The Word


19
Jul 2020
Father Saliba Syriac Orthodox Church

The reading of today is from the Gospel of St. Luke 17, when the Lord was talking first of the offenses, and then forgiveness, and then at the end by serving. “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” – Luke 17:1-2 In our life there are a lot of obstacles and......

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12
Jul 2020
His Eminence John Kawak

In today’s reading, Mark 9:30-41, we see many topics, but there is one core message. It is talking about servanthood. In verse 35, the Lord says “If anyone desires to be served, he shall be last of all and servants of all.” This is a crucial scene. Believers are taught to lead lives of giving instead of taking and consider the needs of others. St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians 2:1-11 pointed to the life of Jesus as the ultimate example of a servant leader. The essence of leadership is......

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05
Jul 2020
Shamosho Imad Suryany

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
Syriac Orthodox Church Sermon

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
From Father Andrew Bahhi - The Feast of the Pentecost

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
Syriac Orthodox Church

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
From Father Andrew Bahhi: How to Always Be with Jesus

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
From Father Andrew Bahhi - Saturday of Light before Easter

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
Jesus and the Blind Man Luk 18

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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29
Mar 2020
The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37

We thank always our heavenly father for all his blessings to give us this opportunity to be in His home to be with us in this liturgy. I know most of you at home wish to be with us, but believe me you are with us in the spirit, because our savior said “every 2 or three people who gather in my name, I’ll be in their midst of them.” So, we believe He is with you, as He is with us. Today is the 5th Sunday of the Holy Great Lent.......

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