The Disciples & Our Hour of Darkness!

One disciple ran away leaving his garments in the soldiers hands!
Another disciple was furious and used his sword to defend himself, and defend Christ!
Most other disciples were too afraid to follow Christ, they ran away and hided themselves.
One still followed Christ, but at one stage he denied Christ!
Only one followed Christ to the Cross, in silence!

Sometimes, the first watch of night passes, and the second then the third, and it is almost the end of the fourth watch: we are still struggling in our boat, fighting waves, winds and rain! We - partially - loose faith! Even when we see Christ at this point, walking on water, we think it cannot be truly Him, it must be a Ghost!

Sometimes Christ is asleep - in peace - in our boat, but it is stormy outside and we are actually sinking! We again think we *need* to awaken Christ up.

Well, sometimes Christ just wants to grant us the spiritual level of believing in Him, while He is still on the cross, and it doesn't seem it will reach to an end!


When following Christ means our death, of this world! Everything looks wrong around us. Nothing that we can see that this may lead to our good at the end. No sign that this is for the glory of God's name, nor the benefit of any person. We therefore loose faith in Him, and start asking Him: if you are the Son of God, get down of the cross!

But it seems that this is exactly the point: God wants us to keep our faith, in meekness and tranquility - and may be in pain - until death! Didn't He love us to the end, to the death of the Cross? But He received no reward for doing so, but we surely are rewarded! The disciple who followed Christ to the end of the Cross, deserved to be called: the beloved. Deserved to see the revelation! Reserved to be given the ever Holy St. Mary, the Mother of God, as his mother! The key is: St. John followed Christ having faith in Him even during agony and the hours of darkness, with no exact request from Christ: to save him, to get down of the cross, nor any other request. The complete simple faith: I know you are the Son of God, and I trust you not caring to see the outcome, and I follow you, even if that leads to my worldly-death!

The even greater news is that there is still hope for all disciples, even the right-hand thief! After all, they all became the Apostles who spread the faith in Christ in the whole world! Each of them received the proper treatment to restore their faith!

So, if you are going through the hours of darkness, remember the disciples and ask God to grant you this: to believe in Him through the Cross, not expecting or requesting anything! Remembering Job, his suffer and God's answer to Him helps. God said:
        (1) I AM love, so trust that I love you,
        (2) I AM Wisdom, so trust I know what is best for you, and
        (3) I AM The Almighty, so trust I can achieve for you what is for the best!

May God touch the hearts of us all, especially during dark hours of cross, that we may have life in Christ, which is Joy in Him!

4th of July - the sad side

July 4th 2015, around 11:15 PM, we aspirate thanking God that the concert ended. But that is not the end of the story.

At 8:30 AM, the folks of 4th Annual Island Reggae Festival at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds started preparing and testing their drums and their mics, to wake us up with unpleasant headache. Happy 4th of July! 

But real noise kicks off couple hours later. Inside the house, with all double-pane windows shut, we can still hear the music and the singers as if we are next to the stage. And they just go on and on. Till 9 PM, when my toddler's bed-time come, and the headache totally consumed us, I decided to call the police. And here the even more-sad story begins.

In short, we have been calling the police until 10:35 when we got to talk to someone to take in my complaint. A deputy officer calls at 10:55 PM to say they will be done soon, they have a permit and there is nothing much you to do about it! Well, music lasted for 20 minutes after that conversation, and the illegal firework continued in the first few hours of the following AM (they are going on as I write). Many families complain about these illegal fireworks and how they terrify children, pets, and everybody in fact!

How come the Fairgrounds got such a permit to disturb people's enjoyment of their own homes? This sounds like typical under development society behavior. How come police does nothing and how come I got so much hard time to talk to the police? This is exactly the same behavior as the Egyptian police hotline in Egypt during the 2011 revolution, they had no one answering the hot lines!

WOW! What happened to the American society? 10 years ago, I - as an immigrant from Egypt - was super happy with the fact that in USA there is a System and everyone follows the rule, automatically. I mean, without really needing someone, some officer, to ask them to abide by the rules. To me, that was the major difference that makes USA a better place. But since I moved to CA 3 years ago, I have been encountering incidents that keeps raising this question in my heart: why then did I immigrate? In what capacity is America better?

In 4th of July, I would love to bring to American's attention that America is never a better place because of opportunity, American dream, or even nature or natural resources. America has been always a better place because of Americans, and their behavior. Let us fix it!

Beginning of The End

It is amazing to have the reedings today, 3rd Sun of Coptic month Paoni, talks about condemnation, giving Sodom and Gomora as an example, right after devil's victory of forcibly legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide last Friday (Jun 26. 2015) & the - used to be - white house lighted up in rainbow colors.  

How shall we react to this? Is it time to flee Sodom? Or is it time to fight back against evil? 

My first reaction was: it is time to flee Sodom, since - reading through the history - nations rise-up, become great and "lead" the world, then they decay. Biblical-ly, God raises nations, or allow it to rise - even un-Godly ones - to achieve His Holy purposes (condemnation, chance to repent, blessing or protection to righteous, etc.). Then when the nation relates its success to its own power, and turns away from God, or refuses God, it collapses. Examples from the Bible include Babel, Persia, Greece, and Roma. One would spend an article to write about these nations, how they fulfilled God's purposes and how they decayed. But we know that this rule continues until today, and we know from the book of revelation that this will happen at end-of-days.

America, which I love a lot and owe her a lot, was founded based on Christian values and rules, especially religious freedom. Recently, America is denying that, denying God and even trespassing God. The religious freedom has turned into No-Christianity, and even Anti-Christianity. So is USA about to collapse? Economically it started, almost nothing you buy today that is 'made in USA'. Politically, thanks to Obama, USA stepped down from being the world leader, or even a party to worry about. Socially, at least in California, it is not that safe organized society any longer. Naturally, we suffer serious drought in the west. But what is more important, and what really matters is that Spiritually, USA is turning its back to God.

