Sermon – Page 15 – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

Does God keep silent?

Now in the world of suffering and happiness, falling and rising, weakness and courage or any other emotions take over our lives turn by turn. This actually is not new. It is said “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33). On top of living a life of Christianity, being human in general has its ups and downs. Being a Christian gives a different perspective in the life of spirituality, so it has far more challenges. The Church is always under suffering. Even in the world of the Angles has been through countless struggles.

The Season of Winter

Dear Children of God, how are you? How is life with your family and your friends? Are you helping your parents with house chorus (house work) in your break time? Children, as we frequently told you, it is important to understand Christian discipline. As the commandment of God says, “Honor your father and mother” that is to obey their rule in the house and elsewhere. (Exodus 20:12)

Children, today we will teach you about the winter season so follow us attentively. There are four kinds of seasons in our country. The first one is spring, the second is summer, the third is autumn and the fourth is winter. We are now in the fourth season which is the rainy season, winter.

The Holy Temple of Saint Mary

The day of the construction of the first Church of Holy Mother Saint Mary in the province of Caesarea, Chalcedon is a holiday. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ built it with three stones without any wood, mud or water.

Holy Gospel

Dear Children of God, how are you? How is the fasting season? Children, fasting is not to consume (eat) food and drink beverages (liquids) for a given period of time. Fasting is the key to heaven and the initiation of righteousness.

Dear Children of God, when we fast it shall be with prayer, prostration (bowing) and attending Divine Liturgy. We must not also forget to attend the school education and be brave student. Ok, good! Children, for this lesson, we will teach you about Holy Gospel.

“You brought us out to rich fulfillment” (Psalm 66:12)

Our Israeli forefathers had gone through severe tribulations and predicaments which Prophet David illustrated in the Holy Bible clearly. He showed us how God took them out from the middle of Fire and Water.

Patience

Most fruitful and ample as it is, patience is filled with endurance and perseverance. As we know it is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Saint James said, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4) The Apostle told us that patience makes us perfect which means to lack nothing. He is saying to ask the Lord for patience which will be given to us.

“You nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another” (Leviticus 19:11)

Mankind shall foremost reckon His creator who is a true and truthful God. if we are to know He is a true God who loves truth, we would be able to tell the truth and live by it as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

The Holy bible teaches us to always speak the truth but not the lie within the life we lead with our parents, elder brothers and sisters, relatives and neighbors in every conversion and discussion saying, “You….., nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. (Leviticus 19:11)

“Emmanuel; God is with us”

Dear Children of God, how are you? How is life at home and at school? Are you being obedient, faithful and brave? Are you helping out your parents, elder brothers and sisters, elderlies at house chorus as well? Do you obey them when they command you to behave and be disciplined at home and at Church? Children, it is a Christians behavior to obey your parents and elder ones. It also pleases God.

Children, when we make God happy and be pleased, He will be present in our lives. He will help us in our hardships, take all the pain and sorrow that happen in our lives. For example, if we have hard time in understanding our education, and pray to Him asking His help, He will make our mind bright and help us understand the course our teacher teach us. If we become very sick and ask His forgiveness, He will heal us. When we get hurt whilst our friends disappoint us, He comforts us and ease our pain.

Liberation

Liberation occurs after the faith of Christianity. We may or may not know we need the freedom unless we are in Christian life. In our Christians journey, where we recognize that we thought is liberty was in fact captivity. It is captivity to our wishes and living to where ever the wind blows. It is our own captivity that we go in the wrong direction, whatever possible direction we could go on.

“He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13)

If there were not things in the world that challenge faith and believe, there would not be talk about endurance. In this generation, we want to be Christians and call God’s name, but seek not to suffer for our Christianity. This is the indication of how alien we are becoming to the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who said “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)