Pope Tawadros in the Sermon: God’s Patience and Longsuffering Toward Humanity Saved the Right-Hand Thief and Raised Up St Paul the Apostle for Christianity

His Holiness: The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares Reveals God’s Patience with Humanity, and Patience is the Greatest Virtue of the Saints

H.H. Pope Tawadros II prayed the Divine Liturgy this morning at the Church of Virgin Mary and St Marina in El Alamein, which serves as the Papal Residence in El Alamein.

Praying with His Holiness were Their Graces Bishop Pavly (General Bishop of the Montazah District Churches in Alexandria), Bishop Hermina (General Bishop of the East Alexandria District Churches) and Bishop Karas (Bishop of Matrouh and the Pentapolis).

Also participating in the prayers were Hegumen Abraam Emil (General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Alexandria), the priests of the church together with a number of priests from Alexandria and Matrouh, the church deacons’ choir, and a large congregation of the faithful.

In his sermon, Pope Tawadros reflected on the Gospel reading of the Divine Liturgy, explaining that during the final days of the Coptic year the Church presents readings that offer both reassurance and warning. He focused on the concluding verse of the Gospel:
“But by your patience possess your souls.” (Luke 21:19)

His Holiness noted that every time we look upon the Cross, by which the Lord Jesus Christ purchased us with His precious Blood, we are reminded of His patient waiting for humanity’s salvation. He likened this to an unborn child who patiently awaits the proper time to enter the world. Life itself, he said, teaches patience, emphasizing that haste is harmful in every matter except in a person’s repentance.

He further explained that God, who is longsuffering, patiently waited for the penitent thief until the very last moments of his life, granting him salvation. Likewise, God patiently endured with Saul of Tarsus until he became Paul, the great preacher of the Gospel. Zechariah and Elizabeth also waited many years before God granted them John the Baptist, whom the Lord described as the greatest among those born of women.

His Holiness added: “Life is accompanied by a journey of sufferings and burdens. The saints of the Church, whose lives we read in the Synaxarium, endured their trials with patience until they received their heavenly crowns.

‘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 explained that many of the parables spoken by the Lord, especially the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, reveal God’s patience and longsuffering toward humanity. He also pointed to the example of the righteous Joseph, whose patience led him to greatness in the land of Egypt, and to the Virgin Mary, who endured many hardships with steadfast patience: “Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’ (Luke 2:35)

His Holiness concluded the sermon by affirming that patience is the foremost virtue of the saints: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)

This page is also available in: العربية