25
Jul 2021
As we learn today from the Gospel from the book of Mark, we should focus and open our heart. As our Father told the disciples maybe the most important thing Jesus came for, he said, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of man. And they will kill him. And after He is killed, He will rise on the third day.” – Mark 9:31 We should focus on the message of salvation that the savior came forth. And He kept repeating “I am coming to die and by my......
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11
Jul 2021
A lot of times we try to find other ways around trouble. But the difference is God. If He is not in our life, unfortunately we would get lost. It would be very hard to know the right way to heaven. I pray all of us can have God in our heart, and Jesus as a savior in our life. Our life is too short, and the trouble in life is a lot, and without Him we cannot gain safety to His eternal home. Last week, the reading from the Bible was......
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04
Jul 2021
Today is the feast of St. Thomas, which we call the first of the middle Sundays of Easter. During these 3 main periods after Easter, we have a) eight Sundays after Easter, b) Then the middles Sundays of Easter, 8, and then c) The later Sundays of Easter. These three periods usually run to the consecration of the church, which ends exactly eight weeks before Christmas. When we learn virtues taught by our Lord, with hope and happiness, nothing will put us down. And this is the importance of priorities. Jesus says......
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13
Jun 2021
Today we celebrate the ascension of the Lord. I pray we can take a couple of spiritual lessons from this day. It may be embarrassing to compare how much we think of ourselves on earthly things and one day, we won’t need it. Meanwhile the eternal thing – the second life forever and ever – we don’t pay that much attention. Or we don’t maybe even care about it. That’s why this feast is a call for all of us. Maybe we think our life on earth is the end of everything.......
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06
Jun 2021
There is a study in U.S. churches which says 98% of Christians do not share their faith with others. This is bad news. But what can we do to be of the two percent, or what can we do to one day be 98% sharing their faith and good news instead of two percent? The Bible says you cannot light a lamp and put it under the bed or cover it. The light you receive from your parents and the church – it is not nice to hide of it. You need......
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30
May 2021
This Sunday is the 4th Sunday after Easter, and we see today’s reading helps everyone with an opportunity to get closer to God. Become more Christian and faithful to God. John 3:11-21 is very important for that reason. At the end, at verse 19, there is a very beautiful verse and also a very scary verse. When Jesus said “and this is the condemnation (or judgement).” Knowing the answer for this word will help every individual to know his life with Jesus, and ask oneself, “Am I with him or not?” As......
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23
May 2021
This Sunday is the 3rd Sunday after Resurrection. As we read, Christ is Risen. Indeed, He is risen. We should carry it through all our life not only after the Resurrection of the Christ but every day. Because as Christians, we know the evil always tries to attack us. We fall under the burden of our lives, trials and our sins. So, we always need to remember; as Christ is risen from death, we can also rise from death. At the beginning of the liturgy, we had a beautiful reading from the......
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16
May 2021
This Sunday is the 2nd Sunday after Easter, and in these times since the Resurrection Day, we read how Jesus began to appear to His disciples. The Bible says Jesus was teaching His disciples the secret of the kingdom, which is why this time is very important. We spoke about “life” on Resurrection Day, then “restoration” last week. And this Sunday we see in John 21 – when Jesus appeared to the disciples – that now we speak about this being the Sunday of the “correction.” Namely, with Peter. First, when Peter......
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09
May 2021
We call today the New Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter. Yet, today’s reading represents how we talk about doubt. The disciples spoke of seeing Jesus rise from death. But Thomas said, “no, unless I see with my eyes, or touch with my hand, I will not believe.” So why is the New Sunday also called the Doubt Sunday? Such opposition. But yet, our faith begins when we search for God, in other words, we have doubts. This doubt then will lead us to have faith. This doubt will lead you to......
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07
May 2021
As you all know this year we are honoring Mor Jacob of Serugh, the harp of the Holy Spirit, a very well-known poet and a great teacher in our Syriac Church of Antioch on his 1500 Jubilee year. Throughout this year we will be dedicating and sending articles about him. We encourage you all to take the time and read about the great Saint....
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