Entries by Hiwot M

“Blessed are the Merciful” (Matthew 5:7)

The Sermon on the Mount of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, specifically His Beatitudes evokes about blessing, revealed through the beatitude on as to how to be blessed. “To be blessed” means  “being in an enviable state of those who are in God’s heavenly Kingdom.” Focusing on a particular Beatitude which is “Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy,” it is important to understand, we shall be merciful for God shall have mercy on us. (Matthew 5:7)

“Away with you, Satan!” (Matthew 4:10)

Counterfeit preaching and lies about the existence of evil and the devil as well as his existence in this world confuse people hindering them to reach the truth. However, through learning the words of God, it is probable to understand the truth. One of the best gospel passages for us to learn about the devil, evil and temptation is the reading in Matthew’s Gospel about the Temptation of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Matthew 4:1-11)

“God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (Genesis 1:31)

God created men for glory; however, some creatures are more glorious than their forefathers and mankind is the foremost amongst them. The Prophet Moses, who wrote the history of creation says, “He saw that it was good,” but when it comes to man, he concludes, “He saw that it was very good.” Saint Jared the Great said, Greater than the Sabbath day, He is the greatest of all creatures.” (Genesis 1:31)

Synagogue

The third week of the Great Lent is called Synagogue, to mean “the house appropriated to the religious worship of the Jews.” It is a Holy place for the “congregation or assembly of Jews, met for the purpose of worship or the performance of religious rites” (King James new version Dictionary)

Holy

The Second Sabbath of the Great Lent is named “Holy” in representing the Holiness of God and Sabbath. God is Holy; His Holiness is His uniqueness; meaning God is Holy in nature as the word Holy means blessed, pure and unique. Holy Angels, Holy Righteous, Holy Apostles, Holy Martyrs, Holy Fathers, Holy Scholars, Holy Bishops and Holy Monks embraced holiness from God.

Patience

Patience is literally defined as, “The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of heroic pride, or from Christian submission to the divine will.” (KJV new version Dictionary)

The Great Lent

The Great Lent (Fast) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 40 days after His baptism is one of the seven proclamations that our church commands us to fast. Christians follow the example of our Lord and fast it every year. It has eight weeks (52 days), eight Saturdays and eight Sundays; and each of the Sundays are named after the Psalm of Saint Jared; The First Sunday Zewerede: He who comes down, The Second Sunday is Kedest; Holy/Sanctify, The Third Sunday Mekurab: Temple, The Fourth Sunday is Metsagu: Infirmity, the Paralytic, The Fifth Sunday Debre Zeit: Mount of Olives, The Sixth Sunday is Gebre Here; Faithful Servant, The Seventh Sunday is Nicodemus: A ruler of the Jews and The Eight Sunday Hosanna/Savior: Palm Sunday.

“Return to me, and I will return to you” (Malachi 3:7)

God calls all humans for repentance; He says: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” Repentance is our way to salvation for we shall we be cleansed from our sins. Father Anthony Mourad of Coptic Orthodox Church defined Repentance as, “Repentance is both the Journey and the Destination of our salvation.” He added saying, “The Church labels this phenomenon by stating that there is both Repentance to life, as well as a life of Repentance.” (Malachi 3:7)

“To godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love”

Human’s virtue lies on their goodness in heart in doing good by others with love. Our relations amongst shall be based by love and care-some on a daily basis. It means to share our feelings in times of sorrow and happiness. When we grieve for those who are sad and be delight for those who are happy, there exists love.