Reacting to evil societies is more sensitive when you have children to raise. Many of us immigrated to USA for religious freedom and for a better quality of life. But if our stay in USA means our loss of eternal life, or putting our children in front of a stumbling rock, then what is the point of staying here? We came seeking better life, but we end up losing life!

However, today's readings, gives another dimension to the perspective. It does not necessarily change my mind of fleeing Sodom, but it definitely gives me assurance that God is in charge. The Catholic Epistle reading today was from 2nd Epistle of St. Peter, it reads: 

"For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord." (2Peter 2:4-11)

So may be we should stay in Sodom to be their "warning prophets", their Jeremiah... or may be we should flee... that does not matter. What matters is whether we end up staying in Sodom until its turns into ashes, or if we flee for our life, we should abide in Christ, and He knows how to save us, perfectly and timely!

Blessed Week!

Humility Nuggets - 4

For silence in presence of the wise, is wisdom.

"Who sold Joseph? Abba John said, 'Who sold Joseph?' They replied saying, 'It was his brethren.' The old man said, 'No, it was his humility which sold him, because he could have said, "I am their brother" and have objected, but, because he kept silence, he sold himself by his humility. It is also his humility which set him up as chief in Egypt.' " (Abba John The Dwarf) 

St. Makarius (or St. Anthony the great in other versions of this story) in one of his contemplations said that he saw demon's lures scattered all over the earth and asked, "Lord, who can escape it?" And following this question, St. Makarius/Anthony heard a voice answering, "The humble will."

"Be humble so that God guards and strengthens you, because God looks to the humble. Be humble so that God fills you with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, because it is written that He guides the humble and teaches His ways to the meek. Be humble in order to be joyful, because joy goes hand in hand with humility." (St. Pachomius)

"For demons can defeat the strong, but they cannot defeat the weak" (Pope Shenouda III)

Humility Nuggets - 3

In Humility Nuggets -1 post, we argued that the human role of attaining the virtue of humility is to become an Icon of Christ. One crucial step towards being humble enough that we may no longer live, but Christ may live  in us, is a process of reordering of our priorities.

Simply, but very hard to do, is to place everyone else, and their wishes or plans, on a higher rank priority than that of mine. This is exactly what the Bible commands us: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Philippians 2:3 NKJV). In fact, the Arabic translation of this verse suggests that each one should esteem the other better than how the other esteems himself! It goes that far.

In order to practically esteem others better than ourselves we simply need to continuously, and with joy, to think of the other, and their needs and/or plans, before we consider ourselves and our own needs or plans. Every single time I start planning something to do, I should pause, take a step back, and consider "the other" needs and check if what I am about to do would help the other's plan or not. "The other" here is mainly everyone I serve. By serve, I mean spiritual service; let it be organized ministry in a church, a hidden private service, an open breaching service, or an everyday service. And we are called to spiritually serve each person we meet, every day, all the time, by being salt and light.

That was my role, the labor. The Lord grace will then do take care of enabling me to do so esteem others better than myself, until it feels effortless and by default. Also, it is God's grace that I do so in joy!

Humility Nuggets - 2

"Permit it to be so now" (Matthew 3:15)

Blessed Theophany feast! The verse above shows the meekness of our Lord Jesus Christ as he respects the will of St. John the Baptist. Respecting other's will and freedom is at the core of meekness, which is the apparent fruit of the inner humility of the heart. It is so true that we are called to respect other's will even if their will and freedom is against our own will as when our Lord Jesus accepted jews' rejection. For yet He was crucified to save those who did not accept His will [Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34]. Even if the other's will is at conflict with our own goals, we still need to respect it. "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also." (Matthew 5:40) Further, we need to respect other's will even if it is in conflict with their well-being from our perspective, as when our Lord Jesus respected the will of people of Gergesenes who asked Him to depart after He healed the demon-possessed man [Matthew 8:28-33]

In order to be able to accept and respect other's will, we need to first learn to accept and respect our own will! In other words, we realize our, and others, limits and respect it. Like when Jesus healed the people of Capernaum and then He left them while they were seeking Him. Our benevolent Lord did not ignored their will, for He did respond to them, but He have had set a limit beforehand, and when the limit was reached, it was time to serve His own spirituality to be able to continue serving, and it was also time to move on to preach other cities:  "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, 'Everyone is looking for You.' But He said to them, 'Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.' " (Mark 1:35-38) Fr. Anthony Messeh comments on this very verse in his talk about dealing with overly needy people (here) that it is like when w e ride an airplane and we are instructed that in case of emergency we should put oxygen masks on us first, only then we are able to help others who need help.

It should make perfect sense that if our own privacy is continuously prevailed, we have no concept of respecting others privacy. Similarly, if our own freedom and will are not respect, we end up having no concept of respecting others freedom and will. And if we don't respect others freedom and will, then we are not yet quite humble nor meek.

"Not driving chariots, like the rest of the kings, not demanding tributes, not thrusting men off, and leading about guards, but displaying His great meekness even hereby."  (St. John Chrysostom)

Humility Nuggets - 1

Checkout the icon below. How do we call it?

You probably got it right, it is the Theotokos (i.e., Mother of God) icon.

About a week ago, my wife and I just moved to our home in CA. As we unpack, she started placing magnet icons on the refrigerator on the shape of the cross. The main magnet was of the Theotokos, while the other magnets were for martyrs and saints. I then said: we should have one more for daddy Jesus Himself, He is more important. Then I was immediately, thanks to God, struck with the following 2 facts:

1. The Theotokos Icon is actually of Baby Jesus! St. Mary got her title of Theotokos only because God, Jesus, is in the picture! How come I oversaw Him? How many times and many faithful and righteous people do stare at the Theotokos Icon and only speak to St. Mary, as if God is not in the picture?! How many times we seek saints intersession and seek miracles, overseeing God, Jesus, who is in fact the main actor in the icon, and the saint's story behind the icon, as well as in any miracle any saint would do! I have always thought that humility is to be out of the picture. I realized yet another deeper dimension of humility. Humility is to not only be in the picture, but even the main character of the picture, yet be unseen or overseen.  This is God's humility!

