If thy discern about sin and its eternity, thy will recoil” Beatitude and Holy Archbishop Shenouda
Sin is the demise of conscience and spirit. As Apostle Paul said, “The wage of sin is death.”
Social Life
Social life is the base for peace, love, unity, care some, reverence, sustenance; being fence for eternal…..
Orthodox Spirituality
Christianity is a way of life. Its path is also a way of salvation and holiness that leads to eternal glory. To become a Christian is to be a member of the Church where a man is baptized on the 40th and women 80th day after birth accordingly. That is to be born again by the Holy Spirit. Our Lord has said this: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
The Holy Cross and Helena
On the 17th of Meskerem (27th of September) of every year, we celebrate the Feast of the Cross. This is when we remember the appearance of the glorious Cross of Jesus Christ, our Lord. After Jesus was crucified, many miracles were done near Jesus’ grave.
The Good Samaritan
Once upon a time a man was traveling. All of a sudden, bunch of thieves grabbed him, took all his money and clothing, beat him, wounded him and left him on the road in a very bad condition.
“Sense of Conscience”
By Hiwot Salelew
A true amnesty is conscience; acquainting us with GOD for eternal relief. In search of it, Christians do not retreat from anguish. Rather, to enter GOD’s kingdom with diligence, in the midst to bequeath our great delight. Traveling on a path leading us to GOD of which, is filled of dare encountering corporeal tedious that endows us spiritual comfort within happiness. That is why on Syracuse 6÷23 is stated, “Oh, my son listen and persevere by my advice without contempt! Consign your leg in her yoke and tie the shackle on your neck. Bend your back low and carry her. Do not be frustrated with her leg chain. Deploy to her with your ideal soul; protect her lane with your whole power; seek and follow her craving, as you shall find her. You will find amnesty in your ending bestowing your enchantment.”
It is possible to change the decree of judges with a bribe; but conscience is inimitable. Never has punished with what everyone else is unaware of, nor has it ever itinerant out of the permit of scruples since body parts like hand, legs and others clutter its judgment. If mankind’s conscience always judges through others mind, then he shall be called an animal. “But mankind did not know his conceit; so by bearing a resemblance, he become like animals without a heart,” said Saint David (Psalm 48÷20). This is the indication for many to walk bare naked and the adaptation for ill mannered life style.
If the value of conscience is Christianity while the expensiveness of livelihood is spoken of, then why is it evaluated by money? For those who encountered food scarcity, organizations providing food products were established. What do you think shall be done for those with no sense of conscience and others who sold it to which their corpse turned to grave? But I will tell you one thing, our LORD’s Holy word unlocks graves.
Come close; to which your graved heart shall be unlocked. “Graves were unlocked and many among the Saint corpse rose from the dead.”(Matthew 27÷52). Just as mankind differs in purpose, perception, ability of understanding and lifestyle, so does his capacity of enduring the problems and going on the right path during his dwelling in the corporeal and spiritual life.
People’s insight towards matters is diverse. Some seem to take challenges lightly while others obscure and exaggerate. The same as two people’s view or way of understanding on a similar incident varies, so does their way of resolving them.
For instance, if two people with similar economic states lose their job, one might be tolerable visioning to see what tomorrow brings, but the other could imagine him entering darkness. It takes many years of skill but not short term experience to bear mind stress.
At the reign of Elijah, the sky slouched and earth desolated for 3 and a half years (1 Kings. 17÷1). On another occasion, rather than raining water, Fire and acid rained. (Genesis. 19÷24, 2, 21÷12) During the reign of King Hezekiah, on Kishon filed, one hundred eighty five thousand corpses were found on one night (Isaiah 47÷46) and twenty three thousand people corpse among those who were on Moab filed were found (1 Corinthians 10÷8) because mankind broke down the frontiers.
Today, who do you think is responsible for earth to be filled with agony, for the world to be assail with abrasion and scarce of blessing? May be we have thought of an answer in our mind, but the good and evil deed is the end result of ours. The slaves of Pharaoh never said the blight on Egypt is the result of their sins but instead blamed it on Moses (Exodus 10÷7).
