Handouts
Dear Children of God! How are you? How is your spiritual life with your families and beloved ones? Hope it is pleasant, peaceful and joyful! How was the feast of “Ascension of the Lord,” and “Feast of Debre Mitmaq?” This was dual feast and celebrated colorfully in church! Did you go to the church with your families and beloved ones in spending it joyfully? Hope you did!
Little ones! We have now reached to the “Feast of Pentecost,” which is the “Feast of Holy Spirit.” Then after follows the “Fast of Apostle.” This is a fast that the apostles fasted after Holy Spirit descended upon them. They were given 72 languages to preach (teach the word of God) around the world and make people Christians by baptism.
The apostles fasted and so shall we Christians, by the name of Christ. This year’s fast begins at “Sene 2” and ends “Hamele 5,” at the feast of apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. So, in this season of fast, we do not eat food specifically, egg, milk and other milk products but only fasting foods such as vegetables, fruits and cereals.
Also in this fasting season, we do much good deed and attend the church, the Divine Liturgy. In this time, we shall present handouts, including food, drinks, clothes, shoes, money and other materials. If we feed and water the poor, cloth those in cold and living on the street.
Dear Children of God! if we give handouts to the poor and needy in fast seasons aside praying, fasting and prostrating, our Lord will accept any good deed of us and we will be saved from any harm here on earth as well as from eternal (everlasting) fire.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught us by feeding 5000 people by just only five loaves of bread and two fishes. The Holy Bible sates it as follows;
“As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to Me,” he said. And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves.
Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” (Matthew 14:13-21)
Dear Children of God! You see how important it is to feed people, particularly those who are poor, needy, hungry and living on a street without food, water, clothe and shelter! Our Lord taught us to help one another in time of hardships, poverty and war. The time we are living is the exact age of hard times. We have to have sympathy for others in hunger and different problems so we could pass these difficult years together.
Otherwise we cannot live with one another in peace, unity and joy.
It will be even difficult to live with one another and argument, conflict and war will occur between our families, relatives, neighbors, communities, societies, tribes, nations and all over the globe which turns to world disaster or ending.
Therefore children, we need to care for, have sympathy and love for others just as our Lord taught us. He told us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31) This means to feel sad for them when they do not have food to eat and share what we eat with the hungry; To cloth those who are living in cold streets by sharing our clothes; To give them money in time of difficulties so that they solve their problems.
Children! we hope you are good and obedient children of God, who do all the mention good deeds and give handouts (food, clothes, money and other materials) to the poor people. Then our Lord will be happy about us and give us all the good things we need in our life.
Do not also forget to attend the church where you can give out the handouts to beggars and poor. Also, present alms (Tewafe /rather thin type of candle made of beeswax/, Incense, Candle, Oil, raisin and as such) to the church.
Farewell, we have finished our lesson and hope you have understood all the necessary ideas presented in this topic and apply them in your spiritual lives.
We hope in meeting you next time and remain in peace!
May God be with you; Amen!