In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit One God Amen
Khristos Anesti; Alithos Anesti!
Pi-Ekhrestos Aftonf; Khen O Methmi Aftonf!
Christ is Risen; Truly He is Risen!
Beloved congregations of MVW Diocese,
I congratulate you my beloved, all dear fathers, board of deacons and all servants for the Glorious Feast of Resurrection.
On your behalf, let me congratulate H. H. Pope Tawadros II, all their Eminences the Metropolitans, and their Graces the Bishops, for the resurrection feast.
Blessed Glorious Feast of Resurrection to all!
This feast is the second Resurrection Feast in a row in which we have not been allowed to attend church because of the Pandemic.
The Feast without you, my beloved, is not a joyful feast!
We truly miss praying all together! It is so hard to pray the The Holy Week and the Resurrection Feast without our beloved congregation!
We are praying and asking God to lift up the Pandemic, to cure all those who are sick, and grant comfort and condolences to all families who lost loved ones.
Dear beloved, the Church teaches us that the Feast of Resurrection is the most important Church celebration and it surpasses all other feasts. As St. Paul the Apostle said: “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” (1Cor. 15:4)
Without the Resurrection of our Lord, there would be no meaning to Christianity.
What did the Resurrection do to humanity? What has changed in people’s lived as a result to the Lord Jesus Christ’s Resurrection?
1- The first blessing is that nothing is impossible:
Mary and Martha’s feelings after the death of their brother Lazarus, the one who had been in the tomb for four days and who had started to rot, were that it is impossible to raise him.
Lazarus after Jesus raised him from the dead, he died again. However, Jesus Christ in His Resurrection defeated death by death with His eternal Life and after that there is no more death.
St. Paul the Apostle looked at the power of Christ’s Resurrection and exclaimed saying, “O Death, where is your sting?” (1Cor.15:55)
Resurrection gave people a mighty power as death was destroyed before them.
Everything is possible to the believer. That is the power of the Resurrection, which will help you overcome any struggles victoriously. As for you, the Lord will help you experience how faith challenges the impossibilities that face you.
2- The second blessing is the longing for eternal life:
Love of Eternal Life makes people long for something bigger than life, superior to matter and deeper than any desire.
Saints considered Earth as an alien world. They considered their life as though it was in transit heading towards the Heavenly abode. The place from which sadness, depression and groaning have disappeared. The place where there is no sin or hatred and conflict among people, but rather Love, Joy and Peace.
3- The blessing of the joys of Resurrection:
Resurrection turned our sorrow into joy and made our lives joyful in the Lord. Many are the pleasures of life, but the Joys of Resurrection are of a different kind.
St. John, the Beloved said, “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20). Be assured my beloved that if the Lord allows you to carry the Cross with Him, then the day will come when you will enjoy the Joy of Resurrection with Him here on earth and in Heaven.
How joyful it is to be in the presence or the Lord!
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:20)
It is beautiful, my beloved, that we rejoice in the risen Christ! The Victorious over death, and Who, by His Resurrection gave us victory over Satan, and Resurrection from death caused by sin.
Accordingly, our Beloved teacher, St. John said:
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled,” (1 John 1:1)
It is such a great joy when we feel that we are in the presence of the Lord; therefore, it is most appropriate not to allow the worries of the world to occupy our minds when we are in His presence.
In the Church, the House of God: we bow down in reverence, we pray in reverence, and we stand up with faith and respect due to the House of God.
Happy is the man who enjoys being in the presence of the Lord. Do not start your day nor end it before you enjoy your presence with God in your morning and evening prayers.
May the blessings of resurrection fill your life!
Wishing you a glorious Feast of Resurrection!
— His Grace Bishop Mina
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