2. St. Mary, Pope Cyril 6th, St. George, St. Mina, St. Philopater,  Mother Irini, etc., ... all whom we call saints, they were all humble enough to live no longer they live, but Christ in them. If we look closely to read each and every Icon, we will in fact see Christ Himself. This is our, mankind, ever long aimed humility.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, butChrist lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) NKJV

Duties.. no rights!

Matthew 22:37-39

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Although it is straight plain clear, it is still a striking discovery to most Christians that our Lord Jesus Christ left us some duties, but no rights. For His will was to love one another as he has loved us and that is how people recognize us being His disciples [John 13:34,35]. For practical everyday life, this will maps down to duties but no rights!

My duty is to love, unconditionally. I am called to love everyone and this love should be incarnated into my treatment with everyone! That is I am ought to love and hence:  serve my critical spouse, obey my obnoxious boss, smile at my phlegmatic neighbor, deal normally with homosexual people, deal fairly with Muslim brotherhood people (given that I am Coptic from Egypt), provide a hand to the elder lady trying to cross the street, let the way for the teenager driver trying to pass me, be patient at the cashier,  pray for the corrupt leaders, sustain immorality, and the list goes forever. All this should come out of love, and yet, the most difficult part that we typically oversight (at least I did for so many years) is that we have NO RIGHTS IN EXCHANGE!!

This is so true and clear in the marital relationship. It is also the most mis-concieved will of God, probably because the duties are different. As the church commands the wife and husband on the matrimony ceremony:

+ to the wife the church commands: "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22)

+ whereas the command to the husband is: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her" (Ephesians 5:25)

God will here is clear: woman, submit to your husband unconditionally. This is your duty. Man, give up yourself for your wife, unconditionally. This is your duty. Both deeds should spring out of deep love: a wife loves her husband as the church loves Christ, and a husband loves his wife as Christ loves the church. The question a husband asks himself then is: what are the husband rights? What should he expect in exchange after he gives himself for his wife? The answer is actually: NOTHING. Yet, poor he, mistakenly thinks that his right is his wife's submission. Which is not true. Because when Christ loved the church, He loved her with all her pitfalls, and He gave Himself up for her to save her, without expecting any love back. Until today, how many people (for whom Christ gave up Himself on the cross to save) are still far from Him? Not only many people are refusing to submit to Christ, but they also deny Him, yet they fight against Him and His kingdom! Christ still loves them though, and continues to send His daily blessings (such as life and breath!) until this very moment! And He will continue to do so. This is exactly how a husband is expected to love his wife.

St. John Chrysostom interprets [On Ephesians, Homilie 20] these wills as follows. To husbands: "Take then yourself the same provident care for her, as Christ takes for the Church. Yea, even if it shall be needful for you to give your life for her, yea, and to be cut into pieces ten thousand times, yea, and to endure and undergo any suffering whatever—refuse it not." 

Then to wives: "And Paul would never without a reason and without an object have spent so much pains on this subject, as when he says here, Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. And why so? Because when they are in harmony, the children are well brought up, and the domestics are in good order, and neighbors, and friends, and relations enjoy the fragrance. But if it be otherwise, all is turned upside down, and thrown into confusion. And just as when the generals of an army are at peace one with another, all things are in due subordination, whereas on the other hand, if they are at variance, everything is turned upside down; so, I say, is it also here. Wherefore, says he, Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."

He explains then in more details the motives behind such commandment to wives and then concludes:  "Let us take as our fundamental position then that the husband occupies the place of the head, and the wife the place of the body." The reader is referred to this enlightening and  edifying homily by St. Jon Chrysostom on Ephesians (here) for more with regard to the duties of a husband and a wife. But this is just one example of the duties one has, as a will of God, with no rights. Let us take another example briefly.

God gave us the duty to do charity: "for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’" (Matthew 25:35,36) This example is more clear to show how it is duties with no rights. Nothing is offered in exchange by whom we offer love in form of charity. No duties are on the naked person we clothe, the sick we visit, etc. Our duty is to love the person, out of our love to Christ Himself, or as if that person is Christ Himself, and then our charity deed will spring out of our love.

This is our duty: to love. And therefore, when one sits down to see how well s/he is doing, one should only look at her/his duties and how well they are accomplished. Is that exhausting? Yes and No. Yes if we think we have rights and try to ignore them. But No if we realize that we have no rights. Our rights are in fact with Christ only. Since He is the one who asked us to do these things. But if we think deeper, we will realize that we have no rights with Christ, in fact, we are in debt with His eternal Love! That is to say, He already provides, and will continue to provide, our rights!

One, not Two

Most people think of marriage to be the norm, while monasticism to be the extreme. They are mistaken. Some people even think of one way to be right, or up, and the other to be left or down, and those are extremists themselves, and are mistaken. Enlightened people think of them as two parallel paths, and those are the closest to truth, but it is not quite true that marriage and monasticism are two parallel paths. Truth is that they are one path, not two!

Marriage and Monasticism are one path in the sense that one is traveling up a hill towards heaven. Multitudes of Christians are all traveling up this same path up the hill, which is narrow and difficult, require alertness, humility , self denial, perseverance and fixed eye on Christ.

Truth is that both are the one way of living eternity on earth. It just happens that some people choose to walk, hike, up the hill, while others prefer to run. Clearly if you choose to run, you will excerpt much more effort, and you risk more sever falls, should you fall, or getting tired and being forced to take "a rest", which might cause delays longer than if you have walked. Walking, you risk less, but it will take a bit longer. Walking allows you to enjoy accompany though, for two can walk hand in hand, but a runner cannot but run by her/himself.

By definition, the main difference however is that while running, your both legs get detached from the ground, you leap flying in air momentarily and continuously. If you walk, even if you speed up, you have to have one leg attached to the ground. In walking races, if a walker get both legs detached, they are disqualified for they did run!

Why would any one walk, you might wonder? Well, not all people were created as runners, or have the proper fitness to run. But most probably, some people enjoy walking over running, especially for the accompany and sharing with other, especially the walking-partner, the beautiful scenic path. Or it could be the case that they were never trained for running, and never sought after it.

