05
Jul 2020
At this time in the liturgical calendar, we are still celebrating the Feast of the Resurrection and the Feast of the Pentecost. And it is in this context that we read today’s Biblical passage about feeding the multitudes in Matthew 14. There are 3 reasons this reading is important now: 1. This is an image of our salvation The multitude experienced Jesus’s mercy and compassion. When God the father saw the multitudes, he was moved by compassion. None of the prophets and figures of the Old Testament were able to save those......
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21
Jun 2020
Every single time we come to church, it is an opportunity to open our heart and repent and receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ so we can continue in our life. Matthew 10:34 offers us one of the most complicated questions in the Bible. When Jesus was talking with His disciples and the people around him, he said “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” And yet in Matthew 5:44, we are taught: “Love......
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07
Jun 2020
The Pentecost feast is where the Father sent the Holy Spirit keeping the promise that Jesus said to his disciples when He was about to be sent to Heaven. He said: “Remain in Jerusalem until you will receive a power from above.” And this promise Jesus told His disciples was fulfilled after the ten days which is the day of the Pentecost, and this tells us a very important message. That every single thing Jesus Christ has said, he will keep it and fulfill it. It’s been 12 weeks since we had......
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13
May 2020
As Jesus passed, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. He said to him, “Follow me.” So, he arose and followed Him. Maybe one of the most beautiful words that we always hear in the Bible from the very beginning, in the book of Genesis is also “Follow me.” And follow me means, walk after me, come behind me. And if we want to go deeper, if somebody tells you follow me, that means they want to show you something. And it does not mean, “come and I......
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03
May 2020
A lot of us after the spiritual and holy season forget about God. I don’t mean we don’t believe in God, but we try to give ourselves a break or rest from our relationship with Jesus after times like the Holy Lent and Easter. But we should all read or Bible daily. We should all keep the fast during the whole year. And we should do more prayers, spiritual meetings, or hear sermons more often all during the year. Not only during the special seasons. In other words, we give us an......
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18
Apr 2020
On, the Holy Saturday, we celebrate the day before Easter. We thank the Lord who brought us to this blessed hour and this very special time. While I was preparing the sermon the other day, I asked this day “What’s your story?” “I feel less important than the other days,” Saturday said to me. “Good Friday is about Jesus’s death and Sunday celebrates Jesus’s resurrection. Nobody remembers this day, and nobody cares about me.” But this day is very important. We are one day away from the biggest feast ever, the resurrection......
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05
Apr 2020
Sunday sermon from His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak: On the 6th Sunday of our Journey for Easter, a person in great need tried to attract the attention of the people around Jesus. It was a special request. As we read in Luke 18:35-45: Life was passing the blind man. He had been sitting on the sideline of life, begging because he had no way to make a living for himself. He could not go on a trip like the people of Jesus were doing. People were passing him by and looking......
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15
Mar 2020
We thank our heavenly father for all the blessings he gives us every day. We believe in the almighty. And He said, “I will never forsake you or forget you for all the days of your life until I come again.” We need to hear these verses, especially in these days. For when God is with us, nobody can be against us. Today’s the third Sunday of the great Lent, and we commemorate the healing of the paralytic man. It reminds us there is nothing that can help us except our savior......
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13
Mar 2020
The following statement has been issued by His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak after recent meetings with clergy: Special Statement about Coronavirus “And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.” (Numbers 16:48) Very Reverend, reverend fathers, parish council presidents and beloved faithful, May the grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. All of you have been going through a challenging period recently and are unsure how to live our lives. The threat of coronavirus is in our communities, schools, and businesses. And yet,......
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23
Feb 2020
This Sunday is the Sunday that we call for all the faithful departed. Next Sunday is going to be the first Sunday of the Holy Lent. And after that, we begin a beautiful and Holy journey to the crucifixion and resurrection. The departed were once among us, and we now believe they are up in a very good place. We know, most importantly they are with Jesus Christ and He is the life. Jesus says I am the life and the way and the resurrection. When we move from this earth, He......
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