Even today the cause for the contaminated air in this generation, the industrially developed countries pressuring the developing countries into war, powerful governors monopolizing the undeveloped countries is habitual. (We don’t recognize the reason for their evil deed is our weakness). For those accepting what has surfaced as a prophecy, for all the stirring our sins and guiltiness, it said that all shall be punished by the law. (Daniel 9 ÷16-17)
If we look at this on the other side, the desert is the devil’s nest. (Matthew 12÷47). All through fasting and praying, demons exorcised from humans set out to the wilderness, but since they have no lodging, they return back to where they came from. Surely, even now they transfer from the desert to an empty house; suitable and comfortable for them to lay.
Only giving forth to the corporeal outgrowth since they forgot the spiritual vitality, devils lay their nest. With his own will, though mankind abandon his life and disappear, GOD came to mankind who was punished up to death penalty.
Jesus sat along the way; tired; to hearten human’s deeds. But today, devoid of his tiresome, GOD who created the visible and invisible world came to earth for salvation of Adam, so tiresome and illness became his possessions not suitable for his existence.
As spoken about the almighty GOD, “Jesus got tired and he sat next to a tunnel,” (Jonathon 4÷2) it’s Our LORD who became angel’s power in serving him day and night without any respite. (Jonathon’s Vision 4÷8), but today he got tired; with all that being the reason for human’s salvation. Even, it was noon and hot; a time pressuring all creatures to get propel in search of a corner. (Hezekiah 18÷32)
Prophet Jeremiah stated (at 6÷16) within faith, Christian finds respite. “Standing in the way referred to ask for the old paths, where it is the good way that you moved through, roaming for your soul and ye shall find rest”. Since the real respite is from GOD, through immanency, we get everlasting amnesty. Besides, we don’t get fade up doing every work because our GOD whom we worship, grant us amnesty and so it does not mean to stop our work entirely; but it’s to refrain from weakness and perform spiritual and social good deed with respite.
GOD made mankind live by his law and liturgy beginning from his creation. Demeanor his subsisting, permitting him to govern all other creatures and consigning him in heaven, then granting him authority is the truth. Thus, when we say GOD’s law, its base is with his will, given by him and divine ordained. In the book of Enoch 19÷22, it is affirmed that mankind should live like angles through religion and worshiping GOD. At Psalm 1÷2, “He who only follows GOD, abide by his law day and night, he shall be like a tree surrounded by water, providing fruit without its leaves falling down; and so all his deeds shall be received.”
Be aware! Your life is like Nabate’s bequest which you fight for till death. Don’t be afraid even if your life is like a wilderness, placed on the opposite side; don’t forget! GOD is also the creator of the desert too, whom for forty years he fed his people Manna from the cloud and spawn water from the rock, (Psalm, 77÷20-40). You shall consume Manna and water, known to be GOD’s word and live a verdant life. Anticipate the life of Father George of Gasicha’s life and Saint Yared’s compassion in your heart; they became everlasting hoards which no generation can finish.
Source: Amharic text by Deacon Yosef Bekele at/ www.mahiberekidusan.com/amharicwebsite/
Youth hood and its enticement
By Hiwot Salelew
Holy church acquaints about Youth hood from age twenty to forty. Human nature is about the four corporeal traits known to be wind, fire, water and soil; along with our soul reflected through mankind. Whilst mankind dies, these four traits are placed as its existences resulting our body to decay and decompose. At the resurrection, all four traits in the councils will rise up in congruence with our soul. We call the traits mystique being the astonishing matter; him posing the eminent above and the trivial at the bottom.
Our LORD created the traits to subsist along with each other, so that the eminent will safeguard them from above. It is unfortunate if the trivial were at the top, they would have been at the ridge; and if the eminent were at the bottom, they would have become the subordinates. Enduring is the exemplary of the four traits intolerance and by acknowledging those living above us will help live in forbearance. The base and solidity of earth is wind.
