1. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Day 14 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Babah, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins after forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers.
Amen.

The Fourteenth Day of the Blessed Month of Babah

Departure of St.Philip, One of the Seven Deacons

      On this day was the departure of St. Philip, one of the Seven Deacons, departed. He was from Caesarea, Palestine. When the Lord Christ, to Him is the glory, went through this area, this saint heard Him teaching and followed Him immediately. When the Lord chose the 70 Disciples and sent them forth to preach and heal the sick, this disciple was one of them. The Twelve Apostles chose him as one of the Seven Deacons appointed to serve. This Apostle preached in the cities of Samaria and baptized its people. He also baptized Simon the magician who perished when he tried to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit with money. One day the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." He rose and went and behold a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury and had come to Jerusalem to worship. As he was returning and sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the spirit said to Philip, "Go near and join this chariot." So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

      And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the scripture which he read was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb before its shearer is silent. So He opened not his mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away. And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth." So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water; What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, if you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8:26-40) He went around the countries of Asia and preached the living Gospel there. He had four daughters who preached the word of God with him. He brought many of the Jews, the Samaritans and others to the faith, and departed in peace.

May his prayers and blessings be with us all, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.

Vespers

Vespers Psalm

From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 68 : 35,3

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.

Vespers Gospel

Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.

Luke 10 : 1 - 20

And Glory be to God forever.

Matins

Matins Psalm

From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 145 : 10 - 12

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.

Matins Gospel

Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.

John 1 : 43 - 51

And Glory be to God forever.

Liturgy Gospel

Paulines Epistle

Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Titus .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.

Titus 2 : 11 - 3 : 7

The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.

Catholic Epistle

A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. John .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.

1 John 5 : 5 - 13

Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen.

Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.

Acts 8 : 26 - 39

The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.

Divine Psalm

Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet, and the Good King.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 32 : 1 - 2

Hallelujah.

Divine Gospel

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.

John 3 : 1 - 21

And Glory be to God forever.

