H.H. Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon during the Wednesday meeting this evening from the ancient Church of Saint Mina in Fum El-Khalig, Old Cairo. The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels and on the online C.O.C Channel of the Church Media Center.
His Holiness prayed the Vespers Prayer with the participation of H.G. Bishop Yolyous (General Bishop of Old Cairo and Bishopric of Services), along with a number of bishops of the Church. After the Vespers, the deacons’ choir and the church choir chanted a selection of hymns, which His Holiness encouraged them for. Then, H.G. Bishop Yolyous welcomed His Holiness and presented a brief history of the church, which dates back to the fifth century. Those who had obtained doctoral and master’s degrees from among the church members were honored.
Pope Tawadros continued his series titled “Specialized Chapters” and spoke today on the topic: “A Journey into Stillness and the Voice of God in Prayer.” He read a passage from the First Book of Samuel, chapter 3, verses 1–10, highlighting the voice of God during silence in prayer.
His Holiness explained that prayer contains a very important element — the state of silence — in which God speaks. This is similar to the “antiphonal” (responsive) way of chanting during the Midnight Praise: when one group is silent, they either listen for the voice of God within their hearts or pray inwardly, saying, “My Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
His Holiness outlined the journey of stillness and the voice of God during prayer through the following seven stations:
Holy Silence is the Condition for Hearing- God speaks in calmness. Inner and outer stillness are the paths to spiritual hearing.
“But the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11–12).
A Pure Heart is God’s Ear- God chose the heart of a child (the Prophet Samuel), not the mind of an elder (Eli the priest), for the stature of heaven is that of a child. Saint John Chrysostom said: “The pure heart becomes a mirror in which one sees the face of God; but the heart filled with passions cannot even discern His voice.”
God Calls with Patience and Love- In His tenderness, God repeats His call and never gives up on man.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3:20).
His Holiness advised that we should continually repeat this verse in our daily lives: “Speak, for Your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10) — so that we may hear the voice of God within us.
Discernment Requires Spiritual Counsel- This is represented by the role of Eli the priest (the counselor). God speaks to us through spiritual guides, and one of the great blessings in our Coptic Church is that each of us has a father of confession.
“So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’” (Acts 8:30–31)
Obedience is the Key to Hearing- The Prophet Samuel responded practically after receiving guidance; this is true listening. Saint Basil the Great said: “He who hears but does not obey is like one who listens to beautiful music yet feels no movement in his heart; obedience, however, is harmony with the melody of heaven.”
God Always Reveals His Voice to the Faithful- God discloses His secrets only to those who listen faithfully. When He found an obedient heart (Samuel’s heart), He entrusted him with a message. Saint Macarius the Great said: “God reveals His mysteries only to those whose hearts’ ears are pure, for the divine voice cannot enter a crowded heart.”
He Who Hears the Voice of God Becomes a Message to Others- Such a person works to convey God’s voice to the world.
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me’” (Isaiah 6:8)
This page is also available in:
العربية
