Have you ever watched a child as his parents are away for a few hours? Often, you observe him making sure he is doing exactly what his parents taught him:: from food, homework, and bedtime routines and informing you to do them right as well as sticking to what his parents set for him and instructed him to do. It takes a very long time for him to turn away from seeking the instructions settled by his parents because this very child is always waiting to be instructed and corrected, even if he may not always show it. This week’s proverbs unfolds to us that the righteous is likened to such a wise son who listens and heeds to the instruction of his Father in heaven, whereas a person who does not hear His voice would suffer through living in torment with many thoughts and insecurities because we do not deeply know that we are loved by God, if we turn to diligence, we can only seek what is in God’s heart for us!

Fr. Benjamin gives the Sunday sermon concerning the parable of the sower.

Be Imitators Of God - Fr. Benjamin Girgis by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ

This week we concluded chapter 12 which continued to give insight on the way of the righteous contrasting it with the way of the foolish. The righteous man uplifts all those who encounter him.. There is not a single living person who is not looking for an uplifting word.. A word which only a righteous person can give and watch how it releases the many stresses of its hearer.

The wisdom of King Solomon which was granted to Him by our Lord continues to put its hearers and readers at awe as he continues to lead us through a journey of contracting the life of the righteous and how he bears fruits that are wrapped in the glory of God leading to eternal life and the life of the wicked which causes destruction to himself and the hindrance of those whom he seeks to destroy. A man who gives from his true richness is a man who was given from God Himself much, while a man who withholds and worries about what the earth has granted him from material securities causes poverty. Giving with joy and inner eternal peace leads to the winning of the souls to God, as they magnify tasting the Lord’s inheritance through the righteous who is recompensed on earth. Even the intent of doing good and serving even if the person can’t. God sees and holds precious to His heart!

Fr. Benjamin gives the Sunday sermon concerning the parable of the sower.

This week’s Bible study passage is a powerful one as it touches many different important virtues and ways a christian ought to deal with things. Continuing our discourse on the difference between wisdom and foolishness. The rest of proverbs 11 reveals to us more forms of wisdom: Wisdom is in seeking counsel while submitting to God and saying “Let what was ordained before all ages happen to me” Wisdom allows us to heal each other with love while avoiding unnecessary criticism which leads to the paralysis of our neighbor’s growth. Wisdom is present in the inner beauty, it is the adornment of a gracious woman and the riches of mighty men. Wisdom is placed on what is of value and cannot be misplaced on what is worthless and leads to death. Let us hearken to be freed from sin which binds us!

God says “Your dishonest work and external practices are an abomination to me… I hate them” While God gives grace to the humble, the devil takes a hold of us when we are not willing to give up certain attachments for the sake of our glory to be joined with His. A man’s constant hussle and business with the labor of the day often make him forget the way of righteousness of His Lord and whose Body he is part of. Such forgetfulness leads to reaching for dishonestly, deceit and malice. What used to motivate us to do what is right and seek what is good has suddenly become forgotten or put aside because taking shortcuts are an easy way out of the active calling to bear the Cross of forsaking all in all just to be with Him. This week’s Bible study presented to us the clear discernment between good and evil, the hard yet glorifying path of a loving ever-gentle God, and the easy ever condemning way of laziness and deceit of the devil.

St. Mary's youth led by Elaria Ibrahim singing Of All Nations during the commemoration of the 21 Martyrs of Libya. Icon from ukcopticicons

Fr. Mark gives the sermon concerning the Inner Cross on the 3rd day of the feast of the Cross.

On the 3rd day of the Feast of the Cross, Michael Georgi gives the Sunday sermon concerning carrying our crosses.