After all, it is a matter of choice which way you want to climb up the same hill!
After all, walking or running, we do nothing but in Christ!
After all, running or walking, we seek to live eternity on earth, and live in Christ eternally!

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way" (John 14:6)

My Secret

Yes, my beloved, it is about the time to endorse you my will, for I know that my departure is coming soon. Please don’t cry or be sad, for this time, my death is something I look forward to. Last time, it was different. Ah! Let me tell you my secret, why should I keep it and I am leaving soon? Here is the story; I pray it may help someone… someday.

Things were just fine when all of a sudden I got infected with a sever fever that took way longer than usual. I started to faint and became really scared that death is approaching. But all that was nothing compared to the terrible feeling of being left out alone. My sisters sent to my beloved. We didn’t hear back a response. That was an awful feeling. With every minute passing, thoughts play in my mind refreshing the happy memories of the time we spent together that it all was in vain, that it was all with no real love; my beloved just did forsake me. I couldn’t believe it.

I wondered if I committed any mistake or did something wrong? Is there a certain message my beloved is trying to deliver to me? How could my beloved be so cruel? At every corner in the house, as my eye roams, there is a beautiful memory. In every street in the town, we did walk together, we were about to become one! We were about to unite! What happened?! I was about to submit my whole life to my beloved, but where is my beloved now?! By night on my bed I sought whom my soul love, but I found him not [Song of Sol. 3:1].

My sisters tried to medicate me; they tried to restore my confidence in my beloved, that there should be a really good excuse. In vain were all their trials, I couldn’t accept any good reason would let my beloved forsake me in my sickness. My beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer [Song of Sol. 5:6].

Now my throat is dried, and I am lying down on bed, and everyone I know is around me, supporting and comforting, but nothing was comforting as long as my beloved is absent. Finally, I closed my eye…. and all of a sudden, I felt my self very light. All body pains are gone, and I am being taken to somewhere where the suffering of loneliness and darkness where even more harsh than the pain of sickness. In addition, I couldn’t but thinking of my beloved who forsake me. Oh! How much I missed my beloved! I started to pray: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1) “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?” (Psalm 13:1) “We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.” (Lam 3:42). And I heard no response!

After being desperate for a while, I started to inspect myself to see if I sinned against my beloved, I couldn’t find anything. I prayed with Job: “my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me” (Job 31:35). Even for that I got no answer.

I remembered my sisters were saying: there should be a good reason. I started to wonder if there is a certain message I am missing. I started to pray: Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes. Blessed are You, O Lord; make me to understand Your commandments. Blessed are You, O Lord; enlighten me with Your righteousness. Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever. Despise not, O Lord, the works of Your hands. You have been my refuge from generation to generation.

I kept crying and whining all the time, my heart was so heavy with sorrow with no comfort. At end, I gave up. I prayed: “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.” (Jeremiah 10:23,24)

I was totally hopeless when all of a sudden a drop of wept of my beloved touched me! When a voice reached my ear, a voice that brought all joy to me, a voice that restored me even though I still didn’t get an answer of any of my questions, it is that voice full of joy of my beloved calling me: “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43)

I felt myself heavy with body again, and walking, but still see nothing, then heard the voices of my sisters and many people glorifying God! Then you know the rest of the story, how after Our Lord Jesus resurrected, I was blessed to serve Him as a Bishop for Cyprus. You too my children, when you seek God’s will, don’t seek knowing God’s will or even how it shall come true, but rather just seek from your heart that His will be done, and leave it to Him, the Almighty, how and when to achieve it. When you are under pain and afflictions, wait in faith the four days until He comes, because He shall come in the perfect time. The four days might seem forever, but they are not. Be faithful, He never forsakes us, and He feels all pain we go through; He weeps with us. But because He is The Wisdom, He knows when is the best to stretch the hand of support.

“I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jonah 2: 2, 7, 9)

Joyous Merry Christmas

Beloved in Christ,

While Christmas season is a very pleasant one, it is - alas - also a very depressing season for those who go through hardship, or are lonely, during this blissful time. As blissful it is, the harsh it is. I have been there myself, regretfully, and I did spend some sad Christmas.

While it makes sense for me to be depressed when I am at hardship on time of happiness, it is contrary to the true meaning of Christmas, and shows the absence - in my mind at least - of the real reason for being joyous on Christmas, which is HOPE: "Rejoicing in hope" (Romans 12:12 - NKJV) Christmas is a season of joy because it is the season of hope. And I owe this correction to a friend, who is receiving this email.

"And now abide faith, hope and love" (1 Corinthians 13:13 - NKJV)
While it is a biblical will that I should abide in faith, absolutely and regardless of my status, mode or condition, it is not something I can do, rather it is a gift. "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13 - NKJV) And in order to receive any gift from God, we need to simply ask for it "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7 - NKJV). But we also need to know that if we ask something bad, i.e., won't help us in the path our salvation, we wont receive [St. James Epistle] and that we should seek the kingdom of heaven above any other request, even above seeking virtues [St. Matthew Gospel].


So, how can I, while I am going through this terrible hardship, abide in hope, and even rejoice in that hope? Well, take time OFF, depart the world and its cares for few minutes, and spend with God some time contemplating in the Glorious Baby. Go to the Nativity scene, and take yourself in a journey 2000 years back and imagine yourself with the Magi searching for the Glorious Baby. You start by searching the royal palace of Judea, He is not there. You ask the jewish priests, and they don't know. You go to the classy neighborhoods, you can not find Him. You roam the city and after you are tired, after you reach your limits and exhaust all your energy, you lift up your eyes and heart to, or in, the sky to find His star to lead you to Him!