The acme of our corporeal is a representation of earth on water, a depiction of our blood. Given that our body persists on our blood and so the existences of water is wind. If the water doesn’t have clean air, it gets polluted. Alike the expression states “Heavy wind at the crest as the breath in our mouth”, mankind breathes throughout his life. His natural heat is the evident for the existences of fire traits.
The age from twenty to forty reflects fire traits known to be the era of fire or hearth and so man is said to be young. At our youth hood, if we couldn’t do well and be great, it is most likely to lose not only our honor but also every liability. When we are like Esau, the younger brother like Jacob takes away our primogeniture, leaving us to be his lumber; and we won’t have the right to punish and reprove our youngest. As it’s unpleasant for illiterates to reprove adults while you are illicit, youngsters attempting to punish and advise them, everyone will disapprove you. Since (at Matthew 7÷5), we are told, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; Then, you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye”. On months and years where we nurture from child to youngster; like our body and mind matures, so does the wish within intensifying in kind and size. This youth’s aspiration will be in due course of opposing spirituality. A propos to the wish rising within adults, Saint Paul in his message (at 2 Timothy 2÷22) alerted us, “Be aware of dreadful inclinations about adult hood.” Surely a wish embraced on the younger age is very bad; youth hood is a time for hard work but not for inclining appalling thoughts.
Youths and their enticement
Apostle Saint Jacob in his message taught us (at 1114), “Mankind is tempted and inveigled in his own wish;” if a wish at the young age exceeds its limit, it lures, compels and misleads a failure.
Mankind is enticed in many ways while lacking self esteem and his immaturity of mind. Youth hood is consumed especially by our aspiration. Youngsters are tempted by many ways including fornication and fond of lavishness. In addition, though there are different temptations, these mainly pave the way to sin.
Resolutions
- Self Restraint
Self Restraint is abiding our will of corporeal to our soul, preserved by GOD’s law; self consciously start living with what we are taught, confiscating bad habit, live through the rule and abiding GOD entirely.
Saint David (Psalm 2÷1) informed us to abide GOD with fear and quiver; and so acknowledging an everlasting happiness within worshiping, we will be able to live distinctively. In consequence, Saint Paul told his spiritual son Timothy (1 Timothy 3÷5), “alike he who can’t manage his home is unable to abide GOD’s law; it is possible to manage others by self restraining, maneuvering and controlling ourselves.”
Recognizing Noah (Genesis 6÷1), he embraced salvation with his family through Self Restraint. He built the ship to preside over the animals and birds to alert so as to revile others. Having self restraint does not mean only for attending Church, getting married, starting work, succeeding with what we entirely desire. However, Self Restraining is; not judging when possible, taking action when we could; just like Joseph (Genesis, 39÷1) said, “after instigating, it is to abscond and whether it’s accurate or not, self containing ourselves with everything; generally the ability from absconding from every trait of corporeal is said to be Self Restraining.
- Self Awareness
We are said to be self aware with the perception and attitude about our identity, distinguishing and unitizing us from others while living for a purpose in life. It means, we know the strength and weakness of humanity; probably endow acquiescent impact in corporeal and spiritual life to achieve knowledge in meeting our endeavors. Moses (Exodus 4÷10) said, “My LORD my mouth is an evil Conan with indistinct tongue”.
But Moses didn’t notice his strengthen within. A self aware person takes responsibility for others more than himself without seeking care. If it is said that there is downhill whilst bravery epoch, he knows it will hurt him, and won’t put his life up to risk. Saint Peter in his message said, (2 Peter 1÷5-6) “Append kindness to your faith, knowledge to your kindness, self awareness to your knowledge, perseverance with your self awareness and perseverance leading to pursue GOD.” Accordingly, we take responsibility for our life.
