“Specialized Chapters” (Part 1) – “Love”

[Mary Naeem]

H.H. Pope Tawadros II



“أصحاحات متخصصة” (١) “المحبة”




“Specialized Chapters” (Part 1) – “Love”
: A New Series in the Wednesday Meeting


H.H. Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly Wednesday sermon this evening from the Church of Archangel Michael at the new administrative headquarters, in Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia. The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels and on C.O.C, the official online channel of the Media Center of the Church.

Pope Tawadros began a new series titled “Specialized Chapters.” He pointed out that the Holy Bible is filled with lessons and knowledge, and that within it are chapters dedicated entirely to one subject. He chose this series as a Bible study to deeply explore a single theme from multiple perspectives.

Today, His Holiness read the thirteenth chapter of the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, on the subject of love, which he will address in the first two weeks of the new series.

Pope Tawadros explained that the Holy Bible does not use metaphors, but speaks in truths. Love is the key to the human heart and the way to heaven. St. Paul spoke of love in an ordered manner: he first gave an introduction explaining the place of love in the life of man, then listed a group of attributes, and finally concluded with: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

His Holiness further clarified that everything without love has no value, as St. Paul made clear in the beginning of the chapter.

He then presented the greatness of love in three fundamental principles:
1. Speech without love is noise: A person may speak eloquently or in foreign tongues, but if love is absent, the voice becomes like lifeless noise. This is the measure by which human speech is weighed. Example: the Pharisee and the tax collector.
2. Speech without love is emptiness: Knowledge and faith without love become a form of pride. Example: Satan.
3. Giving or service without love is void: Even the greatest sacrifice, if offered without love, does not benefit its giver. Example: Ananias and Sapphira.

Pope Tawadros advised that, as we begin a new Coptic year, each person should examine the shape of his love, for God measures the genuine love within the human heart.

He presented the aspects of love as given by St. Paul, as well as the following signs of the lack of love:
1. Envy- A lack of love breeds hatred and hostility toward others.
2. Lack of love toward God- Manifested in neglecting: prayer, reading of the Bible, the sacraments, and fasting.
3. Disregarding the divine presence in the church, and lack of longing for heaven.
4. Falling into love of the world.

The remedies for lack of love, as explained by His Holiness, are:
1. Love against envy: St. John Chrysostom said, “The envious man is an enemy to himself before being an enemy to others.” Love is the effective remedy against envy, for love rejoices in the joy of others: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15)
2. Love does not boast, nor seek fame.
3. Love does not puff up: referring to human pride. Love builds, but pride destroys relationships: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
4. Love against selfishness and misconduct: Love expresses itself in respectful words and gentle phrases. “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).
5. Love does not seek its own, but covers sins. “For love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
6. Love against evil temper, gloating and provocation: Love is found in calmness and dealing positively with others. St. Jacob of Serugh said: “Love extinguishes the fire of anger just as water quenches the flames.”
7. Love does not think evil, but assumes good intentions and excuses others. Love also requires wisdom in conduct. “[Love] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth”(1 Corinthians 13:6).