Sermon – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

“Do not worry” (Matthew 6:34)

Humans worry for attaining both virtuous and evil thoughts. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ told us “do not worry” for the vanity world that is unjust. (Matthew 6:34) He knows what we seek and desire in the earthly life. The discerning mind we are endowed by Him is for the wisdom of us. Yet, it is improper to worry about any of it. Patristic Fathers teaching the children of God to “think but not worry” is for this reason. On the temporary earthly life, we shall be thoughtful, careful, “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) We are warranted not to fear and worry in Christianity. Whilst the apostles were saddened about the Lord’s suffering and death, He sympathized them saying, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)

“You who love the Lord, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10)

Absolute in His attribute, Holy and pure as He is, and for no uncleans is in Him, our Lord, God is a Good Father. The existence of Him before the creation of the world, for He does so now and forever, He lives in holiness in eternity. Before He created all the creatures by His mercy, He existed by sacred and triune; now also abodes glorified, sanctified and praised; as well will be praised in the future in His kingdom even for the inheritance of His honor and holiness to the Archangels and mankind. He did all this for His mercy, goodness, kindness and holy will.

The Eleventh Month

The eleventh month is known as “Hamele” which is derived from the word “Hamel” meaning “Leaf, foliage, grass, bushfire, sprout, plant,” and “Hamele” means “greenish.” (Aleka Kidane Wolde, page 449)

The naming of this month is derived from the earth which got dew of heaven and the clear natural change. The land which dried and degraded in the winter season will be wet and greenery at the beginning of summer by the rain.

Labeling and its consequences

Labeling is categorizing a body or people by one character, and in terms of that, naming them. Professional experts states it has having numerous attitude. Amongst are its individualistic and socialistically naming people, stereotyping, and the fact about the labelers who present narratives but not the truth about punishing the wrongs. Labeling can be used as a measurement for stigmatization. It is not also a process which can be easily eradicated. It also makes the labelers and the labeled making their own judgment and even commit from hitting to murder.

Physical presence and spiritual absence

We might have heard teachers referring to our present situation in lessons or sermons, saying “your body is present but mind is absent.” This is their way of telling us we are neither listening to them nor following their teaching.

Offerings

There can never be a gift or present we could bestow to God Who is opulent, for all the marvelous work He endowed to the world. The Almighty Lord has created the heavens, the earth and all the gracious creatures in it. The entire universe is under His governance and thus seek no reward from any of His creatures. Yet in expressing gratitude, praise, prayer and love to Him, He wills to accept present from us.

Holy Water

The deeply rooted practice in Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, holy water, known as “Tebel” in Amharic, is a significant element of worship and ritual, believed to have healing and purifying powers. It is used in various ways, including for exorcism, treating illness, and purifying individuals. It can be poured onto people or consumed by drinking. Holy water is sometimes sprinkled on items or people when they are blessed, as part of the prayers of blessing.

The Fast of the Apostles

This fast, also known as the Fast of Peter and Paul in some traditions, is one of the four canonical fasting periods in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and other Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches. It follows the celebration of Pentecost (the descent of the Holy Spirit) and varies in length each year because it begins on the Segno, after Pentecost (which is movable) and ends on 5 Hamle in the Ethiopian calendar), the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

Feast of Paraclete

The Feast of Paraclete is a great feast of the Church, celebrated on the tenth day after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ascended, and also on the fiftieth day from His resurrection. “Paraclete” is an ancient Greek word meaning “Comforter, Counselor, Advocate”; and this refers to the Holy Spirit. This feast is the day on which we commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, the proclamation of the birth of the Church, and the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise.

The Tenth Month

The month of “Sene” is the tenth one amongst the thirteen months of Ethiopian Liturgical Year. The meaning of the word is defined in the spiritual dictionary written by scholars Teacher Kfle Giorgis and Aleka Kidan Woldae and published by Desta Tekel Wolde. They have defined the word derived from “Senye,” to mean “it is beautified, to make two, folding, to put layer, change in appearance and character, to become another, to imitate.” (Aleka Kidan Wolde Kiflea, page 875)