An individual with self awareness respects humanity, understands the reason for his existence, defend his humanity and self consciousness living in contend, properly informs what he knows, inquires what he doesn’t know and accepts his weakness positively, doesn’t change his identity in situates and occasions, nor change his identity. Since the base for his existence of human race is astounded, he is a strong fence. He is aware of gossip, often frankly converses, takes responsibility for his failure, doesn’t blame others, neither surrender easily for failure and is aware of his ending. From the experience of his past youth life, by understanding his current situation, he is prepared for his corporeal and spiritual life. Aiding him understand his current identity which is base for his eternal life, helping him be diligent in his spiritual life. Self aware youngster will reimburses the pertinent sacrifice for his spiritual life. Youngsters who are not self restrained and lack self awareness won’t help others. Hence, at the youth hood, we are expected to execute deeds leading us more towards closer to GOD but not apart from him. We ought to save others as much as ourselves and fulfills our Christian duty.
Praise the Lord
Source: Amharic text at/ www.mahiberekidusan.com/amharicwebsite/
Christian Life
Hiwot Salelew
Christian life is always filled with good deed. Our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ taught us in Gospel about the way to salvation which is perusing GOD’s law with dedication. Human life is for benevolence. Otherwise mankind dies twice losing his soul/life/. His first death is indispensable, but the second one is bestowed with the rule of GOD (Revelation, 2÷11). No human is life but alive.
Consequently, for us to live eternal life, we ought to follow Our Savior Jesus Christ’s basically with his miraculous life on earth, along the gospel he preached and his love he revealed for us. So, it is mandatory to perform the followings.
1. Services
Above all, mankind should praise his creator by praying, fasting, sanctioning and singing Psalm. Furthermore, feeding poor people, constructing churches by endowing labor force and skill is expected from one Christian. It’s unfortunate that a boy who was a Sunday school student grows up to be a musician after ten years. Another student who acted on a play in Sunday schools changes his carrier and gets involved on a different thread. Chairperson, Writers and Members of Sunday Schools, leave everything after they wed. But, Marriage is not a service pension; if you wed you can never go back.
Serving the church as Sunday schools and become singers, priests, deacons or preachers, constructing monasteries, feeding poor people, organizing councils, leading spiritual associations without complaining of getting sick or suffering, being ungrateful and wishing your hands to be cut off; some people stop serving by making up excuses about their physical inability. Others impede because they are scorned. If we don’t bare all this, why do we talk about the era of Diocletian? Who stay diligent till the end? But we have to endorse Christian life.
2. Accrediting Time
Time is a gift from GOD; and so we must make use of it properly. It is necessary to value time when participating on councils, serving on Sunday schools, visiting poor and sick people, constructing monastery churches, preachers sermonize and singer sing.
On Matthew’s gospel 25÷34-36, it is stated, “Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, to inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; you welcomed me when I was your guest. Clothed me while I was bare, for ye have visited me when I was ailing and came to me during my imprisonment.”
Accrediting time doesn’t mean using our spare time; it is different to devote our entire time than exploiting the spare one. Avowed on gospel, one man gave some coins from his full pocket while an innocent woman gave her only two coins. Our LORD Jesus Christ then said, “Verily Verily I say, this widow has bestowed much offering for GOD. All of these offered from their profit. But this poor woman gave all her asset.” We value time by offering what we have, but not after we finish working, feeding on, drinking and entertaining ourselves, then complacently go to church; that’s not accrediting time. When we devote and properly proffer our time of working extra jobs and earn money, visiting other people sharing their meal and drink, it is valuing time. It is stated in the Gospel that our credit is small if we offer our spare time.
3. Perseverance through religion
Declared on Johannes’s revelation 12÷16-80, the python infuriated at the woman, went to battle her races who abide GOD’S law and being the witnesses of Jesus. It is necessary to battle the python and preserve our religion for we are her descendants and the witnesses of Jesus Christ. In this generation, it is Christian’s responsibility to persevere by religion, protect it and brazen out Protestants. Judah (1-3) affirmed, “I intercede for ye to fight for the religion conferred to Saints.”
It is Christian liturgy to fight for Orthodox Tewahdo Church. Thousands get manipulated for their greed of money and vain belongings. Like Saint Paul said, “Be careful of those defying Jesus law attempting to deceive you with artificial conduct through scattering vain things and the sins in this world.” (Colossians, 2÷8). There are some who change their religion mislead by Satan. Our LORD in Mathew’s Gospel (24÷13) said, “He, who is serene till the end, will get salvation.”
