Sermon – Page 20 – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

“Lord, you now dismiss your servant in peace as you have promised” (Luke 2:29)

The story of Saint Symeon witnessing the Birth of Lord Jesus Christ enlightens the value of time. When Saint Joseph and Saint Mary bring the infant Jesus to the Temple and they bring with them a sacrifice of turtledoves. Before they can accomplish this though, Saint Symeon meets them at the entrance. There Symeon says, “Lord, you now dismiss your servant in peace as you have promise for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:29)

Entreaty

Entreaty according to the King James Dictionary is “To make an earnest petition or request” People make entreaties for a variety of reasons. For example they say, “If God hears my heartache; I will do this it for him. If Saint Mary hears my vows or supplications, I will submit an umbrella for the service of Church.” Or else they promise to give as much their capacity. When their vows were fulfilled, they say, “Our Lady has given what I pleaded.” They submit an umbrella as an entreaty in her for honor in the Church.

Hope in God

The Hope in God is unshakeable and basically confidence in Him. Every humans hope in reaching our destiny is unquestionable if God is on our side. So, our hope depends on how much strength we have to hold on to His hands. Even if we are in a bad situation and circumstances, God is will heaves us through. We hope and pray that one step in our lives would be the stepping stone to our future.

Gospel

A Gospel narrates life of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of Nazareth, his teachings and all the miracles He perform. His life is a form of foundations of the Christian faith. Lord Jesus Christ chose four Apostles from the 12; Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke and Saint John, known as the four Evangelists to write his stories in the Holy Bible.

“Be aware of False Prophets” (Matthew 7:15)

False prophets strive to weaken Holy Church deceiving laities with lack of faith; some might fail while others do not. Lord Jesus gives preference to the some as Prophets, preserving the truth and to the many lost: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!” and He promises His faithful His Godly protection from spiritual wolves, saying: “And I will give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Luke 12:32, John 10:28)

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56)

Father Abraham rejoicing was witnessed during the apostasy era after his desire to see the day of the revelation of LORD Jesus Christ. His spiritual diligence in addition to his grace was immense. He welcomed people as his guests and nurtures them in his tent. Discerning this, Enemy Satan distorted the truth so that guests would not go to Abraham’s house, pretending to be stoned saying, “Do not go to Abraham’s house. He is not the Abraham you knew; I went to his house thinking that He would nurture me, but, look at the blood that comes down from my head after he stoned me. Don’t go to his house.”

“The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death” (Psalm 118:18)

Chastening is to correct by punishment as it is written in the bible, “I will chasten him with the rod of men.” It is also to inflict pain for the purpose of reclaiming an offender; as, to chasten a son with a rod; and it is stated, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” (2 Samuel 7:14, Revelation 3:19)

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate” (Luke 13:24)

The Luke’s Gospel states these words of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as written in the Holy bible. Whilst He was walking in every city and village, one man asked him a question. “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” Then, Lord Jesus said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”

Spiritual Food

Lord Jesus Christ taught about food and drink in the John Gospel during the apostasy era. When HE went to the city of Sychar in Samaria and arrived at Jacob’s well, Lord Jesus met a Samaritan woman and asked her, “Give me a drink”. Later, towards the end of the passage we hear, In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” …

Destiny

The true destiny of mankind Adam was to be tested in the garden by setting a limitation, by not eating of one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the condition reserved for God himself…