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Abba, Give Me a Word

ABBA Give me a WORD Series

Sunday Gospel Sermon by Fr. Michael Sorial

Where Does Your Life Point by Fr. Michael Sorial

A message from HG Bishop Gregory during the coronavirus pandemic.

On Bended Knees by HG Bishop Gregory

This is an introduction to a new series called "ABBA Give me a WORD".

When the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples, He called them by a few simple words..."Follow Me".

ABBA Give me a WORD

INTRO to ABBA Give me a WORD by HG Bishop Gregory

This is part of the series called "ABBA Give me a WORD".

His Grace shares with us some words from St. John of Dalyatha about the power of repentance and how the chains are broken and adversities changed into joy.

“Their chains are broken and their adversities are changed into joy and their tears into great rejoicing. He who had bound them is himself bound by their reins of darkness and delivered by them to the scourgers. Repentance destroys all his works, and all the pains he cause the servants who are not his, she HEALS and RESTORES. All whom he has killed she resuscitates, all his traps she shatters, and all his snares she cuts to bits.[…] She makes fornicators virgins” (Letter 43)


When the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples, He called them by a few simple words..."Follow Me".

ABBA Give me a WORD: Do Not Despair by HG Bishop Gregory

This is part of the series called "ABBA Give me a WORD" by HG Bishop Gregory.

His Grace shares with us some words from St. John Climacus:
“Run from places of sin as from the plague. For when fruit is not present, we have no frequent desire to eat it." (Ladder of Divine Ascent Step 3.9)

Then His Graces shares with some words from St. Gregory of Nyssa:
“Now having learned what great power for evil the disease of pleasure possesses, we should conduct our lives as far removed from it as possible; otherwise the disease may find some opening against us, like fire whose very proximity causes an evil flame.[…] So also it is in our power to remain unaffected by passion as long as we stay far away from the thing that enflames. […] For the evils of the passions, like a plague, when once they have gained possession of the critical parts, stop only at death.” ("The Life of Moses” 2.303)

When the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples, He called them by a few simple words..."Follow Me".

ABBA Give me a WORD: Avoiding the Virus by HG Bishop Gregory

This is part of the series called "ABBA Give me a WORD".

His Grace shares with us some words from St Eusebius of Caesarea says concerning this treatise:
“A pestilent disease took possession of many provinces of the whole world, and especially Alexandria and Egypt; as Dionysius writes, and the treatise of Cyprian ‘concerning the Mortality’ bears witness.”(1)

Then His Graces shares with some words from St. Cyprian of Carthage’s Treatise 7: On the Mortality, Part 16:
“…beloved brethren, what is it, what a great thing is it, how pertinent, how necessary, that that pestilence and plague which seems horrible and deadly, searches out the righteousness of each one, and examines the minds of the human race, to see (1) whether they who are in health tend the sick; (2) whether relations affectionately love their family; (3) whether masters pity their weakened servants; (4) whether physicians do not forsake the beseeching patients; (5) whether the fierce suppress their violence; (6) whether the greedy can quench the ever insatiable desire of their raging avarice even by the fear of death; (7) whether the arrogant bend their neck; (8) whether the wicked soften their boldness; (9) whether, when their dear ones perish, the rich, even then bestow anything, and give, when they are to die without heirs. (10) Even although this mortality conferred nothing else, it has done this benefit to Christians and to God’s servants, that we begin gladly to desire martyrdom as we learn not to fear death. These are trainings for us, not deaths: they give the mind the glory of fortitude; by contempt of death they prepare for the crown.” (2)

References:
(1)	Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, eds., Fathers of the Third Century: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Novatian, Appendix, vol. 5, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1886)

(2)	Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, eds., Fathers of the Third Century: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Novatian, Appendix, vol. 5, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1886).

When the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples, He called them by a few simple words..."Follow Me".

ABBA Give me a WORD: Use Pestilence to Search me O God by HG Bishop Basil

This is part of the series called "ABBA Give me a WORD".

His Grace shares with us some words from St. Gregory the Theologian in Oration 17:
“Just take the first step. Comfort is near, on your lips and in your heart. I remembered God, says the Psalmist, and rejoiced. What could be easier than remembering? You too remember and rejoice. The remedy is so simple! The cure so fast! The gift so magnificent! The remembrance of God not only lulls the sense of desolation and anguish but also gives rise to joy.”

His Graces asks us to train ourselves to remember God!

When the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples, He called them by a few simple words..."Follow Me".

ABBA Give me a WORD: Remember God by HG Bishop Gregory

This is part of the series called "ABBA Give me a WORD".