4. Abstaining ourselves from fornication
Akin to what Bishop Gorigorios alerted, we have to preserve ourselves from fornication in this generation. It has become hard to remain virgin until marriage these days. We have forgotten the Laws forbidding fornication that we learned in schools.
Surviving this world’s temptation is like passing through flame; because fire calls upon those even far. Our fathers say “fires calls”. While we are living in this world, why does fornication come to our mind? We can’t ask why sin exists around us. But we can cross pass the dispute. We have to have chastity. When a man and woman preserve themselves from fornication and get married in Church, they wear crown. It is also written in Holy books about husbands and wives who are crowned in Church honored binary by GOD. It is not because these people do not have luck or gain material benefits; but they forbid themselves from these advantages, struggle from their friend and the surrounding’s temptations, longing to pay sacrifice for their soul.
5. Perseverance by Marriage
In Christian life, a man and woman live in perseverance by marriage. When a husband and wife live in lenience and peace, when a man abides his partners and children’s attitude, consent his flesh and blood, live by church’s liturgy abiding GOD’s law; that is Christianity.
Ordinary people, who neither became a nun nor wed, do not desire of living a Christian life. It is like the Protestants who lived in the years of Martyrs. You might think people who are married celebrating 50 and 80 years anniversary are happy. However, they might have passed hardship. There could be times they said, “I wish my legs got broken; my eyes got blind before I stood in the aisle and I want to disappear,”. But it is important to pass every obstacle through perseverance.
May those who wed persevere till the end; singers who serve with chastity and preaching’s; those who grant portion of their meal to churches and monasteries, donating our spare shoes and clothes, promising to save and serve elderly struggling on streets, fathers who keep peace, those who find the lost ones, others who convince protestant in to Christianity, also those who bring faithless to baptism; inhabit perseverance until the end, and hear LORD’s words “Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, to inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the creation of the world,” with his mercy and the intercession of Virgin Mary, Amen.
Source: Amharic text by Deacon Yosef Bekele at/ www.mahberekidusan.com/amharicwebsite/
Apostles’ Fast
By Hiwot Salelew
Apostles’ fast, traditionally known as the fast of June by laities, due to its seasonality at the month of June, is amongst the seventh fasting. Apostles fasted after accepting the Holy Spirit and before setting out to preach gospel.
It is a fast transpiring after the holiday of Pentecost. On the fortieth day our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ rising from the dead, he went to the house where the diligence of holy apostles arise by praying with disciples. He led them upfront to the longest mountain covered with tall trees, Debrezeit. Alerting them about it, he ascended up higher and higher. A bright white cloud hailed GOD. He rose up far disappearing from their sight not with distancing with but profundity. Out of the very profound love for their LORD Jesus Christ and grieving about his ascending, apostles gazed at the sky for a long time.
Suddenly, they saw two Holy Angels with white clothes standing beside them. The angels told the apostles, “People of Galilee, why are you standing staring at the sky? Jesus shall return back just as you saw Him ascend to the sky.”(Apostles 1÷ 8-11). After apostles heard the angel’s calming words, they went to the temple in Jerusalem to pray and fast with unity, with Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary beside them, where they remained till the prophecy that LORD Jesus Christ spoke about is fulfilled.
Apostles’ Fast takes places on the first Monday, after the holiday of Pentecost. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in his era on earth acquainted with the disciples to fast. On those days, Jonathon’s disciples come near him and asked, “The Pharisees and along with us will massively fast. Why don’t the disciples fast? (Matthew 9÷14). And LORD Christ replied saying, “Made of Honors won’t grief while the bride is with them; However, there shall come seasons when the bride is taken from them. Then they will fast.” (Matthew 9÷15).
