Prayer Requests from the Gregorian Liturgy Series (Part 8)

[Mary Naeem]

قداسة البابا تواضروس الثاني





Prayer Requests from the Gregorian Liturgy Series (Part 8)… “Confirm the Upright” in the Wednesday Meeting
November 13, 2024

This evening, H.H. Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon at the Wednesday meeting, from the Church of Virgin Mary and St Abu Sefein in Ezbet El Nakhl. The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels, the official website of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and the online C.O.C. channel, belonging to the Church’s Media Center.

His Holiness prayed the raising of the incense of Vespers prayer, joined by several bishops, priests of the church, and a large number of priests from the churches in Ezbet El Nakhl and El Marg areas. H.G. Bishop Sedarous (General Bishop of the Churches of Ezbet El Nakhl and El Marg), welcomed Pope Tawadros, congratulating him on the twelfth anniversary of his enthronement on the See of St Mark. Additional speeches were given by priests, along with various hymns and church melodies sung by the church’s youth choir, the choir serving the Sudanese community, and the children’s choir. His Holiness praised and encouraged their performances. He also honored distinguished people from the area for their academic and sporty achievements.

His Holiness continued his series titled “Prayer Requests from the Gregorian Liturgy,” focusing on the verse: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). He reflected on the prayer request, “Confirm the upright,” noting that the word “steadfast” signifies stability. A person should be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).

Pope Tawadros explained that a person desires to be steadfast for the following reasons:

1.⁠ ⁠God is unchanging: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
2.⁠ ⁠God’s dealings with humanity are consistent.
3.⁠ ⁠God is the Beneficent.

He also noted that the Church included anointment with the Myron Oil in the Sacrament of Baptism. The Sacrament of Chrismation is the Sacrament of Confirmation (steadfastness): “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:56).

Pope Tawadros explained the types of steadfastness as follows:

1.⁠ ⁠In Love: Always offering love to others regardless of how they treat us. “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).
2.⁠ ⁠In Faith: Our faith is nourished by precious blood, and we must pass it on to future generations. “If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven” (Colossians 1:23).
3.⁠ ⁠In Trials: A person must remain steadfast in trials: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2).
4.⁠ ⁠In Hope: God grants man the strength of hope: “And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation” (2 Corinthians 1:7).

His Holiness also pointed out reasons that lead to a lack of steadfastness, describing different types of people:

1. The Constantly Unstable: A person whose character shifts from one stage to another, like Judas the traitor.
2. The Moody Personality: A person with a changeable mood, often tied to bad habits.
3.⁠ ⁠The Person Affected by the Surrounding Environment: “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Pope Tawadros provided examples of steadfast characters:

1.⁠ ⁠Job the Righteous: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5).
2.⁠ ⁠The Martyrs.
3.⁠ ⁠Peter the Apostle: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

His Holiness concluded that intense trials are what make the word of God steadfast within us: “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14). A steadfast person’s goal is God and he constantly moves forward, as it is written: “Stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Corinthians 16:13–14).