As we approach Holy Week praying via online services, His Grace shares with us some words from St. John Climacus:
“The effort of bodily prayer can help those not yet granted real prayer of the heart. I am referring to the stretching out of the hands, the beating of the breast, the sincere raising of the eyes heavenward, deep sighs and constant prostrations… If you can, lift up the eyes of your soul, but if not, the eyes of your body.” – (St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 15, On Chastity)

His Grace also shares with us some words from St. Macarius:
“If you do not have the prayer of the spirit, strive for prayer of the body, and then shall be added to you the prayer in the spirit.” (St. Macarius)

His Grace then continues to share us words from St. Isaac the Syrian:
“Consider every prayer wherein the body does not toil and the heart is not afflicted to be a miscarriage, for this prayer has no soul.” (St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 21 in The Ascetical Homilies)

His Grace prays that we offer heartfelt prayers, truly raise our hearts to our Lord and pleading for ourselves and for the whole world.

When the Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples, He called them by a few simple words..."Follow Me".

ABBA Give me a WORD: Active Participation in Prayer and Bodily Toil by HG Bishop Gregory

His Grace takes us on a journey of the Holy Pascha week and asks us to build our relationship with the Lord seeking to apply one meditation each day to our personal lives as an individual or as a family.

His Grace begins with the resurrection of Lazarus to the resurrection of our Lord, we can see the Lord yearning to live with us here on earth and eternally as He seeks our salvation.
 - Lazarus Saturday: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25)

- Palm Sunday: The Lord reveals Himself as the King of Kings who comes humbly riding on a donkey in the Jerusalem of my heart seeking to be enthroned therein. Will accept His Lordship or will I leave Him weeping over me as He wept over Jerusalem.

- Monday Pascha: Christ is the gardener of my soul that asks what shall I yet do for my vineyard that I have not done for it. He comes as a second Adam clearing the land of my heart from the thorns of my sin as He cleanse the temple. Will I remain barren like the cursed fig tree or will I yield the fruit of the Holy Spirit?

- Tuesday Pascha: Christ is my beloved bridegroom Who seeks to unite with me intimately; enticing me to prepare for our heavenly wedding with talk of His Second Coming. He urges me to leave my spiritual prostitution to be consecrating to Him alone. Will I detach myself from the temple pleasures and idols of this world that I may begin eternal life with the Beloved here and now?

- Wednesday Pascha: The Lord is the One Who patiently waits for my repentance as He accepted the repentance of the woman who wept at His feet. Will I offer the Lord the fragrant oil and tears of repentance as the sinful woman did or my words be those of Judas, smoother than oil yet drawing swords, betraying my Master?

- Covenant Thursday: My Lord and Teacher kneels to wash my feet and cleanse me that I may learn from His humility and do as He has done washing the feet of His children. The Bread of Life offers His Body and Blood to me; that He may abide in me and I in Him. Will accept for the Lord to wash my feet and humbly offer myself to others?

- Great Friday: The Mighty One, the only Begotten Son, shows me by weakness what is greater than power when He offers Himself as an acceptable sacrifice on the cross for my salvation. The spotless and silent Lamb of God takes upon Himself the sins of the whole world and the author of Life dies on the cross and is buried in a tomb that He may bury my sins with Him. Will I confess my sins with the thief and accept His love for me, crying out "Remember me O Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom"?

- Bright Saturday: The True light descends into the darkness of Hades that He may shine upon those who were there and preach to them the salvation that He has accomplished. Descend into the darkness of my sinful soul, O Lord, and reveal to me the Kingdom of Heaven therein, shine within me that I may see the rums of the ladder to the paradise of joy which You have opened for me. 

His Graces then shares with us words from St Gregory the Theologian: "O Pascha, great and holy and purifier of all the world, I will speak to you as to a living being" (Oration 45:30).

ABBA Give me a WORD: Meditations on Pascha Week by HG Bishop Basil

His Grace shares with us a Prayer of Repentance that can be found in Homily 16 of the Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian as well as Discourse 4 of John of Dalyatha:

O Master Lord Jesus Christ, who wept for your friend Lazarus and shed tears of sorrow and compassion upon him, accept the tears of my bitterness. 

Through your passions heal my passions; through your wounds cure my wounds; through your blood purify my blood, and mingle with my body the fragrance of your life-giving body. 

Let the gall, which was given to you by the enemies, sweeten my soul from bitterness, given to me by the adversaries.

Let your body, which was stretched on the tree of the Cross, make my mind, pulled down by the demons, fly towards you.

Let your head, which you bowed on the Cross lift up my head, smitten by the opponents.

Let your all-holy hands, which were nailed by the godless on the Cross, raise me from the chasm of perdition and bring me towards you, as your most holy mouth has promised.