Where is He? In a manager! King of Kings, Lord or Lords, in a manager! Yet this is the least sacrifice He did. What I cannot yet comprehend is that He who is above time, emptied Himself, and put Himself subject to time and its constraints! My beloved, how many day dreams of power did we imagine if we have a time machine?! Or that if we can make only one visit to the future, or to the past to make one simple change that would change the world?! Imagine if you have a time machine, and you give it up for the sake of someone you love! This might be somehow close to what our Benevolent Loving God Jesus Christ did for us, for me, and for you, each by name! This is the source of all hope, that He LOVES YOU SO VERY MUCH! "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 15:13 - NKJV)

But there is yet more good news, or divine promise, that Christmas brings to those of us who are in hardship. Not only does God loves me, but He also demonstrated throughout human history, throughout the Bible, but more importantly throughout MY past, the He is The Wisdom, and The Almighty! [Job chapters 39-42] In Christmas, we are more delightfully reminded that God has a perfect plan for us, for "when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law" (Galatians 4:4). And there is the fullness of time for everything: "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

I invite myself, and invite you, this very Christmas to take this journey inside my/your heart, staring at His star in heaven, searching for a manager to host the Glorious Baby, to realize the joy of living the fact that under all circumstances; in poverty or richness, in health or sickness, in success or repeated trials for success, in north or south, east or west, day or night, only one thing matter: to be with Him.

Have a Blessed, Joyous, and Merry Christmas!

Apostolic Age - Ministry

"So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor wth all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:46,47 NKJV)

Reading the Book of Acts, one stands amazed in front of the the ministry (i.e., service) in the apostolic age, which enjoyed many blessed merits! Specifically, the service in the apostolic age was, among other merits:

+ Prayerful [Acts 1:14, Acts 2:42, Acts 3:1, Acts 4:24, Acts 12:5, Acts 16:16]

+ Praiseful [Acts 2:47, Acts 16:25]

+ Liturgical [Acts 2:42, Acts 2:46, Acts 16:5, Acts 20:7, Acts 2]

+ Oneness of spirit [Acts 4:32, Acts 5:12]

+ Meekness and obedience [Acts 8:26, Acts 9:10-17, ]

+ Led by the Holy Spirit, and full submission to God [Acts 8:29, Acts 10:19, Acts 13:2, Acts 15:28, Acts 16:6, etc.]

and therefore it was:

+ Joyous in midst of tribulations [Acts 5:41, Acts 13:52]

+ Powerful [Acts 4:31, Acts 4:33, Acts 13:10,11]

+ Continuous [Acts 2],

+ Miraculous [Acts 3, Acts 5:12, Acts 9:33,34, Acts 9:37-40, Acts 12:11, Acts 19:11,12], and

+ Zealous

While these all merits are different aspects of ministry, they are all essentially rooted, or rather blossoms out of the same virtue: strong love towards God and towards His creature. Each of these merits is a subject by itself to meditate and discuss. In this article, we focus on the Holy Zeal in ministry [1].

"Cursed is he who does the work of God with slackness" (Jeremiah 48:10 - SEV)

We will try to answer three questions: (1) what is the holy zeal & what are its symptoms? (2) why is holy zeal important to my service? and (3) how to attain the holy zeal in my ministry?

What is Holy Zeal

Holy Zeal is a fiery spirit; a fire of purification that eats the sin, a fire of jealous love towards people, a fire of submissive love towards God.

The Holy Zeal is that fire that first eats up the sin in my heart, this is the essential first step in the spiritual path which is yet a gift of God the Holy Spirit. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ commanded the apostles to wait until they are first baptized by the Holy Spirit [Acts 1:6], Who appeared in form of divided tongues, as of fire [Acts 2:4]. The best example is when our Lord Jesus Christ made a wipe of chord and drove the sellers and money chargers out of the temple. We are the temple of God [1Corinthians 3:16], and when the apostles saw this they recalled the verse of the psalm: "the zeal for Your house shall consume Me". (Psalm 69:9). Similarly, the Holy Spirit moves in us a fire of repentance to drive out of our hearts all envy, temptation, hypocrisy, malice and the remembrance of evil [Liturgy of St. Basil].

The Apostles ministry was based on this fire of continuous repentance, and they always called others to do like them. For as we grow in repentance, the fiery spirit of repentance grows in us a fire of jealous love towards mankind. Jealous here means that we love them, and care about their salvation so much to the extent that - as if - we feel jealous if they don't care about their own salvation, or simply put, are away from God. St. Paul epistles are full of examples to demonstrate this trait of the Apostles ministry. For instances;

+"Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?" (2Corinthians 11:29)

+ "For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen[a] according to the flesh"(Romans 9:3)

When we have such loving fire of zeal, we imitate our Lord Jesus Christ who "who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1Timothy 2:4), "For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29)

The main motives behind the apostle fiery spirit in repentance, i.e., hating sin, and in calling all the world to repent, i.e., loving people, is their fiery love to God. A servant is essentially a person who tasted the mercy of God, and God's love towards mankind, which ignites a fiery love back towards God, towards his children, towards all mankind and all the creature. That is, through repentance, one realizes the immaculate love of God and the sweetness of His fellowship. Then the servant roams proclaiming "be reconciled to God" (2Corinthians 5:20), seeking God's Kingdom, forsaking the world and its matters, fully submitting to God in love, chanting in joy with the psalmist "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You." (Psalm 73:25)

Why Holy Zeal

When the servant reaches the level of forsaking worldly matters for the sake of Christ, the servant fulfills God's will in her/his life; "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (1Thessalonians 4:3), and works with God: "we are God's fellow- workers" (1Corinthians 3:9) in establishing His Kingdom. And what is more sweet and more beloved and more beautiful than fellowship with God in His ever ceaseless work? [John 5:17] It is indeed a downpayment of Heaven on earth.

The main gaol of the Holy Zeal is repentance. First my own repentance, then my brethren repentance. Thus, the Holy Zeal helps the servant to walk in the path of their salvation, in and with Christ. It also pleases the servants heart to work and see God's kingdom being established, in Christ. It also lefts up the servants hearts towards a full submission and unity with God, which is the ultimate goal of our existence!

The Holy Zeal also turns God's anger away from sinners. "The Lord said to Moses, Phinehas son of Eleazor, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned My anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for My honour among them, so that in My zeal I did not put an end to them" (Numbers 25:6-11). We saw also Moses interceding on behalf the Israelites that God forgives them, or else erase his, Moses', name from the book of life! What a true and zealous love!

