of his house and wandered about in the city. When the Muslims saw him in this condition, they brought him to the Governor who asked him: "You have left Christianity and joined our religion, so what happened to you?" He replied saying "I have been born Christian, and I shall die Christian, and I do not know except this." The Governor threatened him, beat him and inflicted great pain upon him and when he did not change his opinion, he shut him up in prison. The Governor sent to the Khalifa of Egypt presenting his case to him. The Khalifa ordered the governor to offer him leaving the faith of the Christians and entering the faith of the Khalifa, if he obeyed to give him much money and to reward him, otherwise to burn him. The Governor brought him out of jail and asked him to deny his faith but he refused saying: "I told you before that I have been born Christian, and I shall die Christian." He ordered him to be burnt. They dug a large pit outside the city, and they filled it with wood and they set fire in it. When the flames of the fire mounted up to a great height, they casted him in the pit after they had beaten him sorely and gashed his body with knives. He received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of heaven.

May His prayers be with us all. Amen.

Departure of St.Theodotus, the Bishop

      On this day also is the commemoration of the departure of St. Theodsius the confessor, Bishop of Corinth which on the island of Cyprus. Julius, the Governor of this island, who had been appointed by Diocletian, had him brought before him. He demanded from him to deny the Lord Christ and to raise incense to the idols. When he did not obey his orders, he removed off the Saint's garments and lashed him painfully with whips made of buffalo hide, hanged him from his arms, and combed his body with steel combs inflicting him with gashes all over his body. Then they tied to his legs long iron bands, and dragged him to prison. He remained in prison until God perished Diocletian and Constantine the righteous Emperor reigned, who released him among all those who had been jailed for the sake of faith. St.Theodsius returned to his Episcopal Seat, and tended his flock, that he was entrusted with, well until he departed in peace.

May his intercession be with us and Glory be to God for ever. Amen.

 

DAILY KATEMAROS
Tue, 15 Mar. 2022 --- 6 Baramhat 1738

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. 

 


 

 

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. 

 

DAILY CONTEMPLATION
الصوم‏ ‏يفيد‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏كما‏ ‏يفيد‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏أيضا “2”

إن‏ ‏دانيال‏ ‏والثلاثة‏ ‏فتية‏ ‏لم‏ ‏يأكلوا‏ ‏لحما‏ ‏من‏ ‏مائدة‏ ‏الملك‏, ‏واكتفوا‏ ‏بأكل‏ ‏البقول‏ ‏فصارت‏ ‏صحتهم‏ ‏أفضل‏ ‏من‏ ‏غيرهم‏ (‏دا‏ 1:15).‏
والآباء‏ ‏السواح‏, ‏وآباء‏ ‏الرهبنة‏ ‏الكبار‏, ‏كانوا‏ ‏متشددين‏ ‏جدا‏ ‏في‏ ‏صومهم‏, ‏ولم‏ ‏نسمع‏ ‏أبدا‏ ‏أن‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏أضعف‏ ‏صحتهم‏, ‏بل‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏قوية‏ ‏حتي‏ ‏في‏ ‏سن‏ ‏الشيخوخة‏.‏وأبونا‏ ‏آدم‏ ‏لم‏ ‏يقل‏ ‏أحد‏ ‏إنه‏ ‏مرض‏ ‏وضعف‏ ‏بسبب‏ ‏الطعام‏ ‏النباتي‏, ‏وكذلك‏ ‏أمنا‏ ‏حواء‏, ‏وكل‏ ‏الآباء‏ ‏قبل‏ ‏فلك‏ ‏نوح‏… ‏فاطمأنوا‏ ‏إذن‏ ‏علي‏ ‏صحتكم‏ ‏الجسدية‏…‏

