We are comforted because we are heartbroken. We are comforted because we need a blessing. We are comforted because God loves us. We are comforted to comfort others. While each of the above statements is true, the last is the most crucial one. There is something about comfort that cannot be fully realized until it is shared with someone else. It is that final step in the healing process of grief, disappointment, hurt, and loss. Until we share the comfort we have received, until we pass it on to another, our comfort is weak and shallow and limited. Comfort — pass it on!
Day 12 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Babah, 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 Twelfth Day of the Blessed Month of Babah
Departure of Abba Demetrius the First, the Twelfth Pope of Alexandria
On this day of the year 224 A.D. departed the father, the pure virgin, the fighter of lusts, the vanquisher of anture, Abba Demetrius the First, the twelfth Pope of Alexandria. This saint was an illiterate farmer, and was married. He lived with his wife forty-seven years until he was chosen a patriarch. They did not know one another as married people, but remained throughout that period in their virginity and chastity, a fact which no one knew. When the departure of St.Yulianus, the eleventh Pope drew near, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a vision and told him about this saint and that he was to be a patriarch after him. He gave him a sign and told him, "Tomorrow a man shall come to you having a cluster of grapes, seize him and pray over him." Then he woke from his sleep. He told the bishops and the priests who were with him about this vision.
So it happened on the next day that St.Demetrius found a cluster of grapes out of season. He carried it to St.Yulianus, so that he might be blessed by him. The father, the patriarch, took him by the hand and told those present, "This is your patriarch who will be chosen after me." Then he prayed over him and they held him and kept him until the departure of Abba Yulianus, whereupon they finished the prayers over him and he was filled with heavenly grace. The Lord enlightened his mind and he learned how to read and write. He studied the church books and their interpretations. The words of grace flew from his mouth when he preached. It was he who established the reckoning of the Epacts, by which the dates of fasting were determined on a fixed basis. The Christians used to fast the holy forty days right after the Epiphany, as the Lord Christ fasted after his baptism. Then they fasted the Passion week separately. The Christians used to celebrate Easter on the fourteenth of Neesan (April) and that meant they celebrated with the Jews not recognizing that the Christian Passover was to be in memory of the Resuurrection of the Lord Christ which was after the Mosaic Passover. For that, Pope Demetrius took care to establish fixed bases for fasts and Christian holy days. He joined the Holy Fast to the Passion Week. He wrote in the respect to Agabius Bishop of Jerusalem, to Maximus the patriarch of Antioch, to the patriarch of Rome and to others, and all approved of it and continued to follow his rules up until the present, with the exception of the Church of Rome which deviated from that and followed, since the sixteenth century, the Gregorian Calendar. To the Popes of the Coptic Church was the prime credit in determining the Easter Day; and they thus sent their Easter messages all over the world, so that the Christians would celebrate Easter on the same day forming a universal joy.
God was with this father because of his purity of heart. He was given the gift that after he finished the liturgy and the people came forward to partake of the Holy Mysteries, he used to see the Lord Christ pushing forward with His Hand those of them who were worthy. But if one came forward who did not deserve the Holy Communion, he would see his sins and would not allow him to partake of it until he confessed his sins and the father admonished him for them and said to him, "Turn away from your sin and repent, after that come and partake of the Holy Mysteries." His flocks were straightened during his time. Because he rebuked the sinners much, and urged them to repent to lead a chaste life, some of them murmured and said, "This man is married, how can he rebuke us?" The Lord Almighty wished to show them his virtues, so the angel of the Lord came to him at night and told him, "Demetrius, do not seek your salvation and let others be destroyed with their doubt." The father asked him to clarify this statement and the angel told him, "You must reveal the mystery which is between yourself and your wife to the people that you might remove the doubt from them." On the following morning, after he had celebrated the divine liturgy, he ordered the people not to leave the church. He took red-hot coal and placed it in his wife's veil and his garment, then they went around in the church and their clothes did not burn. The people were amazed at this miracle. He told them that he and his wife did not know each other as married people till that day. the doubt was removed from the people and they realized the purity of this father and his virginity. During his time, some opposing men appeared whose name were Aklemos, Origen, and Orianus and others who wrote forbidden books and so he excommunicated them. During the days of his papacy, he did not stop teaching and confirming the believers in the Orthodox Faith. When he had grown old and became weak, they carried him on a litter to the church to teach the people. He was one hundred and five years old, having spent fifteen years unmarried, forty-seven years until he became partriarch and forty-three in office, then he departed in peace.