Finally, and as we began, if we are to labour with God, we need to be prepared with Holy Zeal for "Cursed is he who does the work of God with slackness" (Jeremiah 48:10 - SEV) How fearful is this verse to the servants of God! But indeed I fall short and in my weakness I am many times lukewarm in service!

How Holy Zeal

"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24)

I better of be away from ministry lest I be condemned not being zealous righteously, right? WRONG! For God was clear in this regard:

+ "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul." (Ezekiel 3:17-19)

So how can I have Holy Zeal in my service?

Three steps:

1) Continuous and steadfast stand in front of God through prayers. For through prayers, we get closer to God, the true light. And as we get closer to the true light, we see our sins clearers, we repent and tastes God sweetness on higher and higher levels, we love God more and more, we love His creatures more and more, we get filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and the fiery holy zeal. After all, the Holy Spirit descended upon the holy Apostles on the Pentecost as they were gathered in one spirit in prayers in the attic.

2) Daily meditation in God's word. This is very crucial for a lawful service too. If through prayers we talk to God and gain power for service from Him, through His word, i.e., the Holy Book with both Testaments, God speaks to us, prevailing His wondrous secrets to us, and thus we attain the mind of Christ [1Corinthians 2:16] And since He is The Holy consuming zealous fire, the more we meditate in His word, the more we shall become on His image and likeness, in holiness, and in being a holy zeal ourselves. Again, this was indeed the Apostles methodology, like St. Peter who used Joel's prophecy and the psalms in his Pentecostal sermon, St. Phillip who started from the prophecy of Isaiah to evangelize to the Ethiopian eunuch, St. Stephen who summarized the Old Testament in his speech in the trial, and St. Paul who always quotes the Old Testament.

3) Holy Confession and Holy Communion. This was, in fact, the center of the Apostles ministry [Acts 2:42, Acts 2:46, Acts 16:5, Acts 20:7, Acts 2]. Through Holy Confession we remember always our need for repentance, which is the main gaol of our service, and the main goal of the Holy Zeal. Whereas as through Holy Communion we increase in our love to God and to our neighbor. St. Macarius of Egypt says that no one has salvation apart from her/his brethren. The Holy Communion is not only a communion with God, but it is essentially a liturgical communion, that is all believers are in communion together with God. Through Holy Confession and Holy Communion we maintain our humility (the root of all virtues), lest the honor of service, being fellow-workers with God, gives chance to the enemy to strike us through pride (the root of all vices), for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6 & 1Peter 5:5 & Proverbs 3:34 ).

May God bless and lead our service, and protect us all, through St Mary the mother of God intercessions and the prayers of all the saints.

+ + +

References:

[0] The Holy Book

[1] Pope Shenouda III, Holy Zeal

[2] Fr. Markos Milad, Sermon on Jealousy, Sep 16th, 1999

Attachement

Did you ever experience having a request from God; a request that is holy and pure, a request that many holy people from the Bible had and also many saints, YET, God didn't grant it to you? As if He is not listening or ignoring you? Hannah also did.

In the liturgy yesterday (Wed of 5th week of Great Lent) one of the prophecies was from first chapter from the book of 1st Samuel. Hannah was asking God to have a child from her husband, a pure and holy request. God did command Adam and Eve to be fruitful. But as we read the story, it says about Hannah: "but the Lord shut her womb" (1Sam 1:5). And she wasn't a wicked person, nor her husband. At the contrary, they were godly people. How come that God responds oppositely to her request? What is going on?

We many times when asking for something holy and pure, we think that we should be granted what we asked, because it is holy and pure (a virtue, healing or improvement for a person dear to us, peace, success, etc.). We therefore want it so much and keep asking God to grant it to us. We may even start planning based on what we asked for. We often slip and get attached to what we ask for, that we desire it so much. When this happens, we no longer pray to talk to God whom we love, we no longer seek God Himself, but we are using God as "the magician who can achieve our desires". As if God is the jenny of Aladdin's lamp. Well, that is NOT the case.

When it is the case that we are so attached to the thing we ask for, and in that sense we are driven away from God, as Hannah was so attached to become a mother, God responds saying: "what have I to do with you? mine hour is not yet come" (John 2:4), just as He shut the womb of Hannah.

When God says His time is not yet come, we start wondering "How long, O Lord, do You forget me, for ever? How long do You turn Your face away from me? How long do I put these counsels in my soul, and these sorrows in my heart for the whole day? How long does my enemy exalt over me?" (Psalm 12:1,2). Only then, our attention, and hence our attachment, gradually shift from what we ask for to God and His hour. Only then, we pour our hearts truly in front of God, with tears and confessions, as Hannah did at the House of the Lord [1Sam 1:9].

When Hannah poured herself in front of God, she was freed from the attachment of her desire to be have a baby, as can be seen from her vow to give the baby to God all the days of the child's life. When that happens, the Lord responses saying: "Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me" (Song 6:5)

Only then, Hannah was granted Samuel, the kings anointer. And after Hannah gave Samuel to God, as she vowed, "the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters" (1Sam 2:21)

Way much more than what we originally asked for, only after our attachment was adjusted.

Japan's 2011 Tsunami, and my sin

The Tsunami that hit Japan couple of days ago was just a terrifying catastrophe. Many people thought of the great flood in days of Noah, as they saw the waves wiping away a whole city! I personally thought of Sodom and Gomorrah when I saw them. God demolished Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sins. Does that mean that Japan is a sinful country?

"Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem;
See now and know;
And seek in her open places
If you can find a man,
If there is anyone who executes judgment,
Who seeks the truth,
And I will pardon her." (Jeremiah 5:1)

"And He (God) said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” " (Genesis 18:32)

God is welling to pardon the whole city if He found a single person who executes judgment. When Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah [Genesis 18:23,-33], God answer was clear: He won't destroy an evil city if there are 5 righteous people in it. That is the negative aspect. The positive aspect is that God also blesses the city for the sake of the righteous. We saw how God blessed the house of Potiphar because of Joseph, and saved Egypt and the whole world, because of Joseph.

