This Messianic message from Zechariah anticipates the day of the LORD's redemption. Many different peoples, from all over the world, will come looking for the great mercy of God. God's people will have one key phrase on their hearts: "Let's go seek the presence of God. I'm going; why don't you join me?" As believers, we know Jesus has come, has died, and has been raised from the dead. We know Jesus is returning with salvation for all who truly know and follow him. Let's ask others to join us in going to the great celebration of grace and salvation at his return!
* The Feast of the Consecration of the Church of the Honorable Cross.
* The Departure of St. Theognosta.
On this day the church celebrates the appearance of the Honorable Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was revealed by the lover of God, Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, from under the pile of Golgotha, after she ordered its removal. As to the reason for how this great pile of dirt came into being, it was thus: the Jewish leaders when they saw all the signs and wonders which were made manifest from the sepulchre of the Savior, such as raising the dead and healing the sick, became angry, and they sent forth throughout Judea and Jerusalem ordering all the people to cast the sweepings of their houses and the dirts over the sepulchre of Jesus of Nazareth. They continued to do so for more than 200 years, until it became a very great heap.
When St. Helena came to Jerusalem, and asked the Jews about the whereabouts of the Cross, they did not inform her. Finally, some of them told her about an old Jew called Judas who knew the place. She called him, and he denied it at first, but when she urged him, he told her about that pile. She ordered its removal and the Holy Cross was found. She built a church for it, consecrated it and celebrated for the Honorable Cross on the seventeenth day of the month of Tute. Christians make pilgrimages to that place every year as they do on the feast of the Resurrection.
A certain Samaritan called Isaac, as he was travelling with his family among the people going to Jerusalem, reproved the people for taking such trouble in going to Jerusalem to worship a piece of wood. Among the people was a priest whose name was Okhidus. While travelling along the road, they became thirsty. They found no water and they came to a well where the water was foul and bitter. The people became dismayed. Isaac the Samaritan started mocking them, saying, "If I witness a power by the name of the Cross, I will become a believer of Christ." The priest Okhidus was moved with divine zeal and prayed over that foul water and made the sign of the Cross on it, and it became sweet. All the people and their animals drank, but when Isaac drank, the water was bitter and wormy. He regretted and cried and came to the saint, Father Okhidus, bowed down at his feet and believed in the Lord Christ. Then he drank from the water, and he found it sweet. The water of that well possessed the power of becoming sweet for the believers and bitter for the others. A cross of light appeared in the well and a church was built there. When Isaac the Samaritan arrived in Jerusalem, he went to its bishop who baptized him and his family.
Because the feast of the appearance of the Honorable Cross, which is on the tenth of Baramhat, always comes during fasting, it was substituted by the fathers for the Seventeenth of Tute which is the day of consecration of its church.
Glory and worship be to Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.
2. The Departure of St. Theognosta.
On this day also, the blessed Theognosta, departed. She was contemporary of the righteous Emperors Honorius and Arcadius.
One day an envoy came with gifts from the King of India to the two emperors. On their way back, they found this Virgin Theognosta holding in her hand a book that she was reading. They seized her and took her back with them to their country. She became the head of the King's attendants and his wives.
One day, the son of the King fell sick with a grievous sickness. She held him in her arms and made over him the sign of the Cross, and he recovered immediately. This report spread throughout that land, and since that day she was set free.
Once the King went to war, there came upon him thick clouds and fog. Knowing of the sign of the Cross that St. Theognosta used to make, the King made the sign of the Cross over the fog and it cleared up. With the sign of the Cross he also vanquished his enemies.
When the King returned from war, he bowed down at the feet of the Saint, and asked her for the holy baptism for him and for the people of his city. She told them that it was not for her to baptize. They sent to Emperor Honorius to inform him of their acceptance of the faith and asked him to send a priest to baptize them. He sent to them a priest who was a saintly anchorite, and he baptized them all and he gave them the Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Christ. The virgin rejoiced for his coming and they blessed each other. She built a convent for herself and for the many virgins who desired the monastic life.
When the priest returned to the Emperor and related to him how the people of the city entered into the faith of our Lord Christ, he rejoiced exceedingly. The Emperor agreed with the Archbishop to ordain the priest a bishop and to send him back to them, and they rejoiced greatly. There they built a big church and they needed pillars. There was a large temple for idols which had pillars so they took them to build this church. The rest of the people of this city joined the faith of the Lord Christ.
The virgin St. Theognosta rejoiced for all that had happened. Later on she departed in that convent and was surrounded by the virgins.
Her prayers be with us, and Glory be to our God, forever. Amen.
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 4 : 6 - 8
Chapter 4
| 6 | There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. |
| 7 | You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. |
| 8 | I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. |
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 John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
John 8 : 28 - 42
Chapter 8
| 28 | Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. |
| 29 | And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." |
| 30 | As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. |
| 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. |
| 40 | But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. |
| 41 | You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father--God." |
| 42 | Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. |
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 60 : 4 - 5
Chapter 60
| 4 | You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth.Selah |
| 5 | That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and hear 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 John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
John 12 : 26 - 36
Chapter 12
| 26 | If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. |
| 27 | "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? "Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. |
| 28 | Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." |
| 29 | Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him." |
| 30 | Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. |
| 31 | Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. |
| 32 | And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." |
| 33 | This He said, signifying by what death He would die. |
| 34 | The people answered Him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, "The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?" |
| 35 | Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. |
| 36 | While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. |
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.
1 Corinthians 1 : 17 - 31
Chapter 1
| 17 | For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. |
| 18 | For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. |
| 19 | For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." |
| 20 | Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? |
| 21 | For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. |
| 22 | For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; |
| 23 | but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, |
| 24 | but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. |
| 25 | Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. |
| 26 | For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. |
| 27 | But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; |
| 28 | and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, |
| 29 | that no flesh should glory in His presence. |
| 30 | But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- |
| 31 | that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." |
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 2 : 11 - 25
Chapter 2
| 11 | Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, |
| 12 | having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. |
| 13 | Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, |
| 14 | or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. |
| 15 | For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- |
| 16 | as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. |
| 17 | Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. |
| 18 | Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. |
| 19 | For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. |
| 20 | For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. |
| 21 | For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: |
| 22 | "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; |
| 23 | who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; |
| 24 | who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. |
| 25 | For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. |
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 10 : 34 - 43
Chapter 10
| 34 | Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. |
| 35 | But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. |
| 36 | The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- |
| 37 | that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: |
| 38 | how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. |
| 39 | And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. |
| 40 | Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, |
| 41 | not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. |
| 42 | And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. |
| 43 | To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." |
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.