H.H. Pope Tawadros II prayed the Divine Liturgy this Saturday morning at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia, during which His Holiness ordained 19 new priests: 14 for service in the churches of Cairo and the city of Obour, one general priest, and four for the central region of Canada.

Eight of the bishops, and the General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Cairo participated in the prayers of the Liturgy and the ordination.

The sermon was based on the Gospel reading from John chapter 10, which contains the passage of “The Good Shepherd.” Pope Tawadros explained that the Gospel speaks of three categories of people:

1. The Thief: He is the one who steals souls and spirits, works for his own gain, and causes stumbling. Woe to him through whom offenses come. Unfortunately, this person is not accepted—neither on earth nor in heaven. He works in darkness and does not make peace.
2. The Hireling: This is someone who is indifferent, who feels no belonging, and is ungrateful for God’s blessings and the Church’s favor. He works only for a wage. He is not swlf driven and he does not care about bearing fruit.
3. The Shepherd: He is the one filled with love and self-sacrifice, living according to the words of Saint Paul the Apostle: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter” (Romans 8:36).
   And also: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”(Romans 8:18).

Pope Tawadros warned: “Beware, lest you appear outwardly as a shepherd, while within you are a thief or a hireling.”

His Holiness outlines three principles for the priest’s service:

1. “I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me”
   The priest knows his flock through visitation and love. Fatherhood is revealed when the priest visits and cares for his people. You must know your children by name and understand their circumstances.
   “The martyr dies once for his Master, but the shepherd dies daily for the sake of his Master’s flock” (Saint John Chrysostom).
2. “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”
   This verse should be the motto and foundation for every new priest as he begins his service—and it should remain so throughout. A true father wants his children to surpass him. Likewise, the priest should strive to see his congregation excel in every way: spiritually, socially, emotionally, academically, and in their livelihood. Your role is to add life and vitality to your children by continually planting the commandments of God and the teachings of the Church Fathers in their hearts.
3. “There will be one flock and one Shepherd”
   The priest must work for unity and act like a magnet that draws people together. The greatest sin that angers and grieves the heart of God is the sin of division. A priest who allows division in his service will not be accepted before God—even if he were to raise the dead! The goal every priest should have before him always is that his flock remain united and undivided, under the care of the One Shepherd, who is the Lord Jesus Christ.

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