الذي‏ ‏يتعب‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏هو‏ ‏الصوم‏, ‏بل‏ ‏الأكل‏.‏
تتعب‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏كثرة‏ ‏الأكل‏, ‏والتخمة‏, ‏وعدم‏ ‏الضوابط‏ ‏في‏ ‏الطعام‏, ‏وكثرة‏ ‏الإخلاط‏ ‏غير‏ ‏المتجانس‏ ‏في‏ ‏الطعام‏ ‏ودخول‏ ‏أكل‏ ‏جديد‏ ‏علي‏ ‏أكل‏ ‏لم‏ ‏يهضم‏ ‏داخل‏ ‏الجسد‏, ‏كما‏ ‏يتعب‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏الطاقات‏ ‏الحرارية‏ ‏الزائدة‏ ‏التي‏ ‏تأتي‏ ‏من‏ ‏أغذية‏ ‏فوق‏ ‏حاجة‏ ‏الإنسان‏, ‏وما‏ ‏أكثر‏ ‏الأمراض‏ ‏التي‏ ‏سببها‏ ‏الأكل‏.‏
لذلك‏ ‏يجب‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تتحرروا‏ ‏من‏ ‏فكرة‏ ‏أن‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏يتعب‏ ‏الصحة‏.‏
إنها‏ ‏فكرة‏ ‏خاطئة‏, ‏ربما‏ ‏نبتت‏ ‏أولا‏ ‏من‏ ‏حنو‏ ‏الأمهات‏ ‏الزائد‏ ‏علي‏ ‏صحة‏ ‏أبنائهن‏, ‏حينما‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏الأم‏ ‏تفرح‏ ‏إذ‏ ‏تري‏ ‏ابنها‏ ‏سمينا‏ ‏وممتلئ‏ ‏الجسم‏, ‏وتظن‏ ‏أن‏ ‏هذه‏ ‏هي‏ ‏الصحة‏! ‏بينما‏ ‏قد‏ ‏يكون‏ ‏السمين‏ ‏أضعف‏ ‏صحة‏ ‏من‏ ‏الرفيع‏.‏
حنو‏ ‏الأمهات‏ ‏الخاطئ‏ ‏كان‏ ‏يمنع‏ ‏الأبناء‏ ‏من‏ ‏الصوم‏, ‏أو‏ ‏كان‏ ‏يخيفهم‏ ‏من‏ ‏الصوم‏, ‏وتقول‏ ‏إنه‏ ‏حنو‏ ‏خاطئ‏, ‏لأنه‏ ‏كان‏ ‏يهتم‏ ‏بروح‏ ‏الابن‏ ‏كما‏ ‏يهتم‏ ‏بجسده‏, ‏كما‏ ‏لو‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏أولئك‏ ‏الأمهات‏ ‏أمهات‏ ‏لأجساد‏ ‏أبنائهن‏ ‏فقط‏, ‏وفي‏ ‏إشفاق‏ ‏الأم‏ ‏علي‏ ‏جسد‏ ‏ابنها‏ ‏تهتم‏ ‏بغذاء‏ ‏هذا‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏دون‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تلتفت‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏غذاء‏ ‏روحه‏!‏
ومع‏ ‏ذلك‏ ‏سمعنا‏ ‏عن‏ ‏أطفال‏ ‏قديسين‏ ‏كانوا‏ ‏يصومون‏ ‏ولعل‏ ‏من‏ ‏أمثلة‏ ‏هؤلاء‏ ‏القديس‏ ‏مرقس‏ ‏المتوحد‏ ‏بجبل‏ ‏أنطونيوس‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏بدأ‏ ‏صومه‏ ‏منذ‏ ‏طفولته‏ ‏المبكرة‏, ‏واستمر‏ ‏معه‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏كمنهج‏ ‏حياة‏.‏
وكذلك‏ ‏القديس‏ ‏الأنبا‏ ‏شنودة‏ ‏رئيس‏ ‏المتوحدين‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏كان‏ ‏في‏ ‏طفولته‏ ‏يعطي‏ ‏طعامه‏ ‏للرعاة‏, ‏ويظل‏ ‏منتصبا‏ ‏في‏ ‏الصلاة‏ ‏وهو‏ ‏صائم‏ ‏حتي‏ ‏الغروب‏ ‏وهو‏ ‏بعد‏ ‏في‏ ‏التاسعة‏ ‏من‏ ‏عمره‏.كان‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏للكل‏ ‏كبارا‏ ‏وصغارا‏, ‏منحهم‏ ‏جميعا‏ ‏صحة‏ ‏وقوة‏ ‏وقد‏ ‏خلص‏ ‏أجسادهم‏ ‏من‏ ‏الدهن‏ ‏والماء‏ ‏الزائدين‏.‏