His words meant, while He is here without His death, ascending and embracing Holy Spirit; devoid of renewal of their corporal with the Holy Spirit, they can’t fast and trounce. Just as the apostles fasted and prayed creating heavenly world, we fast the Apostles’ Fast to plead GOD gives us power to defeat our enemy. Though each laities ought to fast, these days most of them refer it as “fast of Priests” and recoil. This is not based on the church’s liturgy and must be altered. Epitomizing Apostles, we merit to fast and be blessed.
May GOD’s mercy,
The intersession of Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary,
Blessing of Holy Apostles,
The intercession and prayer of the Righteous and Martyrs be with us.
Amen
Source: Amharic text by Teklehawariyat at/ www.mahberekidusan.com/amharic website/
“Ethiopia entreats towards GOD” (Psalm 67÷31)
By Hiwot Salelew
Our country Ethiopia is among the countries who first accepted Christianity. Prophet David in Psalm 67÷31 said, “Ethiopia entreats towards GOD”, (Psalm 67÷31). The generation where Prophet Moses married an Ethiopian woman, hailed people who worshiped GOD through the unwritten law; and just as it’s inspirited in the Holy Bible, the Old Testament and the Pentateuch law began at the era of Queen of Sheba. The Queen’s cavernous inclination to explore the wisdom and dynasty of King Solomon led her to Jerusalem to learn the Pentateuch.
During that era, there was chief of Merchants called Tamrin who served the Queen of Sheba. He was wise and discernible. After his returnee from Jerusalem, his portrayal about the king aspired the Queen in seeing him with her eyes and listen to his wisdom with her ears. She told her people, “My fellow citizens! Listen to what I say; I crave for wisdom; my heart urges knowledge; I am in love and have become a prisoner. (Kibre Negest, 24). Anon, she informed her servant about her decision to go to the king’s country and explore his wisdom; so Tamrin made her wish come true. The people then convoyed her to his kingdom.
The queen reached Jerusalem after travelling for six month. King Solomon, who heard her presence from the merchant Tamrin, welcomed her with honor. “When she heard about Solomon’s name; God’s name; she came to test him with riddle” (I Kings 10÷1-13). Afterwards, he taught her everything about wisdom.
Our Lord Jesus Christ blamed the generation of Jew’s, saying, “Queen of Azeb will rise at judgment day; Culp those generations, arbitrate and defeat them, since she has come to hear Solomon’s wisdom from the end of the earth,” (Kibre Negest, 21); he referred the Ethiopian Queen as Queen of Azeb.
Later on, the king wished to have heir from her and she remained in his kingdom for six years. Then, Queen of Sheba conceived a child. But, when it was time to turn back to her kingdom, she said, “Permit me to leave”. On their separation, he gave her his ring as a souvenir and honorably escorted her, (Kibre Nigeset, 30-31).
Nine months and five days passed, the Queen reached Bala, a town in Disaria, where she gave birth to a baby boy. Following her arrival at her country, she taught her people about wisdom and Pentateuch law erudite from the King; she also ruled her dynasty by the law of GOD.
At 12 years old, her son Menilik often asked about his father. Feeling anxious of losing him, Queen of Sheba told her son to deem her as a mother and father. Ten years passed and Menilik grew to a 22 years old young man. By then, he made his decision to travel to Israel and meet his father. He then went to Jerusalem with the merchant Tamrin.
King Solomon, who heard about his son’s arrival, blissfully welcomed him with honor. Menilik’s graceful face looked like his father. He showed him the ring his mother gave him for evidence. But, the King tenderly explained that their resemblance is good enough; he then hugged and kissed him.
However, Menilik dearly missed his mother. The King got very sad knowing his desire of returning back and even tried hard to change his mind. Unfortunate to them, his son couldn’t agree. Thus, King Solomon discussed it with his noblemen. Blessing and sanctifying him by the name of David, he send his son back. Whilst reaching Ethiopia, he reigned as King Menilik I, descending his father’s dynasty. Subsequently, Pentateuch law was officially proclaimed in our country.
Source: Amharic text by Hiwot Salelew at/ www.mahiberekidusan.com/amharicwebsite/