Thoughts on Today's Verse...
God hates sin. Don't you? I know I do. But isn't it amazing how we'll fall back into the same old traps again and again. This is where John, the tender Shepherd that he was, hits the nail on the head. The goal is to not sin even one sin. But, knowing our struggle against the flesh, John also gives assurance to those of us trying to live faithful and pure lives. He wants us to know that when we do sin, the Sacrifice for our sins, God's Son, is also our defense attorney who proclaims us sinless by his blood! So let's draw close to Christ. Let's invite him into our heart each morning as we begin the day. Let's trust in his power and grace to sustain us and carry us through. When we do, he will!
تكريس كنيسة القيامة بأورشليم على يد القديس أثناسيوس الرسولي سنة 42ش نعيد في هذا اليوم من سنة 262 ميلادية بتكريس هياكل القيامة بأورشليم . وذلك أنه في السنة العشرين من ملك قسطنطين وبعد اجتماع المجمع المقدس بنقية . قالت الملكة القديسة هيلانة لابنها قسطنطين انها كانت قد نذرت الذهاب إلى أورشليم والتبرك من المواضع المقدسة . والبحث عن عود الصليب المحيى ففرح بذلك وأعطاها أموالا كثيرة ، وأصحبها بعدد كبير من العسكر ، ولما وصلت إلى هناك وتباركت من الآثار المقدسة . فتشت عن عود الصليب حتى وجدته بعد تعب شديد . فمجدته تمجيدا عظيما . وأكرمته إكراما جزيلا، وأمرت ببناء هياكل القيامة والجلجثة وبيت لحم والمغارة والعلية والجسمانية وسائر الهياكل . وأن ترصع بالجواهر وتطلى بالذهب والفضة . وكان في القدس أسقف قديس أشار عليها ألا تعمل هذا قائلا "انه بعد قليل يأتي الأمم ويسلبون هذا المكان ويهدمونه ويأخذون هذه الجواهر والذهب والفضة" . والأفضل أن يشيد البناء جيدا وما يتبقى من الأموال يوزع على المساكين . فقبلت قوله وسلمت له الأموال وطالبته بالعمل . ولما رجعت إلى ابنها وأعلمته بما صنعت فرح وأرسل أمولاً طائلة وأمر أن يعطى الصناع أجرتهم بالكامل حتى لا يتذمروا . ولما كمل البناء في السنة الثلاثين من ملكه . أرسل أواني وكسوة ثمينة . كما أرسل إلى بطريرك القسطنطينية والي أثناسيوس بطريرك الإسكندرية ليرسل كل منهما أساقفته ويذهب إلى القدس فذهبا إلى هناك ، واجتمعا ببطريرك إنطاكية وأسقف القدس . ومكث الجميع إلى اليوم السادس عشر من شهر توت . فكرسوا الهياكل التي بنيت ، وفى السابع عشر منه طافوا بالصليب تلك المواضع ، سجدوا فيها للرب ، وقدموا القرابين ، و مجدوا الصليب وكرموه . ثم عادوا إلى كراسيهم . صلواتهم تكون معنا إلى النفس الأخير . أمين نقل جسد القديس يوحنا فم الذهب تعيد الكنيسة في هذا اليوم بتذكار نقل أعضاء القديس يوحنا ذهبي الفم من بلدة قومانه التي تنيح منفيا بها إلى مدينة القسطنطينية بعد نياحته بثلاثين سنة (ستأتي سيرته وذكرى نياحته في اليوم السابع عشر من شهر هاتور المبارك) ، وذلك في سنة 437 ميلادية في أيام الملك ثاؤدسيوس الصغير شفاعته تكون معنا، ولربنا المجد دائما ابديا . أمين .
