Day 17 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 Seventeenth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Departure of Lazarus, the beloved of the Lord
On this day the righteous Lazarus, the beloved of the Lord Christ, departed. He was the brother of Martha and Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair. When Lazarus fell sick the sisters sent to the Lord Christ saying: "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was" to magnify the miracle. Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples told Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. "But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."
When the Lord came to Bethany which is nearby Jerusalem He stood before the tomb and said: "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and prayed then he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." (John 11:1-45) That was to manifest the reality of his death, so no one would think that this was deception with previous arrangement, for that the miracle was magnified and many believed.
May The prayers of this righteous be with us. Amen.
Commemoration of the Saints George the Ascetic, Belasius the Martyr, and Anba Joseph the Bishop
On this day also the church celebrates the commemoration of the Saints George the ascetic, Belasius the martyr, and Anba Joseph the bishop.
May their prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Basilius, Bishop of Jerusalem
On this day also of the year 1615 A.M. (March 26th., 1899 A.D.) the great father Anba Basilius, Metropolitan of Jerusalem, departed. This father was born in the village of El-Dabah, Farshout county, the province of Quena, for righteous parents. They nursed him with the milk of righteousness since his young age, as they taught him reading and writing, so he grew on loving perfection and moral excellence. When he was twenty-five years old he went to the monastery of St. Antonios and put on the monastic garb in the year 1559 A.M. He persevered in worshipping and ascetism and because he was adorned with righteousness and piety they ordained him priest in the year 1565 A.M. and archpriest (Hegumen) in the year 1568 A.M., then they appointed him an Abott for the monastery. He managed the monastery well with gentleness, wisdom and meekness that made the blessed Anba Kyrellos IV to ordain him Metropolitan for Jerusalem and the parishes that were attached to him: El-Kaliobia, El-Sharkia, El-Dakahlia, El-Gharbia, Suez, Domiat, and Port-Said. He had shown prudence in managing the affairs of these parishes that made him the center of admiration and pride to the Copts. All his efforts were dedicated for the building of churches all over his parish, buying and renovating properties in Jaffa and Jerusalem. He was loved by all the people of Syria and Palestine, regardless of their religion or political persuasion, especially the rulers of Jerusalem, for his wise policy and straight morals. During his days a dispute aroused from the Ethiopians where they claimed their ownership for the monastery of El-Sultan in Jerusalem. Because of this father and his vigilance they could not establish an ownership for the monastery. He attended the enthronement of Pope Demetrius II, the hundred eleventh, and Pope Kyrellos V, the hundred twelfth. He spent his days in continuous effort for what was good for his people and departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Sedhom Bishay in Domiat
On this day also the church commemorates the martyrdom of Sedhom Bishay in Domiat on the 17th. of Baramhat year 1565 A.D. (March 25th., 1844 A.D.). He endured the torture for the Name of the Lord Christ and his martyrdom made the rising of the Cross during the Christian funeral processions openly, for it was forbidden before. This martyr was a clerical employee in the government of the port of Domiat during the days of Mohammed Ali Basha the Governor of Egypt. A revolt of mobs in the port arose, they seized Sidhom Bishay and accused him falsely that he cursed Islam and witnessed against him before the religious judge a low uncivilized person and a donkey driver. The judge decided either he would forsake his faith or be killed, he whipped him and then sent him to the Governor of the city. After the Governor had examined his case he issued the same judgement against him as the judge did. Sidhom was steadfast in his Christian faith, not caring to be killed. They whipped, dragged him on his face down the stairs in the Governor palace, then they put him on a buffalo facing the tail and went around with him in the streets of the city insulting and degrading him. The Christians in the city became afraid and locked themselves in their houses.
The mob continued to insult him and tortured him in different ways until he was about to deliver his soul; so they brought him to the door of his house and left him there. His family went out and brought him inside and five days later he departed to heaven. His departure was a great martyrdom, and the Christians counted him among the holy martyrs. They gathered regardless of their denomination and joined in his funeral in a celebration that there was nothing like it before. The Christians carried their arms and the priest put on their vestments headed by the Archpriest Yousef Michael who was the head of the Coptic congregation in Domiat and accompanied by the priests of the other denominations. They marched in his fu.eral in the streets of the city and in front of him the deacons carrying the banners of the Cross, and they arrived to the church where they prayed the funeral rites. The people went on objecting this reprehensible and painful incident and talking about the patience and endurance of the different kinds of torture in silence and the steadfastness of Sidhom the martyr. The prominent people of the Christian community in Domiat deliberated as how to avoid these incidents in the future. They decided to ask the consuls of the foreign countries to mediate with the ruler of the country and the Pope the Patriarch of the Copts and sent to them detailed reports. Mr Michail Sorour the official representative of seven countries in Domiat was in charge of this mediation. The ruler of Egypt was concerned about this incident and sent two official representatives to examine the case. So they reopened the inquiry and they realized the injustice and the ill-treatment that befell the great martyr and convicted the judge and the governor for their wrong doing, stripped them from their honor then exiled them. They asked, as a good will and to comfort the people, to allow the raising of the Cross publicly before the Christian funerals, and the ruler allowed that in Domiat. This was allowed later on all over the country during the Papacy of Pope Kyrellos IV.
May The blessings of this great martyr be with us and glory be to God forever. Amen.
