This evening, H.H. Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon at the Wednesday meeting from St George’s Church in Almaza, affiliated with the churches sector of Almaza, Al-Amal City and eastern Nasr City. The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels, the official website of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and the C.O.C channel of the Church’s media center on the Internet.
His Holiness prayed the raising of incense of vespers. A number of bishops, the Deputy General of the Patriarchate in Cairo, and a large number of priests from the churches sector participated in the prayer.
The church’s “Little Praising Heart” choir sang a group of church hymns and praises. His Grace Bishop Eklimandous (General Bishop of the churches sector of Almaza, Al-Amal City, and eastern Nasr City), delivered a speech, welcoming Pope Tawadros and expressing his appreciation and that of all the people of the region for His Holiness’ care for visiting his children everywhere.
Pope Tawadros honored a group of church members who excelled in several scientific, sports and musical fields.
To welcome His Holiness, the meeting was attended by Counselor Boules Fahmy Iskandar, President of the Supreme Constitutional Court (he belongs to the congregation of St George’s Church in Almaza), Dr. Ibrahim Saber (Governor of Cairo), Engineer Mona Al-Batrawi (Deputy Governor of the Eastern Region), Mr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab (Head of the Heliopolis District), and a number of Parliament representatives.
His Holiness continued the series “Prayer Requests from the Gregorian Liturgy.” He addressed part of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of our teacher St Luke, and verses 1-7, which deal with the miracle of catching many fish.
Pope Tawadros reflected on the prayer request of “rest to the needy,” referring to St Peter the Apostle, after he had toiled all night and had no rest, but on the word of the Lord Christ, he achieved great results, and found comfort.
Pipe Tawadros added that the types of need are:
1) Financial Need: Examples include the miracle of feeding the multitudes, and feeding Elijah the Prophet in a time of famine. “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” (Luke 22:35)
2) Need for Wisdom: like Solomon the Wise- “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
3) Need for Following: like the rich young ruler- “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me. But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Luke 10:21+22)
4) Need for the Glory of God: like our father Adam when he fell in sin and broke God’s heart- “They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12).
5) Need for Blessing: God grants blessing to man who is the crown of the creation- “The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing” (Psalm 34:10).
6) Need for Safety: True safety is the presence of God within a person- “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
7) Need for the One: The first need according to the Biblical commandment is “One thing is needed” (Luke 10:42). He is God himself, and an example of this need is what Mary and Martha presented to the Lord Christ, as Mary chose the good portion, by becoming a disciple at His feet.
At the end of the sermon, His Holiness congratulated the sons of the Church on the Feast of the Cross, and he also congratulated all Egyptians on the start of the new academic year.
After the end of the meeting, His Holiness met with the priests of the churches sector of Almaza, Al-Amal City, and East Nasr City and their wives, in a session of fatherly love.
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