The early church fathers teaches us that when we attain the Love of God, that is when we truly love God above anything and anyone else, we are filled with love towards all human kind, and towards the whole creature! St. Isaac the Syrian says: "What is a merciful heart? It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation, for humanity, for the birds, for the animals, for demons, and for all that exists." and also says: "and by such great compassion, the heart is humbled and one cannot bear to hear or to see any injury or slight sorrow in any in creation.".

While Jeremiah, Mordecai, and Nehemiah were Godly people, but when they saw, or heard, the tribulation on its way against their people, as a punishment for their sins, these Godly men considered the people's sins their sins. We that too with many other men of God, prophets and saints, such as Jeremiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Abba Karas, Abba Poula the first Hermit, etc. Nehemiah, for instance, prayed: "...I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned." (Nehemiah 1:6) But indeed, there is no one without a sin. These Godly men might not participated in the general sin of the people, for which they are punished, but they have their own personal sins. We all do. However, as members, or rather organs, of the big family of human race, if one member is sick, the whole body is said to be sick. If one organ sins, we all sinned.

Similarly, when I see the world in affliction I realize how evil my sin is, causing these afflictions to the world. I know also that confession and repentance, of my own sins, and the whole family of human race, is the proper response I shall offer. The dessert fathers says about monks being the defenders, or intercessors of the whole wold, through their continuous repentance and prayers offered on behalf of the whole world. A monk, iconizes the human race how we are compelled to be.

Credo: BISHOY ANDRAWES

The full article here

Egypt's Turmoil and OT Genocides

Is there such a "justified" killing?

If I am in the holy (to me being Egyptian) Egyptian land, would I be in the demonstrations? I believe so. But because of the absence of police, people had to defend themselves. And to do so, people took kitchen knives, staffs, white weapons etc. Thus, there is a chance to engage in a fight with a criminal, and kill someone... would I participate in killing? A similar question was raised last week in the OCF meeting, when an answer came out: yes! God commanded genocides in the Old Testament (OT)! Is this true? Did God command genocides?

With what is going on in Egypt, I had both questions in the back of my mind, and I believe I have an answer, at least for me. I will try to be brief here.

First, what happened in the OT is taken out of context. Because of many reasons that I try to summarize as follows.

1. Different "punishments". First, there has been different "punishments" in the OT. The great flood in days of Noah. The confusion of language in days of the tower of Babel. The rain of sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah in days of Lute. The 10 Plagues of Egypt in days of Mosses. And then, many "punishments" for the Israelites in the wilderness, and in Canaan. But these are actually calls, not punishments.

2. Call not punishment. God calls each person to return to Him in a gradual manner, according to our response. Gentle whisper first, then invitation, then a push, a warning, etc. The last way God calls us, is that He leaves us to our own desire, rather the wrong desire of our hearts, so that we start reaping what we sow: evil. We saw this with the Israelites many times, in the book of Judges, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc. Again, the goal is people's repentance; that once I see the result of my evil, I realize that I need Him. That is, God left up His support - for a moment - so that we taste how it is without Him. And hence, the door for repentance is always open.

3. Repentance door is open. A "genocide" was commanded to Jericho, but Rahab the prostitute - and all her family - were saved, because she believed and repented. Not only was she saved from the last call to Jericho (to repent), but also she was one of two ladies mentioned in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ, glory to His Holy name. Surprisingly, neither was our mother St. Sarah, St. Rebecca or St. Rachel... rather, the two were originally gentiles; Rahab and Ruth! This confirms that God didn't really command a genocide, but it was a call for people of Jericho to repent, and if they did, like Rahab, they would have been saved!

4. Last Call. Did God warn them before? Let us see. 400 years before, God sent them Abraham, who was salt and light among them, and they definitely heard about God's promises to him, which contained warnings and vows to them (and that is why Abraham is considered a prophet). They also had Lute, Melchizedek, and Job. They also witnessed the destroy of Sodom and Gomorrah. Then after 400 years, they saw the 10 plagues of Egypt, and how God split the red sea for them to pass. Yet, their hearts were uncircumcised and they chose not to repent. So, God delivered them to the desire of their hearts.

Now, and second, back to the main question, is there such a "justified" killing? Should I kill or not if I am a soldier in a war? Or if I am in Egypt right now, and need to defend my family?

"Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, ... for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse." (1Corinthians 8:4-7)

Thus, if I am a soldier, or member of safety committee in Egypt, and my conscious is pure that killing as self defense, or country defense, or nation defense, is valid, then it is valid for me. Yet if my conscious tells me that this is wrong and it is cutting the chance for a human to repent, then it is sinful, even if the priest, or patriarch said otherwise.

Bless you Egypt's Unrest!

I say: Bless you Egypt's unrest!

If Egyptian Police intentionally left their duty and released prisoners to terror innocent people, if indeed that was El Adly's plan to show us how insecure the country would go without this "regime", well, Thank you Adly & Bless you unrest!

for you gave us a chance to know that we don't need you to be safe!

for the chance to gain trust in our selves one more time!

for the pot where differences between all people sects did melt down!

for the chance that once again all Egyptians were united in their goal!

for the chance to realize that we care about Egypt more than anything else!

for the chance to realize that Egypt's safety is our priority!

for this historical chance, when Egypt for once, is secular!

for reminding us how great we are, the descendant of Pharos!

It is indeed the first time - since really long time - when people forgot their religion, their political views, their social differences, etc, and were one for one goal: we will keep Egypt safe! It is comforting to see how the youth and men went out forming organized committees to protect their people, the Egyptians! It reminds us with our power, together! It reminds us with our unity, and sharing of the nation, cause and goal, problems and dreams, we share our belonging to Egypt!

I, therefore, joyfully say: Bless you Egypt's unrest!

P.S.: Inspired by watching the Bless you prison movie couple days ago, where Nicoleta finds her path back to God in communist prison.

Not Yet!

To Muslims friends, we - Copts - say: In God we are indeed rejoicing! But we are still mourning!

Indeed, many Egyptians got disgusted of the New Years Crime in Alexandria. Indeed, the rational and non-fanatic Egyptian muslims stood up. Indeed, celebrity tried to show sympathy.