Vespers
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 84 : 3 - 4
Chapter 84
| 3 | Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young--Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God. |
| 4 | Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You.Selah |
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 7 : 1 - 10
Chapter 7
| 1 | Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. |
| 2 | And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. |
| 3 | So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. |
| 4 | And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, |
| 5 | "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue." |
| 6 | Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. |
| 7 | Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. |
| 8 | For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, "Go,' and he goes; and to another, "Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, "Do this,' and he does it." |
| 9 | When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" |
| 10 | And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. |
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 26 : 8,7
Chapter 26
| 8 | LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells. |
| 7 | That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works. |
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 19 : 1 - 10
Chapter 19
| 1 | Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. |
| 2 | Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. |
| 3 | And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. |
| 4 | So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. |
| 5 | And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." |
| 6 | So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. |
| 7 | But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." |
| 8 | Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." |
| 9 | And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; |
| 10 | for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." |
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 Hebrews .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
Hebrews 9 : 1 - 10
Chapter 9
| 1 | Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. |
| 2 | For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; |
| 3 | and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, |
| 4 | which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; |
| 5 | and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. |
| 6 | Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. |
| 7 | But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; |
| 8 | the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. |
| 9 | It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience-- |
| 10 | concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. |
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 2 : 1 - 10
Chapter 2
| 1 | But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. |
| 2 | And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. |
| 3 | By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. |
| 4 | For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; |
| 5 | and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; |
| 6 | and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; |
| 7 | and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked |
| 8 | (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- |
| 9 | then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, |
| 10 | and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, |
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 9 : 31 - 43
Chapter 9
| 31 | Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. |
| 32 | Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. |
| 33 | There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. |
| 34 | And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed." Then he arose immediately. |
| 35 | So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. |
| 36 | At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. |
| 37 | But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. |
| 38 | And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. |
| 39 | Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. |
| 40 | But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. |
| 41 | Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. |
| 42 | And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. |
| 43 | So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. |
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.
Synaxarium
Day 16 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Tute, 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 Sixteenth Day of the Blessed Month of Tute
Commemoration of the Consecration of the Sanctuaries of the Resurrection
Today we celebrate the consecration of the sanctuaries of the Resurrection in Jerusalem in the year 326 A.D. In the twentieth year of the reign of Emperor Constantine and after the meeting of the Holy Council at Nicea, Quee Helena told her son Constantine that she had vowed to go to Jerusalem to get the blessings of the holy places and to search for the wood of the life giving Cross. He rejoiced at this and gave her much money, and he sent with her a large number of soldiers. When she arrived there and received the blessings of the holy places, she searched for the wood of the Cross and found it after much toil. She praised it with great praises and paid to it much reverance and honor. She commanded the building of the sanctuaries of the Resurrection - the Golgotha, Bethlehem and the manger, the fortress of Zion, Gethsemane and the sanctuaries, and other holy places - and that they be inlaid with pearl and covered with gold and silver.
There was in Jerusalem a saintly bishop who advised her not to do that saying, "For after a while foreign people will come and seize this place and destroy it and take the precious stones and the silver and the gold. But is preferable to build good and strong buildings and the remainder of the money be given to the poor and the needy." She accepted his words and gave him the money and set him in charge of the work. When she returned back to her son and told him what she had done, he rejoiced, and sent large sums of money and commanded to pay the workers their wages in full so they would not complain. When the building of the holy places was finished in the thirtieth year of the reign of Emperor Constantine, he sent vessels and precious vestments for the altars. He sent word to the Archbishop of Constantinople and to St.Athanasius, the Pope of Alexandria to take their bishops and to go to Jerusalem where they would meet the Archbishop of Antioch and the Bishop of Jerusalem.
They tarried there until the sixteenth of the month of Tute, when they consecrated all the altars that had been built. On the seventeenth day they marched with the Honorable Cross around all the holy places and they worshipped God therein, and gave offerings, and they glorified the Cross and honored it. Then they returned to their chairs.
May their prayers be with us all. Amen.
Transfer of the Relics of St.Chrysostom (of the Golden Mouth)
On this day also the church commemorates the transfer of the relics of St.John Chrysostom (of the Golden Mouth) from the city of Komanah, where he died in exile, to Constantinople thirty years after his departure, which was in the year 437 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Theodosius the Small.
May his prayers and blessings be with us all, and Glory be to God forever. 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 65 : 1 - 2
Chapter 65
| 1 | Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed. |
| 2 | O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come. |
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.
Matthew 16 : 13 - 19
Chapter 16
| 13 | When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" |
| 14 | So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." |
| 15 | He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" |
| 16 | Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." |
| 17 | Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. |
| 18 | And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. |
| 19 | And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." |
And Glory be to God forever.
يقول الكتاب: ان اعثرتك عينك اليمنى فاقلعها والقها عنك – مت 5/29 – خير لك ان يهلك احد اعضائك ولا يلقى بجسدك كله فىجهنم .. وان اعثرتك يدك اليمنى فاقطعها مت 5/30. لماذا اليمنى هى التى خصها رب المجد؟ لأن اليمين رمز القوه رمز الجبروت .. فلا فرق بين اليد اليمنى او اليسرى، ولا فرق بين العين اليمنى او اليسرى. انما المعنى المراد: اذا كان لديك قوه لكى بها تذلالاخرين فلا تستعملها لان القوى فى اى امر هناك الاقوى منه، والقوه العضليه لا تدوم .. واذكروا شمشون، فرغم قوته الا انه خانالعهد بينه وبين الله فقلعوا عينيه وصار اعمى واخيراًً هدم المعبد على رأسه وعلى رؤوس أعدائه.
