Melismatic Praxis Response, long "Shere ne Maria" as prayed by St. Mary's Church deacons led by Diakon Philopateer on New Year's Eve during the month of Kiahk.

We continue our journey of understanding the importance of the heart in respect to one’s spiritual life. God must be in the center of the heart and when we fail to put Him as the center of our lives, then one’s ego becomes the center in His place. The heart, as it is the place one meets with God, it then must be guarded as the most intimate of chambers. If this guard is put down even for just one hour, the person quickly succumbs to sin. Fr Mina elaborates on how our senses have an effect on our heart and its journey to seeking God.

Wisdom is one of the most emphasized traits in Proverbs, and it often highlights the importance of having a heart that desires righteousness and honors God. Fr Mina discusses how living with integrity is essential for a fulfilling life, and how patience and understanding are key in building strong, healthy relationships. A simple, humble life focused on love and faith is far more valuable than the pursuit of material wealth. This week we go through different examples from the Bible to illustrate these lessons, encouraging us to grow closer to God while also nurturing deep, meaningful connections with our families and communities. Throughout, the message is one of seeking wisdom, living with purpose, and practicing love and respect in all areas of life.

This week’s Bible study highlights key points: the righteous person is full of peace and joy, and constantly knows where he stands on the way of salvation. Wisdom can be used to be shared towards the love for others or it can be used to harm them. Monastics give good advice about relationships even though they are hermits because they learned how to truly love. They have been with Lord Love. Once I belittle the truth my heart will become hardened to receive it. The rest of Bible study this week continues to present to us what defines the heart.

The heart is the source and fountain of life, from it all issues of life spring forth. Wisdom rests in the heart and gives clarity. Another Proverb says “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”. If the heart is such a focus for the functions of one’s life then how does it get nourished so that it may be brought to the kingdom? The answer is in small words but takes a lifetime of practice: love, wisdom and discernment. This concluded chapter 14. Chapter 15 starts with teaching the benefits of soft answers in turning away wrath. We are always one word away from quenching or fueling a fire. Sometimes that word is staying in silence.

Fr Mina jumpstarts this week’s Bible study by recounting the life of Pope Kyrillos the Sixth. Mocked and belittled in the eyes of laymen and clergy yet by his prayers the Coptic Church was saved after a great period of darkness and ignorance. His holiness and closeness to God was not realized until he was on his deathbed about to be welcomed by our Savior into His kingdom for his faithfulness over his service. This week’s Proverbs verses and Fr Mina’s commentary on it guides us through how we are like the ignorant who does not value holiness in disguise.

Morality is the rule of life but God invites us to a way deeper life, if morality says to be just, Christ says to love your enemies. Hence, doing things with intention behind it is a great key to life. The common ground between natural human bonds is based on virtue. Wisdom and foolishness are two extremes, but the virtue of discernment is moderation. Human beings tend to belittle the sinful nature of sin through mockery. All evil comes because of the inability for a human being to sit by themselves in a room. The heart knows exactly the intentions, the things that a human being seeks and goes after. And no one is able to handle sitting and searching into it. We have to search the heart and notice when there are new things being introduced to my heart. For example, something that didn’t anger me now angers me. “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul” (Psalm 94:19). Our society does a really good job at keeping us distracted from the true calling of God that lets us dwell in joy. Fr. Mina encapsulates the point behind the proverb by mentioning the story of Voltaire at his deathbed said “I can feel the presence of God” and he told his doctors he would give them half his money if they were to let him live 6 more months to fix his life.

The book of Proverbs has no grey area, a person is either righteous or wicked. This week’s Bible study highlights our lives as faithful Christians. The definition of a human being can only be defined in his relation to God. Our feelings, thoughts and motivations are not constant; they change often, but the purpose and definition of a person is only in God, who is eternal. When we desire greatness we must accompany ourselves with the greatest. And if we want to be wise we must not be blown to and fro with the smallest things we hear but recognize where our dynamics with others stand. Our goal is eternal life, everything else is a means to direct us to the goal!

Fr. Joseph gives the Sunday sermon concerning the gospel of the young rich man and what we ought to do.

Fr. Joseph gives the annual Thanksgiving graduate retreat about the pathology of sin. He begins by providing the context of the story with the narrative.

Fr. Joseph gives the annual thanksgiving graduate retreat about the pathology of sin. The 2nd talk is about the anthropology of man to learn what Sin does to us.