Our Lord Jesus told us in the Gospel of John (Chapter 10) about his relationship with us and resembled it with the relationship of the shepherd and the sheep. It is a resemblance that was also repeated many times in the Old Testament, “I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick… And feed them in judgment… You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 34:15-16, 31), “Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand… He will feed His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” (Isaiah 40:10, 11)

+ In Christianity, salvation means the final triumph, being delivered from the dominion of Satan, and enjoying eternal life in the kingdom of God in which there is new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells.

The blood-spattered events of the crucifixion left the disciples in a frightened and painful state of mind. Terrified from the enraged Jews who plotted and conspired to kill the Lord Jesus and disperse away His followers, the disciples fled and hid away. This was their hour- When darkness reigns, as mentioned by the Lord Jesus (Luke 22:53).

In late 1972 at the beginning of the pontiffacy of Pope Shenouda III, may the Lord protect his precious life, His Holiness sent a church delegation to visit the monks in the monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul to make sure they are in good living and spiritual conditions during the war that was taking place at that time. The Red Sea region, under the Israeli occupation of Sinai, was considered a military zone, and it had a restricted access that required a permit from the army. Therefore, the monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul were almost in a complete isolation and under very difficult living conditions.

Repentance is the greatest of all things man can do on earth. It is the everlasting message of the church, and the purpose of the divine work of God within Her. Repentance was pivotal in the ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2). It was the main focus of the ministry of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 4:17) as well as the Apostle’s (Matthew 4:17), and it is the main goal of any ministry.

I would like to start talking about obedience with an interesting and related interview with one of the church spiritual fathers. The title of the dialogue was:

When Jacob fled from his brother Esau and went to his uncle Laban, he met with God for his first time (Gen 28), when He appeared to him in a vision at night on a great ladder extended from heaven to earth. God spoke to him, comforted him, and promised him with care and success. When Jacob woke up in the morning he was full of fear and said: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it… How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” (Gen 28:16, 17)

1- During bowing down in prostration

- It’s a heart that has room for many people and many things.

This fact is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit on the mouth of our teacher Paul, the Apostle, in his last imprisonment (2 Timothy 2:9). His hands were chained and the evil enemy thought that he was able to silence him, paralyze his movement, and limit his ministry. Nonetheless, the word of God itself cannot be chained, regardless of the unfair and unrelenting practices which Satan’s tries to impose on us. Despite his restricted movement, Saint Paul was a beacon of light, force of love, powerful giver and teacher even when he was in prison. If people were able to visit him, he would speak to them about eternal life. When he was completely isolated, he would write spiritual Epistles that overflow with words of grace and comfort.

Faith is a fundamental virtue in the life of every Christian, and it is the basis of strife, conduct, and interactions. As the Scripture says: “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). Faith is the basis of spiritual life. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

We constantly need to evaluate our method in raising our children, so we may improve upon our shortcomings in what we offer them, and to avoid serious mistakes early on in their lives that may cause deep wounds and leave permanent scars.