BUT:

the martyrs blood is still fresh, we didn't forget yet!

the tears of the afflicted families are not dried yet!

the wounds are not healed yet!

the blood of Copts that was shed in a train, on Jan 10th, just after Christmas, is still warm!

the suddenly became handicapped children, are still handicapped!

Clearly condolences, demonstrations, protests, or execution court decision for one of last year's crime in Nagah Hammadi, are all together NOT a comfort.

We need to tackle and solve the roots of the problems.

Celebrating the Revelation of God tonight (Theo-phay), we remember what happened in New Year's Eve as, not the conclusion of decades of treating christians as second-hand citizens, but rather as a mark for a new era of Martyrdom. This reminds us when our Lord Jesus Christ told us that it will happen, a day will come when those who kill us think they are doing God a favor! It also reminds the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, which all tell us that repentance is our call, and to love those who persecute us is our challenge!

To Muslims, however, especially the rational ones, those felt sympathy with us and wanted to help, I say: In God we are indeed rejoicing! but we are still mourning!

Reconciliation

Culture

In all liturgies I am aware of, there is a reconciliation prayer, where the congregation attending the mystery to reconcile with each other.The shape of the reconciliation prayer rite differs as according to the culture where the church was planted. For example, in Antioch Orthodox Churches, I saw people hand shaking, while they hug each other in a missionary Catholic church at some University. In Coptic (i.e., Egyptian) churches, people sort of hand shake, while at the same time the left hand is covering the back of the other person's hand, withdrawing the 2 hands and kissing the tips of the fingers, a typical form of "taking blessings" in eastern cultures.

Confusion

While the congregation is greeting one another, the priest is praying the prayers that commemorates that God reconciled us unto himself. "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" (2Cor 5:18). This is a bit confusing. Why are we greeting one another, while we are supposed to recall that God reconciled us unto Him? Isn't that a distraction? Don't "people" so often stumble others in their spiritual way, especially inside the chichi? Those "people" being us. Don't we to focus on Christ in the liturgy and try to talk to Him? So why did our mother, the church, teach us to greet one another? Moreover, it is often the case that I am greeting someone I don't even know! How are we reconciliation then?

The answer is two folds. The first simple one is that we simply follow Christ's will in Methew 4:24: "Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.". The second fold is more profound.

First, we need to understand the meaning of the word: reconcile. According to the About Dictionary, the verb reconcile means: to restore friendly relations between. Clearly if I greet someone I don't know, there are no friendly relations to restore, right? WRONG. And that is exactly why we greet one another, to restore the previously existing friendly relationship. How is so? Bear with me a bit.

The Three Vices

A husband and his wife (or any two persons) has a conflict for, at a high level, one of three reasons. More reasons can be claimed by a more specialized study, but for the scope of this article, these three reasons summarizes them all. Hereafter, I will call these reasons: vices.

The first vice is conflict of interest. I want you to park away, so that I can park my car right where you parked yours. I don't care about your reasons why you want to park here, and I don't bother trying to understand them. We lack the common goal. And we fight.

The second vice, is when we both agree on a goal, but disagree on how we can achieve or reach our common goal. We both agree that our children should receive good education. I think that public schools are the best, but she believes Orthodox schools are the only way. We lack appreciation of each other's opinions. And we fight.

The third vice is called misunderstanding. And we fight. Misunderstanding is typically thought of the simplest conflict, while in fact it is the worst. We don't understand each other because we don't know each other. And we don't know each other because we didn't care enough to do so, nor did we spend the time to get to know each other. Knowing each other takes typically lifetime! We didn't bother going there because we, sorry to say, don't really love each other. It is lack of LOVE!!

Lack of knowledge of each other is, in its heart, lack of love.

Lack appreciation to the other opinion is simply self centeredness, overly consumed loving oneself, and hence lack of love to the other.

Lack of common goal is again not seeing the other's needs, desires, and way of thinking. It is again, lack of love. Because if I love you, I love everything and everyone you love!

Lack of love, is a vice.

The Three reconciliations

That being said, we realize that the solution of any conflict, i.e., reconciliation is simply love. To love the other person is to reconcile with her or him. When love is present, we start to know each other. Like a new couple, once they receive church blessings to know each other through engagement, they start spending so much time with each other, and they grow in knowing and loving each other until they are, eternally, unite in Christ.

Similarly, the treatment of an conflict is to love each other, hence knowing each other, understanding and appreciating other opinions, and eventually sacrificing oneself's opinions and plans for the sake of the other.

Back to the Reconciliation Rites

We, human race, where in love with God, in first Adam. Then a conflict arose: we don't really agree with God on His plans for us, so we ate the fruit He forbid us to. We don't appreciate His plans, so we rely on ourselves. And we eventually became unaware of God existence, so we get nervous, worried and lose our peace. These are the symptoms of the evil vice, we don't really love God from all our hearts. Now, THIS, needs a reconciliation.

If I love you, I love everything and everyone you love. If I truly love God, I love all people. If I don't truly love people, then this is a symptom of lack of true love to God. Then, in fact, the church asks us to great one another as, not a symbol, but rather as a checkpoint for ourselves. So whenever we hear the deacon calling us to great one another, we raise our hearts to God to self inspect our hearts to check if we truly love our savior, or we diverged off our path! This is the very reason why we are called to greet one another.

When you hear

So now, once I hear the deacon invitation to great one another, I should immediately raise my heart to God to inspect it, under His light which reveals everything. I should recall how He serviced my reconciliation to Him, even though it is me who IS guilty . I should then offer a hearty repentance on the spot, for anything and everything I did against our reconciliation.

Once this is done, I can get back down to the earth, to see my brethren waiting for me to great, rather to reconcile with them. I would them leave my offerings on the altar and seek anyone I have conflict with to reconcile with whom first. Only then, my greeting others will be truly in Christ.

Only then, I can go out after Church to the whole world, carrying Christ immaculate peace, and joy. Only then I am compelled and spiritually motivated to serve the people the service of reconciliation, that would be naturally attractive in my granted inner peace and joy, that no one can take away from us.

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (2Cor 5:20)