تعالوا‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏يا‏ ‏جميع‏ ‏المتعبين‏ ‏والثقيلي‏ ‏الأحمال‏, ‏وأنا‏ ‏أريحكم‏ (‏مت‏11:28)‏
‏* ‏الإنسان‏ ‏لا‏ ‏يتغير‏ ‏إلا‏ ‏بالنعمة‏, ‏والنعمة‏ ‏لا‏ ‏تأتي‏ ‏إلا‏ ‏عندما‏ ‏نجاهد‏ ‏روحيا‏, ‏ونحن‏ ‏لا‏ ‏نرغب‏ ‏إلا‏ ‏عندما‏ ‏نطلب‏ ‏باشتياق‏ ‏ما‏ ‏هو‏ ‏فوق‏, ‏نطلب‏ ‏المسيح‏.‏
‏* ‏قيمة‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏تقاس‏ ‏بقوة‏ ‏شخصيته‏ ‏وبنائه‏ ‏الداخلي‏, ‏وليس‏ ‏في‏ ‏ماله‏ ‏أو‏ ‏منصبه‏.. ‏لكن‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏أمام‏ ‏أمور‏ ‏كثيرة‏ ‏في‏ ‏العالم‏ ‏ضعيف‏ ‏للغاية‏.‏
فمثلا‏ ‏إنسان‏ ‏جبار‏ ‏مثل‏ ‏شمشون‏, ‏أحد‏ ‏قضاة‏ ‏بني‏ ‏إسرائيل‏ ‏تتخلي‏ ‏عنه‏ ‏نعمة‏ ‏الله‏ ‏عندما‏ ‏يسقط‏ ‏في‏ ‏شهوات‏ ‏نفسه‏, ‏ويسقط‏ ‏أمام‏ ‏دليلة‏. ‏فقيمة‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏في‏ ‏قوته‏ ‏الداخلية‏. ‏وفي‏ ‏نفس‏ ‏الوقت‏ ‏فتاة‏ ‏صغيرة‏ ‏مثل‏ ‏يوستينا‏ ‏الشهيدة‏ ‏مجرد‏ ‏اسمها‏ ‏يهزم‏ ‏الشياطين‏.‏
أولا‏: ‏أناس‏ ‏ذهب‏ ‏إليهم‏ ‏المسيح‏:‏
‏1- ‏سمعان‏ ‏الفريسي‏: ‏ذهب‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏بيت‏ ‏سمعان‏ ‏الفريسي‏.. ‏وكانت‏ ‏زيارة‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏له‏ ‏لكي‏ ‏يكشف‏ ‏معدن‏ ‏هذا‏ ‏الإنسان‏, ‏ويضعه‏ ‏في‏ ‏مقارنة‏ ‏أمام‏ ‏المرأة‏ ‏الخاطئة‏ ‏وهي‏ ‏التي‏ ‏تفوز‏ (‏لو‏7:36-50).‏
‏2- ‏المرأة‏ ‏السامرية‏: ‏ذهب‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏للمرأة‏ ‏السامرية‏ ‏عند‏ ‏البئر‏.‏
‏3- ‏زكا‏ ‏العشار‏: ‏قابله‏ ‏عند‏ ‏الشجرة‏, ‏وهي‏ ‏ترمز‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏الصليب‏, ‏فالمسيح‏ ‏أراد‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يقابل‏ ‏زكا‏ ‏عند‏ ‏خشبة‏ ‏الصليب‏ ‏الشجرة‏ ‏ليقدم‏ ‏له‏ ‏الخلاص‏.‏
يذهب‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏لهؤلاء‏ ‏الناس‏ ‏لأجل‏ ‏ثلاثة‏ ‏أسباب‏:‏
‏1- ‏خلاص‏ ‏نفوسهم‏: ‏لكي‏ ‏يعرفوا‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏المخلص‏.‏
‏2- ‏شفائهم‏ ‏الروحي‏: ‏شفاء‏ ‏أمراضهم‏ ‏وشفائهم‏ ‏من‏ ‏الخطية‏.‏
‏3- ‏إقامة‏ ‏الموتي‏: ‏في‏ ‏مراحل‏ ‏مختلفة‏, ‏كإقامة‏ ‏ابنة‏ ‏يايرس‏ ‏أو‏ ‏إقامة‏ ‏ابن‏ ‏أرملة‏ ‏نايين‏ ‏أو‏ ‏إقامة‏ ‏لعازر‏.‏
ثانيا‏: ‏أناس‏ ‏ذهبوا‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏المسيح
‏* ‏قد‏ ‏يكونوا‏ ‏سمعوا‏ ‏عنه‏ ‏بحثوا‏ ‏عنه‏ ‏مثل‏:‏
‏1- ‏المرأة‏ ‏الكنعانية‏: ‏كانت‏ ‏تصرخ‏ ‏بحرارة‏ ‏ارحمني‏, ‏يا‏ ‏سيد‏, ‏يا‏ ‏ابن‏ ‏داود‏! (‏مت‏15:22).‏
‏2- ‏نازفة‏ ‏الدم‏: ‏التي‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏كل‏ ‏أمنيتها‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تلمس‏ ‏هدب‏ ‏ثوبه‏ (‏مت‏9:20).‏
‏3- ‏أصدقاء‏ ‏المفلوج‏: ‏أصحاب‏ ‏الإيمان‏ ‏بصانع‏ ‏المعجزات‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يستطيع‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يشفي‏ ‏صديقهم‏ (‏مر‏2:3).‏
أسباب‏ ‏الجاذبية‏ ‏في‏ ‏شخص‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏والتي‏ ‏جعلت‏ ‏الناس‏ ‏تريد‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تتقابل‏ ‏معه‏.‏