Let your face, which receives spats and spittles by the cursed ones, bring a shine to my face, sullied by my sins.

Let your soul, which you, while on the Cross, offered to your father, lead me towards you by your grace.

I do not have a painful heart to seek after you; I do not have repentance nor contrition which bring the children back to their inheritance; I do not have, O Master, entreating tears.

My mind has darkened by worldly and material things and is not capable of look at you with pain.

My heart has turned cold from the multitude of temptations and cannot warm itself with the tears of love for you.

But you, O Lord Jesus Christ, the treasury of good, grant me complete repentance and a painful heart, so I may go out searching for you with all my heart.

Without you, I am stranger to any good.

Thus, grant me, O good one, your grace; let your Father, who, before all ages and eternally, has begotten you from his bosom, renew in me the form of your image.

I have forsaken you, but do not forsake me; I have come out away from you, so come out in search for me, and lead me into your pasture, numbering me among the sheep of your excellent flock and feeding me together with them the grass of your divine mysteries whose haunt is the pure heart and in which the illuminations of your revelations is seen, bringing consolation and refreshment to those who work hard and suffer afflictions and various griefs for you.

Make us worthy of this illumination through your grace and love of man, our Savior Jesus Christ, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Series also posted on 
Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkkYZew63JGZJLHlG1iy55SGL_KbTxa_a

ABBA Give me a WORD: A Prayer of Repentance to our Merciful Savior by HG Bishop Gregory

His Grace shares with us St. Dorotheos of Gaza on the words of St. Gregory the Theologian

“It is the Day of Resurrection.
Let us offer ourselves as first-fruits.”

These words from a Paschal homily of St. Gregory the Theologian in the 4th century later became part of a Resurrection hymn that was sung in church in the 6th century.

After singing this hymn in the church on the Feast of Resurrection St. Dorotheos of Gaza meditates on the words of the hymn in his own Paschal homily saying:
“The sons of Israel kept the Pascha when they came out of Egypt…Now Pascha, the celebration which St Gregory is encouraging us to keep, is performed by the soul which departs from the spiritual Egypt, that is, from sin. For when the soul passes over from sin to virtue, that is when it celebrates the Pascha of the Lord. As Evagrius has said: ‘the Pascha of the Lord is the passing over from evil to good.’

And thus now today is the Pascha of the Lord, the Day of the Bright Festival, the Day of the Resurrection of Christ Who has nailed sin to the Cross, Who has died and rose—all for our sakes. Let us also offer to the Lord gifts, sacrifices, whole-burnt offerings…
…for after saying, ‘It is the Day of Resurrection’…
…St. Gregory says, ‘Let us offer ourselves as first-fruits [of the Resurrection]’, that is, let us offer ourselves as a sacrifice, let us die to ourselves all the day long, as did all the saints, for the sake of Christ our God Who died for us.

How did they put themselves to death?
“Do not love the world or the things in the world (1 John 2:15), as is said in the Catholic Epistle; but having renounced the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life’ (1 John 2:16)—that is the love of pleasure, the love of money, and vainglory—they took up the Cross and followed after Christ and crucified the world to themselves and themselves to the world (cf. Gal. 6:14). Concerning this the Apostle says, “those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Gal 5:24). 

This is how the saints put themselves to death.

And how did they offer themselves as sacrifice? By not living for themselves, by subjecting themselves to the commandments of God, and abandoning their own desires for the sake of the commandment to love God and their neighbor
…
Thus, let us also offer ourselves in sacrifice as St. Gregory teaches…”

As we greet each other saying, “Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!” and as we praise the joyful resurrection hymns throughout the Holy 50 days, let us also keep the spirit of the early fathers like St. Dorotheos of Gaza. 

Just as St. Dorotheos translates the resurrection hymn of his time to life and teaching, let us also apply the spirit of resurrection to our lives by passing over from sin to virtue and no longer living selfishly for ourselves, but rather abandoning our own desires in love of God and neighbor.

That we too—as St. Gregory and St. Dorotheos teach us—may offer ourselves as first-fruits of Christ’s Resurrection.

That we too “may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death”

That we too “may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (cf. Phil 3:10-11).

Series also posted on 
Podcast: Search for 'Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States'
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkkYZew63JGZJLHlG1iy55SGL_KbTxa_a

ABBA Give me a WORD: Offering Ourselves as First-fruits of the Resurrection by HG Bishop Basil

The official SoundCloud and podcast for the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States under the auspices of His Grace Bishop Youssef.

ABBA Give me a WORD: A Prayer of Repentance to our Merciful Savior by HG Bishop Gregory

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