وهكذا‏ ‏حفظت‏ ‏لنا‏ ‏كثير‏ ‏من‏ ‏أجساد‏ ‏القديسين‏ ‏دون‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تتعفن‏, ‏بسبب‏ ‏البركة‏ ‏التي‏ ‏حفظ‏ ‏بها‏ ‏الرب‏ ‏هذه‏ ‏الأجساد‏ ‏مكافأة‏ ‏علي‏ ‏قداستها‏, ‏هذا‏ ‏من‏ ‏جهة‏, ‏ومن‏ ‏جهة‏ ‏أخري‏ ‏لأن‏ ‏هذه‏ ‏الأجساد‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏بعيدة‏ ‏عن‏ ‏أسباب‏ ‏التعفن‏, ‏بسبب‏ ‏قلة‏ ‏ما‏ ‏فيها‏ ‏من‏ ‏رطوبة‏ ‏ومن‏ ‏دهن‏.‏
قد‏ ‏تحفظ‏ ‏اللحوم‏ ‏فترة‏ ‏طويلة‏ ‏بلا‏ ‏تعفن‏, ‏إذا‏ ‏شوحوها‏ (‏قددوها‏) ‏أي‏ ‏عرضوها‏ ‏للحرارة‏ ‏التي‏ ‏تطرد‏ ‏ما‏ ‏فيها‏ ‏من‏ ‏ماءوتذيب‏ ‏ما‏ ‏فيها‏ ‏من‏ ‏دهن‏, ‏فتصبح‏ ‏في‏ ‏جفاف‏ ‏يساعد‏ ‏علي‏ ‏حفظها‏, ‏إلي‏ ‏حد‏ ‏ما‏, ‏هكذا‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏أجساد‏ ‏القديسين‏ ‏بالصوم‏, ‏بلا‏ ‏دهن‏, ‏بلا‏ ‏ماء‏ ‏زائد‏, ‏فلم‏ ‏يجد‏ ‏التلف‏ ‏طريقا‏ ‏إليها‏…‏
ولكن‏ ‏لماذا‏ ‏نركز‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الجسد؟‏ ‏هل‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏للجسد‏ ‏فقط؟
الصوم‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏مجرد‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏للجسد
الصوم‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏مجرد‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏للجسد‏ ‏بعيدا‏ ‏عن‏ ‏الروح‏, ‏فكل‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏لا‏ ‏تشترك‏ ‏فيه‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏لا‏ ‏يعتبر‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الإطلاق‏, ‏فما‏ ‏هو‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏في‏ ‏الصوم؟‏ ‏وما‏ ‏هو‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏الروح؟
الصوم‏ ‏الحقيقي‏ ‏هو‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏روحي‏ ‏داخل‏ ‏القلب‏ ‏أولا‏وعمل‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏في‏ ‏الصوم‏. ‏هو‏ ‏تمهيد‏ ‏لعمل‏ ‏الروح‏. ‏أو‏ ‏تعبير‏ ‏عن‏ ‏مشاعر‏ ‏الروح‏.‏

