This morning, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II prayed the Divine Liturgy for the Fourth Sunday of the Holy Fifty Days in a church graciously offered to us by the Catholic Church in Croatia, so that His Holiness could pray there together with his children. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
In his sermon, His Holiness expressed his joy at meeting his children in Croatia and extended his thanks to the Catholic bishop in Zagreb for making the church available for the celebration of the liturgy.
During the homily, His Holiness said:
“When Christ rose at dawn on Sunday, He rose with the beginning of the light, because He Himself is the Light. The Lord Christ taught us: ‘While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light’ (John 12:36). As long as you have Christ, walk according to His commandments so that you may become children of Christ.
When the Lord Christ rose, He granted us inner light, so that the human mind became enlightened, and indeed the whole life of a person as well. Christ said of Himself, ‘I am the Light of the world,’ and He also said to us, ‘You are the light of the world.’”
- The Life of Christ Is Entirely Light
“He is completely without sin; therefore He told us: ‘Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart’ (Matthew 11:29). Christ’s life in His incarnation was light in everything He did and in everything He spoke. At the time of the Crucifixion, darkness came upon the earth, expressing the sin of humanity that caused mankind to live in darkness. But when Christ rose at dawn on Sunday, He gave us light once again. Everyone who partakes of the Holy Body and Precious Blood abides in Christ and becomes himself a light.” - The Words of Christ Are All Words of Light
“His words are positive, joyful, and life-giving: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4). We live by the Word of God in the Gospel, and Christ tells us: ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life’ (John 6:63). A person without the Gospel is without spirit and without life, and whoever neglects it will have no light within him. The Word of God enlightens the person, protects him from many evils, and cares for him. Whoever wishes to enjoy the light of the Resurrection should always keep the Gospel with him, meditate upon it, speak by it, and live according to its commandments. Light travels in straight lines; therefore, whoever walks in the light becomes uprightness for this world. We pray daily saying: ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me’ (Psalm 51:10). Let honesty and uprightness fill your life so that you may become a light to everyone.” - The Works of Christ Are Entirely Light
“The miracles Christ performed are light in our lives, and all of them were done so that humanity may live in the light. Christ is able to grant us this strength: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13). A Christian person must always be radiant with light. Saint John Chrysostom says: ‘What is a lamp without light? And what is a Christian without love?’ The light within you is transformed into love for everyone, and this appears in words, deeds, and relationships, all revolving around the circle of love.”
His Holiness concluded by saying:
“I am happy to be with you today on this blessed day, as we commemorate the enthronement of the late Pope Kyrillos VI in 1959. We also commemorate the first visit of the late Pope Shenouda III to the Vatican in 1973, as well as the celebration of fifty years of relations with the Catholic Church in 2023.”
Participating in the prayers were Their Graces Bishop Abraham, General Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, and Bishop Giovanni, Bishop of Central Europe.
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