H.H. Pope Tawadros II gave this weekly Wednesday sermon from Transfiguration Church at the Papal Residence at the Logos Center at St. Bishoy’s Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun.
The sermon was broadcast live on several Christian satellite television channels as well as over the Internet on the Church’s Coptic Media Center channel, COC, with only a few people in attendance.

On the occasion of the feast of St. Paul, the first Hermit that the Church celebrated today, His Holiness the Pope meditated on the saying of the saint, “ who flees from tribulation flees from God,” as part of his series of meditations, “Profound Sermons Delivered in Short Statements”

He pointed out that this saying is the only disposable on St. Paula, and read a part of the first phase of our message of our teacher Peter. For an inheritance does not understand and do not wear and do not worry, saved in the heavens for your love, believed in faith, believing that he is ready to declare in the last time. While they are appealed, however you are now -, Which is the most precious of fanny gold, with an examination with fire, there is a prime, dignity and glory when you descend Jesus Christ, which if you do not see him, and if you do not see it now, but they believe, unutterable and glorious, having attained to the end of your faith the salvation of souls.” May the grace of God the Father be with us all, Amen. (1 Peter 1:3-9).

His Holiness spoke about some of the biblical examples that were subjected to hardships, namely David the Prophet, Ibrahim, Jonah, Daniel, Joseph, Paul the Apostle, and John the Beloved.
His Holiness stressed that the tribulation has a blessing from God, who is always in the tribulation, and that it brings joy to man when it ends, and gives him a kind of glory, and makes him bear fruit.

And His Holiness the Pope answered the question:
Why does God allow tribulations?
1- In order for a person to be praised, he will succeed and have priority and priority, like Ibrahim, the father of fathers.
2- Purification of the human heart, like Job the righteous.
3- Experience is given to protect a person from pride. Like the Apostle Paul.
4- To strengthen man, like young eagles.
5- To develop honesty, prayer, and patience within a person.
6- Tribulation always leads to the good of man.
What do we do in times of trouble?
We thank God, we ask for his help, we raise prayers constantly.

On the four Wednesdays of February until the beginning of Lent, His Holiness presents a new series of sermons in the weekly meeting, entitled “Profound Sermons Delivered in Short Statements” which are phrases that appeared in the verses of the Bible or the sayings of the saints, consisting of few words, but they carry sermons and great benefits for human life.

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