الروح‏ ‏تسمو‏ ‏فوق‏ ‏مستوي‏ ‏المادة‏ ‏والطعام‏, ‏وفوق‏ ‏مستوي‏ ‏الجسد‏, ‏فتقود‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏معها‏ ‏في‏ ‏موكب‏ ‏نصرتها‏, ‏وفي‏ ‏رغباتها‏ ‏الروحية‏. ‏ويعبر‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏عن‏ ‏هذا‏ ‏بممارسة‏ ‏الصوم‏.‏
إن‏ ‏قصرنا‏ ‏تعريفنا‏ ‏للصوم‏ ‏علي‏ ‏إنه‏ ‏إذلال‏ ‏للجسد‏ ‏بالجوع‏ ‏والامتناع‏ ‏عما‏ ‏يشتهيه‏, ‏نكون‏ ‏قد‏ ‏أخذنا‏ ‏من‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏سلبياته‏, ‏وتركنا‏ ‏عمله‏ ‏الإيجابي‏ ‏الروحي‏.‏
الصوم‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏جوعا‏ ‏للجسد‏, ‏بل‏ ‏هو‏ ‏غذاء‏ ‏للروح‏.‏
ليس‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏تعذيبا‏ ‏للجسد‏. ‏أو‏ ‏استشهادا‏ ‏للجسد‏. ‏أو‏ ‏صليبا‏ ‏له‏. ‏كما‏ ‏يظن‏ ‏البعض‏, ‏إنما‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏هو‏ ‏تسامي‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏ليصل‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏المستوي‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يتعاون‏ ‏فيه‏ ‏مع‏ ‏الروح‏. ‏ونحن‏ ‏في‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏لا‏ ‏نقصد‏ ‏أن‏ ‏نعذب‏ ‏الجسد‏. ‏إنما‏ ‏نقصد‏ ‏ألا‏ ‏نسلك‏ ‏حسب‏ ‏الجسد‏. ‏فيكون‏ ‏الصائم‏ ‏إنسانا‏ ‏روحيا‏ ‏وليس‏ ‏إنسانا‏ ‏جسدانيا‏.‏
الصوم‏ ‏هو‏ ‏روح‏ ‏زاهدة‏, ‏تشرك‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏معها‏ ‏في‏ ‏الزهد‏.‏
والصوم‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏هو‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏الجائع‏, ‏بل‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏الزاهد‏ ‏وليس‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏هو‏ ‏جوع‏ ‏الجسد‏, ‏إنما‏ ‏بالأكثر‏ ‏هو‏ ‏تسامي‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏وطهارة‏ ‏الجسد‏, ‏ليس‏ ‏هو‏ ‏حالة‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يجوع‏ ‏ويشتهي‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يأكل‏. ‏بل‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يتخلص‏ ‏من‏ ‏شهوة‏ ‏الأكل‏, ‏ويفقد‏ ‏الأكل‏ ‏قيمته‏ ‏في‏ ‏نظره‏…‏
الصوم‏ ‏فترة‏ ‏ترتفع‏ ‏فيها‏ ‏الروح‏. ‏وتجذب‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏معها‏.‏
تخلصه‏ ‏من‏ ‏أحماله‏ ‏وأثقاله‏. ‏وتجذبه‏ ‏معها‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏فوق‏, ‏لكي‏ ‏يعمل‏ ‏معها‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏الرب‏ ‏بلا‏ ‏عائق‏. ‏والجسد‏ ‏الروحي‏ ‏يكون‏ ‏سعيدا‏ ‏بهذا‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏هو‏ ‏فترة‏ ‏روحية‏. ‏يقضيها‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏والروح‏ ‏معا‏ ‏في‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏روحي‏, ‏يشترك‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏مع‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏في‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏واحد‏ ‏هو‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏يشترك‏ ‏معها‏ ‏في‏ ‏الصلاة‏ ‏والتآمل‏ ‏والتسبيح‏ ‏والعشرة‏ ‏الإلهية‏.‏
