His Holiness Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon at the Wednesday meeting this evening, from the Monastery of Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite in Milan, as part of his current pastoral visit to Milan and Venice.
The meeting was attended by a large number of congregation of the Diocese of Milan, who gathered around their father and shepherd to hear his speech.
The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels and the C.O.C channel of the Church’s Media Center on the Internet.
His Holiness the Pope expressed his happiness that Wednesday’s meeting today will be held at the Monastery of St Shenouda the Archimandrite in Milan, which is considered the center of the diocese, in light of the visit to Milan and Venice, the city that contains the greatest cathedral containing the body of Saint Mark.
With the grace of our Lord, we will consecrate a cathedral established by H.E. late Metropolitan Kyrillos to be a center in Europe for the Coptic churches, in the presence of the European bishops and the Secretariat Committee of the Holy Synod together.
His Holiness commended the Milan’s congregation, describing them as having a spirit of love for the Church, which they give to their children, among them are beautiful youth who preserve the Church, as well as its youth who attend conferences in Egypt, who are distinguished and characterized by a beautiful spirit of service.
His Holiness continued a series of “Strong, short prayers from the Liturgy”, where His Holiness read part of a letter from the first letter of our teacher Peter the Apostle.
“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
(I Peter 4:7-11)
Today, H.H. discussed the prayer: “ Meekness to the Honourable” and pointed out that virtue is acquired by some from birth, such as John the Baptist, and others strive to obtain it, like St. Moses the Strong, who says, “Virtue does not live except through meekness,” and from here we speak of “the meekness of the virtuous.”
1- Walking with meekness: In the early Gospel every day we pray from the Epistle to the Ephesians
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;”
(Ephesians 4:1-5)
It is a call to each one, according to his calling as priest, father, or mother, to walk with meekness, bearing with one another.
Before you leave the house, the first hour prayer prepares you to bear the other and to preserve unity, guard your heart in meekness. When you tolerate others with meekness, you become like your Master.
2- Meekness is necessary for every virtue: the meaning of the word Demiana, meaning meekness, and Saint Moses the Strong says: “Humility of heart precedes virtues”, and St Virgin Mary says: “He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.”
(Luke 1:52)
An example of meekness is Abigail, Nabal’s wife, who behaved foolishly with David, and she became meek until David said to her:
“And blessed is your advice”
(I Samuel 25:33)
The world is now drowning in false ideas and evil ideas that resist God. God created male and female from the beginning. They want to oppose the Creator. Some scientists are even investigating whether the fetus should last 9 days instead of 9 months!!
3- Gentleness in words: The difference between saying to your son, “I am mad at you” and saying, “I am upset with you ”
Jesus Christ was gentle in his dealings with the sinful woman, as well as those who wanted to stone her, and wrote down their sins calmly, gently, and in a way that everyone understood individually, so they were ashamed and left. He said to her with all gentleness
“Woman, where are those accusers of yours?”
(John 8:10)
4- Meekness with courage: An example of this is Jesus Christ in his cleansing of the temple. Also Daniel, in his disobedience to the king in bowing to the statue, and when God saved him, the king answered in meekness and courage and said:
“Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.””
(Daniel 6:21-22)
Saint Ambrose, since we are in Milan, says, “Meekness is the first rule worth following.”
H.H. concluded by referring to the qualities of gentleness, which are: kindness, be kind, encouraging with kind words, and tolerance. As the Fathers teach us, “Humility is the ground that bears all virtues.”
After the meeting ended, His Holiness was keen to bless the people present and shook hands with them one by one, giving each of them a souvenir.
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