May his prayers and blessings be with us all. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Matthew the Evangelist
On this day also was the martyrdom of St.Matthew the Evangelist. He was one of the twelve disciples and his name was Levi. He was the one sitting at the receipt of custom outside the city of Capernaum, when the Lord Christ said unto him, "Follow me." He left all, rose up, and followed Him. He made for the Lord Christ a great feast in his own house. That made the Pharisees murmur against him saying to His desciples, "Why does your teacher eat and drink with publicans and sinners ?" Jesus answering said unto them, "They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:27-32)He had preached in the land of Palastine and Tyre and Sidon. Then he went Ethiopia and entered the city of priest adn converted them to the knowledge of God. That was when he wished to enter the city, but met a young man who told ihm, "You will not be able to go in unless you shave off the hair of your head and carry palm branches in your hand." He did as the young man told him. And, as he was thinking about that, the Lord Christ appeared to him in the form of the young man who had met him earlier, and He encouraged and comforted him, then disappeared. He realized that this young man was the Lord of Glory Himself. Then he entered the city like one of the priests. He went to the temple of Apollo and found the high priest, and talked with him concerning the idols that they are worshipping. He made clear to him how those idols did not hear or sense anything and how the True Mighty Lord is He who created the Heaven and the earth. The Lord made through him a wonder: a table came down to them from heaven and a great light shone around them. When Hermes the priest saw this wonder, he asked him, "What is the name of your God?" The apostle replied, "My God is the Lord Christ." Hermes, the priest, believed in him and many people followed him. When the governor of the city knew that, he ordered to burn them. It happened at the same time that the son of the governor died. St.Matthew the apostle prayed and made supplications to God to raise the son and the Lord answered him and raised the child from death. When the governor saw that, he and the rest of the people of the city believed. St.Matthew baptized them and ordered a bishop and priests for them and built a church.
After he had preached in other countries, he went back to Jerusalem. Some of the Jews which had been preached to, and had believed and been baptized by him, gathered with him and asked him to write down what he had preached to them. He wrote the beginning of the Gospel attributed to him in the Hebrew language but he did not complete it. It was said that he finished his preaching in India, in the first year of the reign of Claudius and the ninth year from the Ascension. His martyrdom was effected by stoning by the hands of Justus the governor, and his body was buried in a holy place in Carthage of Caesarea with certain believing men.
May his prayers and blessings be with us all. Amen.
Commemorative Feast of Michael the Archangel
On the twelfth of each month we celebrate commemorating the honorable Michael the Archangel, the head of the Heavenly Hosts, who stands at all times before the throne of the Divine Majesty on behalf of the human race.
May his intercessions and blessings be with us all, 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 22 : 22 - 23
Chapter 22
| 22 | I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. |
| 23 | You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring 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.
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 9 : 9 - 13
Chapter 9
| 9 | As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. |
| 10 | Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. |
| 11 | And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" |
| 12 | When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. |
| 13 | But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." |
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 40 : 9 - 10
Chapter 40
| 9 | I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know. |
| 10 | I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly. |
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 Mark the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Mark 2 : 13 - 17
Chapter 2
| 13 | Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. |
| 14 | As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. |
| 15 | Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. |
| 16 | And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" |
| 17 | When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." |
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 Ephesians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
Ephesians 4 : 11 - 19
Chapter 4
| 11 | And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, |
| 12 | for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, |
| 13 | till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; |
| 14 | that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, |
| 15 | but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- |
| 16 | from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. |
| 17 | This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, |
| 18 | having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; |
| 19 | who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. |
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 1 : 3 - 12
Chapter 1
| 3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, |
| 4 | to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, |
| 5 | who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. |
| 6 | In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, |
| 7 | that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, |
| 8 | whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, |
| 9 | receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. |
| 10 | Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, |
| 11 | searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. |
| 12 | To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into. |
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 5 : 12 - 18
Chapter 5
| 12 | And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. |
| 13 | Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. |
| 14 | And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, |
| 15 | so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. |
| 16 | Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. |
| 17 | Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, |
| 18 | and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. |
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 68 : 11 - 12
Chapter 68
| 11 | The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it: |
| 12 | "Kings of armies flee, they flee, And she who remains at home divides the spoil. |
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 5 : 27 - 32
Chapter 5
| 27 | After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." |
| 28 | So he left all, rose up, and followed Him. |
| 29 | Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. |
| 30 | And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" |
| 31 | Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. |
| 32 | I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." |
And Glory be to God forever.
- Chapter 36.— God Not Only Foreknows that Men Will Be Good, But Himself Makes Them So.
It is He Himself, therefore, that makes those men good, to do good works. For He did not promise them to Abraham because He foreknew that of themselves they would be good. For if this were the case, what He promised was not His, but theirs. But it was not thus that Abraham believed, but he was not weak in faith, giving glory to God;
and most fully believing that what He has promised He is able also to perform.
Romans 4:19 He does not say, What He foreknew, He is able to promise;
nor What He foretold, He is able to manifest;
nor What He promised, He is able to foreknow:
but What He promised, He is able also to do.