نصلي‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏فقط‏ ‏بجسد‏ ‏صائم‏, ‏إنما‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏بنفس‏ ‏صائمة‏.‏
بفكر‏ ‏صائم‏ ‏وقلب‏ ‏صائم‏ ‏عن‏ ‏الشهوات‏ ‏والرغبات‏. ‏وبروح‏ ‏صائمة‏ ‏عن‏ ‏المحبة‏ ‏العالم‏, ‏فهي‏ ‏ميتة‏ ‏عنه‏. ‏وكلها‏ ‏حياة‏ ‏مع‏ ‏الله‏ ‏تتغذي‏ ‏به‏ ‏وبمحبته‏.‏
الصوم‏ ‏بهذا‏ ‏الشكل‏ ‏هو‏ ‏الوسيلة‏ ‏الصالحة‏ ‏للعمل‏ ‏الروحي‏, ‏هو‏ ‏الجو‏ ‏الروحي‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يحيا‏ ‏فيه‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏جميعه‏, ‏بقلبه‏ ‏ونفسه‏ ‏وروحه‏ ‏وفكره‏ ‏وحواسه‏ ‏وعواطفه‏.‏
الصوم‏ ‏هو‏ ‏تعبير‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏عن‏ ‏زهده‏ ‏في‏ ‏المادة‏ ‏والماديات‏. ‏واشتياقه‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏الحياة‏ ‏مع‏ ‏الله‏. ‏وهذا‏ ‏الزهد‏ ‏دليل‏ ‏علي‏ ‏اشتراك‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏في‏ ‏عمل‏ ‏الروح‏, ‏وفي‏ ‏صفاتها‏ ‏الروحية‏. ‏وبه‏ ‏يصبح‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏روحيا‏ ‏في‏ ‏منهجه‏, ‏وتكون‏ ‏له‏ ‏صورة‏ ‏الروح‏.‏
في‏ ‏الصوم‏ ‏لا‏ ‏يهتم‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏بما‏ ‏للجسد‏, ‏لا‏ ‏تهتم‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏بهذا‏, ‏ولا‏ ‏يهتم‏ ‏الجسد‏ ‏به‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏في‏ ‏حالته‏ ‏الروحية‏.‏
لا‏ ‏تهتموا‏ ‏بما‏ ‏للجسد
في‏ ‏حديث‏ ‏الرب‏ ‏عن‏ ‏الغذاء‏ ‏الروحي‏, ‏نسمعه‏ ‏يقول‏:‏
اعملوا‏ ‏لا‏ ‏للطعام‏ ‏البائد‏, ‏بل‏ ‏للطعام‏ ‏الباقي‏ ‏للحياة‏ ‏الأبدية‏ (‏يو‏ 6:27) ‏وبعد‏ ‏هذا‏ ‏يحدثهم‏ ‏عن‏ ‏الخبز‏ ‏النازل‏ ‏من‏ ‏السماء‏. ‏الخبز‏ ‏الحقيقي‏, ‏خبر‏ ‏الله‏, ‏خبز‏ ‏الحياة‏ (‏يو‏ 6: 32‏ـ‏35). ‏إنه‏ ‏هنا‏ ‏يوجه‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏وغذائها‏, ‏ويقود‏ ‏تفكيرنا‏ ‏في‏ ‏اتجاه‏ ‏روحي‏, ‏حتي‏ ‏لا‏ ‏ننشغل‏ ‏بالجسد‏ ‏وطعامه‏.‏
وحينما‏ ‏ذكر‏ ‏عبارة‏ ‏ليس‏ ‏بالخبز‏ ‏وحده‏ ‏يحيا‏ ‏الإنسان‏ (‏مت‏ 4:4). ‏إنما‏ ‏بهذا‏ ‏أنه‏ ‏ينبغي‏ ‏للإنسان‏ ‏ألا‏ ‏يحيا‏ ‏جسدنيا‏ ‏يعتمد‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الخبز‏ ‏كطعام‏ ‏له‏. ‏ناسيا‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏وطعامها‏ ‏وعن‏ ‏طعام‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏هذا‏ ‏قال‏ ‏لتلاميذه‏ ‏لي‏ ‏طعام‏ ‏لأكل‏ ‏لستم‏ ‏تعرفونه‏ (‏يو‏4:32). ‏وهنا‏ ‏يخطر‏ ‏علي‏ ‏فكرنا‏ ‏سؤال‏ ‏هو‏:‏
هل‏ ‏كان‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الجبل‏ ‏صائما‏ ‏أم‏ ‏يتغذي؟
والجواب‏ ‏هو‏: ‏كان‏ ‏صائما‏, ‏وكان‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏يتغذي‏.‏
كان‏ ‏صائما‏ ‏من‏ ‏جهة‏ ‏الجسد‏, ‏وكان‏ ‏يتغذي‏ ‏من‏ ‏جهة‏ ‏الروح‏.‏