H.H. Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon at the Wednesday meeting held this evening at Archangel Michael’s Church, located at the new administrative headquarters of Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia. The sermon was broadcast via Christian satellite channels and the online C.O.C channel affiliated with the Church Media Center, without public attendance.

His Holiness resumed the Wednesday meeting after a temporary suspension since December. Beginning today, he launched a new series entitled “Spiritual Scriptural Principles,” in which he will address, in each installment, a biblical principle appropriate to the theme of each week of the Holy Forty-Day Fast, with the aim of making it a practical spiritual exercise throughout the week.

In the first installment of the series, His Holiness spoke on the theme of “Guarding the Heart.” He read verses 23–27 from chapter four of the Book of Proverbs, emphasizing the importance of guarding the heart, as it is with the heart that we will stand before God.

His Holiness explained the importance of the heart as follows:

-the heart directs life itself and all the members of the body. Change in life begins from the heart: “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
-the heart directs the mind, just as Peter allowed the thought of fear from drowning, and it also directs the overall course of a person’s life.
-the heart is the place of the true battle between purity of life and falling into lusts.
-the heart determines a person’s spiritual end: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22).

Pope Tawadros then clarified what corrupts the human heart:

-simple but wrong thoughts that we allow to slip into us without resistance. Saint John Chrysostom says: “Cut off evil at its beginning before it becomes a habit.”
-the heart’s attachment to earthly things. Saint Augustine says: “The heart that does not find its treasure in God remains hungry no matter how much it possesses.”
-allowing bitterness and unforgiveness to dwell in the heart: “And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

His Holiness then pointed to how to guard the heart in a positive way through practical steps:

-guarding the mouth: “Put away from you a deceitful mouth” (Proverbs 4:24). Does your speech build up or tear down? Does it create peace or conflict?
-guarding the eyes: “Let your eyes look straight ahead” (Proverbs 4:25), by not being preoccupied with what others are doing and by avoiding comparison.
-guarding one’s steps: “Ponder the path of your feet” (Proverbs 4:26), avoiding randomness and following a sound and disciplined order in life.
-steadfastness in the path: “Do not turn to the right or the left” (Proverbs 4:27), avoiding hesitation or temporary impulsiveness, but remaining firm in life’s steps: “Here is the patience of the saints” (Revelation 14:12).
-restoring the heart by asking God during the fast: “Help me, O God, to recover a new heart, free from faults.”

Pope Tawadros concluded by noting that a heart guarded in the way of God:

-grants peace and calm amid circumstances.
-offers and overflows with love.
-continually gives wisdom.
-becomes a blessing to others.

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