His Holiness Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon this evening which was held at St. Mary and St. Bishoy’s Church, Abbaseya.
The sermon was broadcast on Christian channels and C.O.C. and over the internet.
H.H. announced about the new educational series that H.H. will be delivering throughout the Nativity Fast during Wednesday meeting sermons, under the the topic “The Wisdom of Fasting”.
At the beginning of the sermon, which was held at St. Mary and St. Bishoy’s Cathedral, Abbaseya, H.H. congratulated the congregation on the Nativity Fast which has started last Friday, 16th of Hathor, and H.H. said: “We will start the journey of the fast. Last June, we have started an educational series in relation to the “Family”, which we will temporarily stop for the next few weeks, that is from today until the end of the year, and God willing, meanwhile we will be talking about “The Philosophy and the Wisdom Behind Fasting In Our Church”. Today, I will be talking generally , and for the next four weeks, we will discuss each of the four Great Fasts and talk about the spiritual aspects behind it”.
In relation to the Nativity Fast, H.H. meditated on part of the Gospel of St. Mark the Apostle, chapter ten verses 17-31, and this is part of the new educational series “The Wisdom of Fasting In Our Church”.
H.H. addressed the wisdom of the Church’s fathers in putting the four Great Fasts, which is considered as periods of collective repentance.
H.H. mentioned the repetition of the verse “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15) in the readings during the month of Hathor and referred to the start of the Nativity Fast, so we can focus on our spiritual life and spiritually hear through:
- Nativity Fast: the first of the fasts of the Coptic year, and it is the fast of beginnings and preparations for a spiritual life. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:36). Its first aim is to reform our spiritual ear so that it becomes an obedient ear. “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38)
- The Great Lent: and this fast is for the eye, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.” (Matthew 6:22). The fast is for 55 days and its aim is to reform our spiritual eye so that our senses will be full of light. “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place” (Matthew 6:6). Also, the church chants “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy” so that our eyes would be merciful on the poor.
Do not love the world of the things in the world. (1 John 2:15)
- The Apostle’s Fast: the duration of this fast varies from one year to the other and it is the fast of practical service. This fasts supports the services in our Church. It is the fasting of our mouth and how a person’s speech should be a witness to our Lord Jesus Christ. “you shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8). The aim of this fast is to reform our mouth speech and how it should be clear and straightforward.
- St. Mary’s Fast: this is the fast for the heart, as our hearts should be like the heart of St. Mary, “And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:47). It is the fast of joy as when a person’s heart is filled with joy, he becomes joyful and the joy in his heart during the fast of St. Virgin Mary is the joy that began in the Nativity Fast. “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men”(Luke 2:14). The person’s heart became pure, with obedient ears, merciful eyes and a mouth that witnesses to our Lord Jesus Christ and a heart that rejoices in the Lord.
His Holiness recommended that we should seek the opportunity during the fast through the Church’s readings and that we should focus on our ears and ask ourselves: “Are we obeying the commandments?” We should also focus on our ears, eyes and mouth and to practice the spiritual life with full awareness.
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