“The Divine Response – Part Two”

[Mary Naeem]

H.H. Pope Tawadros II


“The Divine Response – Part Two”

H.H. Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon in the Wednesday Meeting this evening at the Church of Virgin Mary and St. Mina in El-Marg, on the occasion of the church’s silver jubilee. The sermon was broadcast through Christian satellite channels and the online C.O.C channel of the Church’s Media Center.

The marquee set up in the square before the church was filled with the scout team and hundreds of the church’s members who warmly received His Holiness upon his arrival. Their voices rose with words of welcome and love, and Pope Tawadros was keen to reciprocate their greetings.

A group of Sunday School children also lined up to welcome His Holiness at the church’s outer and inner doors, with some of the children presenting him with bouquets of flowers. His Holiness then stood among the fathers of the church and the church council members for a commemorative photograph.

Pope Tawadros unveiled the commemorative plaque marking his visit to the church on the occasion of its silver jubilee.

His Holiness then toured the church, beginning with a visit to the Church of the Magdalene and Dimas the Thief located on the tenth floor, as well as the youth retreat house prepared on the same floor. He then visited the church library, which contains nearly fifty thousand books of various spiritual, scientific, and cultural kinds. While inspecting it, His Holiness called for attention to reading, repeating the saying: “A house without a library is a body without a soul.” He asked the priests to make sure they are present in the library from time to time and to sit and read there, to encourage their children practically to read. He then visited the “Ana Mawgood (I am Present)” Center for serving those with special needs, inspecting all its departments and encouraging those in it.

Afterwards His Holiness proceeded to the church, preceded by the deacons’ choir chanting the hymns of welcoming the Patriarch. He prayed Vespers, joined by H.G. Bishop Sidarous (General Bishop of the Ezbet El-Nakhl and El-Marg sector), H.G. Bishop Angelos (General Bishop of the Northern Shoubra sector), and several priests of the sector.

After the conclusion of Vespers, the deacons’ choir chanted Kiahk hymns and praises. H.G. Bishop Sidarous delivered a word of welcome to Pope Tawadros, after which the church choir sang a number of ecclesiastical praises. His Holiness encouraged them, took a commemorative photo with them, and distributed gifts.

Hegumen Bishoy Wahba, priest of the church, gave a word of love in which he said:
“It gives us joy and honor today to receive among us His Holiness the Pope, the symbol of peace, love, and longsuffering, and the voice of the human conscience who always calls for reconciliation and for building bridges among nations. Your Holiness’ presence among us is a great blessing and a message of hope that revives our hearts and confirms to us that the path of brotherhood is still possible and that the power of love is greater than any conflict or division.
We welcome you, Your Holiness , with affection and respect, and express our deep appreciation for your humanitarian stances that transcend the borders of the Church to reach every human being regardless of gender, religion, or culture. You have come today carrying with us the dream of a world with more peace, justice, and mercy. I quote the French philosopher René Descartes: ‘Courage diminishes if not used, commitment withers if not practiced, and love fades if not shared.’ And here you are, Your Holiness, bearing this wonderful triad: courage, commitment, and love.”

A documentary was then shown about the journey of founding and building the church over twenty-five years, and the film took as its title the verse: “This was the Lord’s doing” (Psalm 118:23).

A children’s deacons’ choir chanted “Kalos Ak-ee” and “The Twelve Virtues,” which are said for the Patriarch. His Holiness blessed them, praised their performance, took a commemorative photo with them, and gave them gifts.

In the sermon, Pope Tawadros continued the series “Specialized Chapters,” speaking today on the topic “The Divine Response.” He read a passage from the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, verses 26–38, noting that the chapter addresses the promise and the fulfillment of the promise: on the personal level in the story of the birth of John the Baptist, and on the general level in the story of Virgin Mary.

His Holiness explained that the Old Testament represented the promise: “The offspring of the woman shall crush the serpent’s head” (Genesis 3:15), while the fulfillment of the promise was in the New Testament in the Annunciation to Virgin Mary and the Nativity.

Pope Tawadros explained examples of the general response in the Old Testament:

-The story of Jonah and the repentance of the people of Nineveh.
-The story of the people afflicted by plague in the time of David the Prophet, and after prayer they were delivered.

His Holiness then added the journey of the general response leading to the greatest response in human history, the birth from the Virgin Mary, as follows:

-The cry of the Prophet Isaiah: “Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence” (Isaiah 64:1).
-In the time of Herod and at the birth of Christ: “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25).
-“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
-The angel’s annunciation to the Virgin: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus” (Luke 1:31).
-Heaven’s response: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14).

Pope Tawadros presented how God responded in this divine response through:

A divine timing: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4).
No delay or neglect, but preparation of people, hearts, and events: “For you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).
A response for all humanity, as St. Athanasius the Apostolic says: “The Word became incarnate to heal the whole nature, not only individuals.”
A response for the sake of mankind, for the Virgin Birth was for the sake of all. An example is the Samaritan woman for the sake of all the people of Samaria.
A response of love, therefore the fulfillment of the promise is called “the New Testament,” and the word “Gospel” means good news and joy, for the coming of the Savior is the coming of joy to humanity.
A heavenly response beyond all expectation, for God made strength out of weakness, using a poor Virgin and a simple manger to accomplish wonders and great works.

His Holiness concluded by presenting important signs of praise to our mother, the Virgin Mary, in the month of Kiahk:

-Strong faith.
-Strong readiness of heart.
-A heart that rejoices always in the work of God.