Synagogue
March 22, 2021
The third week of the Great Lent is called Synagogue, to mean “the house appropriated to the religious worship of the Jews.” It is a Holy place for the “congregation or assembly of Jews, met for the purpose of worship or the performance of religious rites” (King James new version Dictionary)
In the Apostasy era, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ went to temple in Jerusalem on Sunday, the third week of Lent. After King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple, the Jews built a synagogue because they did not have a place to study the Law of Torah and for praying. Lord Jesus Christ then, found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” (John 2:14-16)
After wards, Lord Jesus Christ entered into the synagogue, and taught the people, saying, “I love mercy more than sacrifice; I am the Lord of the Sabbath and her Father is merciful, The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. Do not make my father’s house a place of Commerce’s; my house is a house of prayer.
Our Lord Jesus Christ preaching’s in the synagogue is to pray and give alms in the Holy Church, which is the house of God, but not to trade or sell merchandise. We should not place any material on the ground, except Church in the vicinity of the chapels and charities. We should not trade around the Church and on the ground outside of utilities because all the conduct of the Church must be related to only to our soul. What it is said, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it Holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” is regarding this. (Exodus 20:8)
The reason it is said that no work can be done in other places or workplaces, especially on the Sabbath, let alone in the church premises, is to show the sanctity of the Church; When we enter the temple, all our conduct and conduct must be for the service of the church, and no business can be done; It is important to understand this and give due respect.
In some church buildings, however, merchants and some merchants now carry on business, but this is forbidden, so they must stop. They must repent of their sins and seek forgiveness for their sins.
Church leaders and ministers are also expected to condemn this practice and take steps to stop it. Particularly on the Sabbath, the masses were required to stop doing business on the pretext of going to Church. In this great fast that we have begun, we must celebrate all the days, understand and apply preaching of our Lord Jesus in the synagogue. If merchants are members of the Orthodox Incarnation Religion, they are required to observe the day in accordance with the rules of the church and are not allowed to work on the Sabbath and Holidays.
Church scholars should also celebrate the third week of the synagogue, as the Church shall celebrate it. We must participate in Prayer, liturgy, and evangelism, also giving alms to the Church.
In his hymn, Saint Jared explains the teachings of our Lord in the synagogue, “God loves charity more than sacrifice.” To illustrate, consider an example from the Bible. At Caesarea there was a righteous man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian army. His family was God-fearing and kind. Cornelius regularly prayed to God and gave alms.
One day at nine o’clock local time, an Angel of God appeared to him and called him, Cornelius!” and when he saw him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” (Acts 10:1-6)
We need to pray regularly for God to accept our almsgiving. We need to pray fervently for all our good qualities. Prayers, especially in the church, are to be heard. We should also donate regularly to the best of our ability. Like the righteous Cornelius, our prayers and almsgiving need to be built up as a virtue.
Of course, some people have to work long hours just to make ends meet and money is also essential for food and material possessions. But, we must first remember that we need to fear and honor God for it is in His will that we are alive till this day so, we must not forget His mercy. People assume God does watch over during their struggle and does not hear their prayers. But all is in the eyes of the Lord and He feeds all of His creation. He even provides food animals. What is required of us, however, is obedience to the law and obedience to his commands, which will enable us to live in his kingdom.
However, we might not embrace His presence during our tribulations, while defying to the order of the Church. It is important to note that those who violate God’s law not only violate the order of the church but also cause harm to themselves and others.