H.H. Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon this evening from the Church of St Mary and St Bishoy Church, Abbaseya. The sermon was broadcast on Christian channels and C.O.C. and over the internet.
H.H. continued on the educational series “The Wisdom of Fasting in our Church”, and H.H. referred to part from the Gospel of St Matthew, chapter 6 verses 22-24), which is read on the first Sunday of Great Lent, and H.H. referred to the special verse for this fast “The lamp of the body is the eye”, and H.H. explained some characteristics of the eye”
– The eye is like a mirror, as it shows the nature of the person
– The eye is the gateway to knowledge, and through the eye, a person knows 75% of knowledge, and through it sin has entered, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and at. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6).
– The eye contains other organs, such as the eyelid to protect the eye, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.” (Proverbs 4:25). Above the eye is the eyebrow, to add more beauty to the eye, and an eyebrow that is not lifted is a sign of humbleness, “There is a generation – oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And. Whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men. (Proverbs 30:13-14).
There is also the pupil, “Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye.” (Proverbs 7:2).
There is also the tears, and this is the most important as it expresses our feelings, “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? (Psalms 56:8).
His Holiness explained that when we draw near the word of God, our eyes will enlighten, “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalms 19:8)
H.H. then explained the fixing of the eye throughout the Sundays of the Great Lent, through:
The first Sunday – Treasure in Heaven
A good eye will enlighten and a bad eye will be dark
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” (Matthew 6:22-23)
Temptation Sunday – a satisfied eye suffices “and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” (Matthew 4:8)
The Prodigal Son Sunday – the tender eye (life the father) and the repentant and humble eye (like the son), however, the stubborn eye is harsh, “But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.” (Luke 15:30)
The Samaritan Woman Sunday – a forgiving eye makes the other person a righteous person – “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29)
The Paralyzed Man Sunday – the serving eye supports others – “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.” (John 5:7)
The Man Born Blind Sunday – the pure eye has inner insight – “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)
Palm Sunday – the Heavenly eye, “ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed’ and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” (Revelation 3:18), the salve that makes your eye see is the word of God.
H.H. recommended to put the picture of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross always in front of us, in order to move our feelings and tears to purify our hearts and minds, and through continuous prayers and lifted up eyes we will have a pure and merciful eye.
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