‏1- ‏المخلص‏ ‏الوحيد‏: ‏ليس‏ ‏بأحد‏ ‏غيره‏ ‏الخلاص‏ (‏أع‏4:12), ‏هو‏ ‏المخلص‏ ‏الوحيد‏ ‏من‏ ‏الخطية‏ ‏التي‏ ‏هي‏ ‏داء‏ ‏الإنسان‏.‏
‏2- ‏الراعي‏ ‏الصالح‏: ‏المسيح‏ ‏هو‏ ‏الراعي‏ ‏الصالح‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يرعي‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏علي‏ ‏حسب‏ ‏تعبير‏ ‏الكتاب‏ ‏الرب‏ ‏راعي‏ ‏فلا‏ ‏يعوزني‏ ‏شيء‏ (‏مز‏23:1), ‏رعاية‏ ‏الله‏ ‏للإنسان‏ ‏رعاية‏ ‏دائمة‏ ‏لا‏ ‏يحدها‏ ‏زمان‏ ‏ولا‏ ‏مكان‏.‏
‏3- ‏باب‏ ‏السماء‏: ‏أي‏ ‏هو‏ ‏الوسيلة‏ ‏الوحيدة‏ ‏التي‏ ‏تصل‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏بالسماء‏ ‏اجتهدوا‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تدخلوا‏ ‏من‏ ‏الباب‏ ‏الضيق‏ (‏لو‏13:24).‏
‏4- ‏القادر‏ ‏علي‏ ‏كل‏ ‏شيء‏: ‏القادر‏ ‏علي‏ ‏كل‏ ‏شيء‏ (‏رؤ‏16:7), ‏هو‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يستطيع‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يحول‏ ‏الخوف‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏شجاعة‏ ‏واليأس‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏رضا‏ ‏والحزن‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏فرح‏..‏
‏5- ‏المعلم‏ ‏الصالح‏: ‏المسيح‏ ‏هو‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يعلم‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏السلوك‏ ‏المسيحي‏ ‏الراقي‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يهذب‏ ‏الروح‏ ‏ويرفع‏ ‏من‏ ‏إنسانيته‏.‏
‏6- ‏المعطي‏ ‏القوة‏: ‏المسيح‏ ‏هو‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يعطي‏ ‏قوة‏ ‏النعمة‏ ‏تكفيك‏ ‏نعمتي‏ (2‏كو‏12:9).‏
ثالثا‏: ‏خطوات‏ ‏تساعدك‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الالتقاء‏ ‏بالمسيح‏:‏
‏1- ‏اثبت‏: ‏اثبت‏ ‏في‏ ‏إيمانك‏ ‏وأقوي‏ ‏تعبير‏ ‏عن‏ ‏الإيمان‏ ‏المزدهر‏ ‏هو‏ ‏سير‏ ‏القديسين‏ ‏وأبطال‏ ‏الإيمان‏, ‏فلا‏ ‏تجعل‏ ‏إيمانك‏ ‏شكليا‏.‏
‏2- ‏حاول‏: ‏حاول‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تدرك‏ ‏محبة‏ ‏الله‏ ‏نحوك‏, ‏الله‏ ‏يتحرك‏ ‏نحوك‏ ‏بالحب‏, ‏فعليك‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تدرك‏ ‏مقدار‏ ‏هذه‏ ‏المحبة‏.‏
‏3- ‏تحرك‏: ‏تحرك‏ ‏نحو‏ ‏الله‏ ‏دائما‏ ‏بالصلاة‏, ‏فالمسيح‏ ‏علمنا‏ ‏أنه‏ ‏ينبغي‏ ‏أن‏ ‏نصلي‏ ‏كل‏ ‏حين‏. ‏وهذا‏ ‏معناه‏ ‏كن‏ ‏في‏ ‏حركة‏ ‏اقتراب‏ ‏دائمة‏ ‏نحو‏ ‏الله‏.‏
‏4- ‏اجعل‏: ‏اجعل‏ ‏لك‏ ‏عملا‏ ‏يعبر‏ ‏عن‏ ‏محبتك‏ ‏لله‏ ‏إن‏ ‏كان‏ ‏بالخدمة‏ ‏أو‏ ‏بأعمال‏ ‏الرحمة‏.. ‏فعندما‏ ‏تلتقي‏ ‏بالمسيح‏ ‏سيعطيك‏ ‏قوة‏ ‏خاصة‏.. ‏فيوسف‏ ‏الصديق‏ ‏نال‏ ‏قوة‏ ‏داخلية‏ ‏أمام‏ ‏إغراء‏ ‏امرأة‏ ‏فوطيفار‏, ‏وإسطفانوس‏ ‏الشهيد‏ ‏الأول‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏نال‏ ‏قوة‏ ‏داخلية‏ ‏أمام‏ ‏راجميه‏.. ‏إذا‏ ‏فأنت‏ ‏الرابح‏ ‏في‏ ‏الحالتين‏ ‏عندما‏ ‏يزورك‏ ‏مسيحك‏ ‏من‏ ‏خلال‏ ‏النعمة‏ ‏أو‏ ‏عندما‏ ‏تسعي‏ ‏أنت‏ ‏لتلتقي‏ ‏به‏ ‏وتكون‏ ‏النتيجة‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تشعر‏ ‏بهذه‏ ‏القوة‏ ‏في‏ ‏داخلك‏ ‏وأنه‏ ‏يرافق‏ ‏طريقك‏ ‏في‏ ‏كل‏ ‏يوم‏.