Sermon – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

How long shall earth mourn?

It is true! the blood dribbled is not without punishment; innocence blood is a cause; it destroys generation to generation; it splits from inheritance; it rains fire and din burn earth; the persecution and the souls who kill innocence are unstoppable; their word echoes up to the heavens; they persecute seize not until their offspring’s and generations are abolished. The Lord of their soul is a true judge; justice is not unfair; He brings His justice upon and in earth; He shuts the heavens; shakes the earth; made earth bestow mercy and blessing; winds as plague and changed rain into snow; for we have not wished to return back!

I magnify my ministry!

The whole of the community might have owns definition to the word “ministry or service.” Someone strive to have an interpretation within the acts of personhood, family hood as well as within community for “ministry.” It could be probability or improbability to recon whether one has adequate knowledge and comprehension about it; but there is great importance to its significance in the church system and thus creating awareness is off the essence.

Abune Zena Markos

Our righteous father has made the devil to carry the wood to the service of church in his entire life. He has performed many more miraculous where he raised the dead and made a horse to witness for God in his own mouth. While he was on the road, our Lord Jesus Christ came to him and told him the time of his departure has come, reminding about the covenant He gave him. The Saints has heard about this covenant in their own ears.

Our Father Abune Zena Markos afterwards gathered his disciples and told about the covenant The Lord gave him. By his prayer, he made the sun to stand still. And on Tahesas two, he washed the disciples’ feet and told them about his departure time. He then advised them to foremost live by love of neighbor and do good to inherit heavenly kingdom. He advised them much more and raised his face to the Lord saying “Safeguard these children you gave me from evil deed by your mercy.” On Tahesas three, he died.

The Fourth Month

The gist and mystery of time is wide and deep. The Ethiopian Liturgical Year signifies the Fourth Month, as ‘Tahesas.’ The day time is Nine and the Night is 15. Onwards, the day increases and the night decrease.

Saint’s Intercession

Dear Children of God! how are you? Glory to the Lord for enriching us to the “Fast of Prophets!” As you might know, this is the fast Prophet’s fasted in the hope of the Holy Son coming from the heavens and be born from Holy Mother Saint Mary for world’s salvation.

Little ones! we wish to see you become good, obedient and brave children of God through well education and hard work. We also hope you have acquired (obtained) much knowledge as well as wisdom so far by your spiritual education.

May we now remind you about our previous (last) lesson on intercession, Saint Mary’s and Saint Angel’s Intercession. And for this lesson, we will learn about the intercession of Saint Fathers and Mothers; so follow us attentively!

How long shall earth mourn?

Earth mourns every day. But why does she cry? When do people also seize to harm? Until when shall the dessert grasses continue to dry? Till when do the birds and animals die? How long will be God’s wrath upon us? Till when do the Saints sue earth? We ask the question Prophet Jeremiah asked even now!

Are we living in the end times?

Are we living in the end times? Is everything that is happening around us pointing to the end of the world as we know it? I’m sure many of us have asked this question before, and many people in history have also assumed that their own era is nearing the so called ‘end of the ages’. As a matter of fact, every generation of humans has had at least one group of people who claimed they would be the generation that would witness the so called “end of the world”. And so, it comes as no surprise, that in an exceptional time like the one we live in now, a time of pandemic, chaos, and panic, that many are also claiming that the end is near. But is it?

Mother Zion

Words cannot be sufficient enough to describe the honor and praise of our Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary. Fortunate to us, for we are willed to use the words revealed to Saints in talking about and praise of her. “Our spiritual love towards the Savior Jesus Christ and His mother is deep-rooted in our hearts, and appears in our daily life. We love Saint Mary, the Virgin and mother of God, through whom we discover the nature of her Son as the Incarnate Son of God. Her life speaks of God’s redeeming deed, and explains man’s role in attaining the heavenly life by the divine grace. Saint Mary is our Mother, who became an archetype of the Church, receiving a universal maternity to man. She loves the whole world, longing for the perfect salvation of everybody…” says Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty in his book “Saint Mary in the Orthodox Concept)

The Nativity Fast

Brethren! We have become less fortunate when it comes to having good Religious and Patristic Fathers who can lead us to the right path. They are facing their own trail and impediments within this devious world. We are leaving in a universe filled with evil, deceptiveness, treachery, fornication and all the sinful acts disgraced by the Lord. As the days go by, we are sinking into the satanic storm and for this, we seek to have a shelter from all the deviousness and weapons in defeating the enemy. Our sturdy weapons are prayer, fasting, prostration and good deeds as we have read and learned from the fight of righteous and saints in scripted in their hagiographies.

Saint Angel’s Intercession

Dear Children of God! how are you? How is life and education? Our Great Lord has enriched us to the third month of this year! Glory to Him! Hope you have grown spiritually and in your Christian life. It is better to learn and study well in your young age for you would be a brave, good and obedient children of God.

Little ones! If you remember, we have learned about the meaning of intercession and our Holy Mother Saint Mary’s intercession on our last lesson. On this section, we will see about the intercession of Saint Angels; be with us!