القوه الحقيقيه هى ان تكون مع الله .. لذلك قالها بولس الرسول استطيع كل شئ – كل شئ – فى المسيح الذى يقوينى. هذهليست قوه الطغيان على الاخرين، بل قوه العمل والخدمه لاجل الاخرين. اذكروا ان السيد المسيح الخالق هرب من امام هيرودسالى ارض مصر رغم انه لو اشار بيده وهو فى المذود لاهتزت السماء والارض.ليس هدف الوصيه ان يصير المجتمع أعور او اقطع انما الهدف هو نقاء العين واليد .. فالانسان الصالح من كنز قلبه الصالحيخرج الصلاح. فحينما ترى العين شيئا صالحا او نافعا يمدحه الانسان النقى القلب وبيديه اليمنى واليسرى يخرج منالجافى حلاوه ومن الاكل اكلا .. حينما ترى العين ان السماء تحدث بمجد الله وهذا الكون البديع الذى خلقه الله الضابط الكل منالتراب والعدم تقر وتعترف بعظمه الخالق وعندئذ يرفع المؤمن يديه شاكراًً ربه على نعمه وعطاياه.
عزيزى الخاطئ مهما كانت خطيتك قف امام الله وارفع يديك فينظر الله اليك فيرى علامه الصليب وانت واقف ويديك ممدودتان – تطلب مراحم الله فيرحمك .. اما حينما تقطع يدك اليمنى باصرارك على الخطأ فبذلك يكون الصليب غير كامل فينصرف الرب عنك–كان موسى النبى حينما يرفع يديه الاثنين ينتصر يشوع .. وحينما يخفض احداهما ينهزم يشوع ..
ويجب ان نفرق بين من يقطع يده بسبب العثره وبين ذلك الذى تقطع يده رغم انفه فى حادث او مصيبه ..
خلاصه المعنى اهرب من الخطيه والعثره ولا تدعها تتربع فى قلبك .
أما عن الشهوة، فهى لاتقتصر على اليد اليمنى والعين اليمنى .. انما الشهوه مرض يصيب القلب فيدمر الانسان. فشهوهالجنس دفعت سليمان ان يتزوج من النساء الفاًً .. ولم يكسب من هذه الشهوه شيئا. شهوه التملك دفعت الغنى ان يهدم مخازنهويبنى اوسع منها وأخيرا ترك الكل وذهب الى الهاويه. شهوه الطعام دفعت الكثيرين الى المرض الذى لا علاج له وانتهت حياتهمببتر اقدامهم او تحويل مسار الطعام أو قفل ابواب المعده لكى يسدوا نفسهم، اى يصوموا عن هذه الشهوه المميته رغم انفهم ( غصب عنهم ). لا تشتهى امجاد هذا العالم فانها كلها زائله .. واذكروا الاباطره والقياصره الذين ذهبوا بغير رجعه .. الوصيهصريحه .. لا تشتهى – لان كل ما فى
العالم شهوه الجسد شهوه العيون تعظم المعيشه – وهذه كلها تطلبها الامم او العالم وانتم يا صوره الله ومثاله لستم من هذاالعالم.عزيزى .. اعرف انساناً تغلبت عليه خطيه السرقه ودخل السجن اكثر من مره – واخيراً لكى يريح نفسه وضع يديه على شريطالقطار وقطعهما .. وصار محتاجاًً الى من يأكله ويشربه وينظفه .. فهل هذا هو غايه الوصيه .. ان تنفيذ الوصيه يحتاج الىانسان عاقل – او ان الله يخاطب العقلاء – والعقل هو الشئ الوصيه الذى تميز به الانسان عن الحيوان .. وصاحب العقل يميز . اما الذين اعطوا عقولهم اجازه فنعتذر لهم عن هذا المقال . او ان هذا المقال لا يخصهم.
ولماذا نذهب بعيداًً فكيف يكون الحال لو ان لسانك هو مصدر العثره – الم يقل الكتاب ان بكلامك تتبرر وبكلامك تدان – فماذا لوان لسانك اعثرك هل ستقطعه وكيف تأكل بعد ذلك وكيف تعيش؟ اعزائى من يعيش الوصيه حرفيا سيتعب نفسه ويتعب من حوله– اما المطلوب فهو ان تعيش روح الوصيه – وقالها الكتاب صراحه ان الحرف يقتل لكن الروح يحيى.