Readings for Sunday of fifth week of Great Lent
Vespers
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 39 : 12 - 12
Chapter 39
| 12 | "Hear my prayer, O LORD, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were. |
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 18 : 1 - 8
Chapter 18
| 1 | Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, |
| 2 | saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. |
| 3 | Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, "Get justice for me from my adversary.' |
| 4 | And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, "Though I do not fear God nor regard man, |
| 5 | yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me."' |
| 6 | Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. |
| 7 | And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? |
| 8 | I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" |
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 102 : 1,2,12
Chapter 102
| 1 | Hear my prayer, O LORD, And let my cry come to You. |
| 2 | Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline Your ear to me; In the day that I call, answer me speedily. |
| 12 | But You, O LORD, shall endure forever, And the remembrance of Your name to all generations. |
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 21 : 33 - 46
Chapter 21
| 33 | "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. |
| 34 | Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. |
| 35 | And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. |
| 36 | Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. |
| 37 | Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, "They will respect my son.' |
| 38 | But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, "This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' |
| 39 | So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. |
| 40 | "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" |
| 41 | They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." |
| 42 | Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? |
| 43 | "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. |
| 44 | And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." |
| 45 | Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. |
| 46 | But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. |
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 Thessalonians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
2 Thessalonians 2 : 1 - 17
Chapter 2
| 1 | Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, |
| 2 | not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. |
| 3 | Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, |
| 4 | who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. |
| 5 | Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? |
| 6 | And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. |
| 7 | For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. |
| 8 | And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. |
| 9 | The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, |
| 10 | and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. |
| 11 | And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, |
| 12 | that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. |
| 13 | But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, |
| 14 | to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 15 | Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. |
| 16 | Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, |
| 17 | comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle 2 of St. Peter .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
2 Peter 3 : 1 - 18
Chapter 3
| 1 | Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), |
| 2 | that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, |
| 3 | knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, |
| 4 | and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." |
| 5 | For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, |
| 6 | by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. |
| 7 | But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. |
| 8 | But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. |
| 9 | The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. |
| 10 | But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. |
| 11 | Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, |
| 12 | looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? |
| 13 | Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. |
| 14 | Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; |
| 15 | and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, |
| 16 | as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. |
| 17 | You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; |
| 18 | but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. |
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 26 : 19 - end
Chapter 26
| 19 | "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, |
| 20 | but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. |
| 21 | For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. |
| 22 | Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come-- |
| 23 | that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." |
| 24 | Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!" |
| 25 | But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. |
| 26 | For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. |
| 27 | King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." |
| 28 | Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." |
| 29 | And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains." |
| 30 | When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; |
| 31 | and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, "This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains." |
| 32 | Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." |
Acts 27 : 1 - 8
Chapter 27
| 1 | And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. |
| 2 | So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. |
| 3 | And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. |
| 4 | When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. |
| 5 | And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. |
| 6 | There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board. |
| 7 | When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. |
| 8 | Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. |
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 33 : 5 - 6
Chapter 33
| 5 | He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. |
| 6 | By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. |
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 5 : 1 - 18
Chapter 5
| 1 | After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. |
| 2 | Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. |
| 3 | In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. |
| 4 | For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. |
| 5 | Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. |
| 6 | When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" |
| 7 | The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." |
| 8 | Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." |
| 9 | And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. |
| 10 | The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed." |
| 11 | He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, "Take up your bed and walk."' |
| 12 | Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, "Take up your bed and walk'?" |
| 13 | But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. |
| 14 | Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." |
| 15 | The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. |
| 16 | For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. |
| 17 | But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." |
| 18 | Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. |
And Glory be to God forever.
Like many mystics, Howard Thurman saw that humans need to relate to a God that is both beyond rational thought—what I might call a force field of love—and very relatable and personal. This is why Christians have both Jesus and Christ: In Jesus, God was given a face and a heart we could trust, in one moment of time. Christ is God’s presence incarnated in all of Creation, before and beyond time. Read how Thurman understands this:
Not only is faith a way of knowing, a form of knowledge, but it is also one of life’s great teachers. At no point is this fact more clearly demonstrated than in an individual’s growing knowledge of God. It is obvious that, in the last analysis, proof of the existence of God is quite impossible. A simple reason for this is the fact that, if there is that to which God may be finally reduced, then He is not ultimate. But let us not be led astray by this apparent abstraction. Faith teaches a man that God is. The human spirit has two fundamental demands that must be met relative to God. First, He must be vast, limitless, transcendent, all-comprehensive, so that there is no thing that is outside the wide reaches of His apprehension. The stars in the universe, the great galaxies of spatial groupings moving in endless rhythmic patterns in the trackless skies, as well as the tiny blade of grass by the roadside, are all within His grasp. The second demand is that He be personal and intimate. A man must have a sense of being cared for, of not being alone and stranded in the universe. All of us want the assurance of not being deserted by life nor deserted in life. Faith teaches us that God is—that He is the fact of life from which all other things take their meaning and reality. When Jesus prayed, he was conscious that, in his prayer, he met the Presence, and this consciousness was far more important and significant than the answering of his prayer. It is for this reason primarily that God was for Jesus the answer to all the issues and the problems of life. When I, with all my mind and heart, truly seek God and give myself in prayer, I, too, meet His Presence, and then I know for myself that Jesus was right.
References:
A note on language from Thurman’s editors: “We realize that inclusive language is noticeably absent in Howard Thurman’s writings. As gifted and prophetic as he was, Howard Thurman was also a product of his times, and inclusive language was not a part of the social consciousness. Regardless of language, the substance of Howard Thurman’s work is inclusive. His life and theology were inclusive, and if he were writing today his language would more accurately reflect this worldview.” [1] While his masculine words might suggest that Thurman didn’t consider other perspectives, he did see many women in his life (for example, his mentor Mary McLeod Bethune and his wife Sue Bailey Thurman) as peers and leaders. We must grant this same sympathy to all those who write with sincerity in previous times and various cultures.