NEBAB #3: Lent Week 3- Mikurab
NEBAB #3
The Orthodox Tewahedo Magazine
LENT WEEK 3: MIKURAB (ምኩራብ)
The Spiritual Education Unit
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Archdiocese of the Caribbean and Latin America
3rd Week of Lent: Mikurab
In this issue:
Gospel: St John 2:13-17
1. Mikurab- The Temple
2. Who built the first Christian church?
3. Faith and works
4. “Ask Abba/Kes”
5. A Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam
6. Children’s corner
7. Orthodox Q&A
Commentary on the Gospel:
St John 2:14-15
In the gospels, we see our Lord come face to face with sinners of all descriptions, and we see his gentleness- even with murderers! But when it comes to His house- God is not patient. God is loving and patient, and He is also just, and jealous for His worship. Usually He spoke to the sinners to teach them repentance, but not here. Before saying a word, He began to cleanse His temple.
He did eventually speak- to those who sold doves. Our church teaches that the oxen and sheep represent sins of action- big and loud, leaving a mark. The money changers represent sins of speech, but the doves are sins of thought. Like birds, thoughts come and go briefly. Let us not invite them to stay! Our Lord helps us with the first two, but tells us we must struggle with the thoughts ourselves.
May we hear the words of life!
The Church- ቤተክርስቲያን (bete-kristiyan)
The word “Church” has 3 meanings:
The Baptised Christian (1 Cor 3:16)
The Faithful Members (Acts 20:28)
The Church Building (2 Chr 3:1)
Image: Debre Berhan Selassie, Gondar
The 8 weeks of The Great Fast, also known as Lent, have names and themes laid out in St Yared’s Tsome Digua. The third, Mikurab, means ‘Temple or Synagogue’. On this date, Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos shows his authority and demonstrated the importance of keeping the temple/church holy and honouring God’s house as a place of prayer but nothing else
THE CHURCH IS:
+ The abode of God
+ Place of teaching, prayers and worship (Mt. 21:13; Jn. 2:7, Ps. 68:9)
+ Place for the forgiveness of sin and intercession
+ A place where the Gospel is preached, the Holy Communion is administered and Baptism is conducted.
+ The final resting place of Christians
+ A place where spiritual service is conducted for all irrespective of age, race and gender.
This teaching was crucial for those people who had gotten so used to seeing (and doing) merchandising in the temple that they perhaps didn’t even know it was a big sin.
This teaching is also very crucial for our generation that we should always remember Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos gave us salvation and eternal life for free.
There's a place for everything and we shouldn't be selling and buying in the church as Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos ordered us. We Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christians shouldn't come to church to profit worldly matters but to receive eternal life and salvation for free.
When Christ taught the apostles how to build the first church
He ascended forty days after He resurrected. On the tenth day after He ascended, He sent the Apostles the Holy Spirit. They were renewed from old age, they matured in knowledge, knew languages, they became precise in (understanding) the Mystery. They lived together one full year in Jerusalem. Then, since they were cognizant of what He said to them, “Go and teach,” they apportioned this world between themselves by casting lot after lot. They taught in their respective lots. (Initially) they had not designated a certain place for prayer and offering.
They offered and gave communion celebrating Mass at wherever they went and wherever they lodged. Then, eight years after the ascension of the Lord, Saint Paul believed and was baptised. He and Barnabas went into Philippi and taught. When they noticed that their teaching had been very well understood (by the people), they said to them, “If you believe and are baptised, then do not go to the house of idols.”
The people said to them, “If you have us give up what we have been used to, then designate for us a place for prayer and sacrifice.” Having seen that it was a good idea, they sent (the case) to Jerusalem, saying (to themselves), “But this, we cannot decide on our own; let the Apostles hear (it).” John and Peter were found there. They replied to them, saying, “There is nothing you can do without the order of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.”
They immediately held a suba’e i.e. prayer. When the suba’e time was completed, the Lord came and gathered them in Philippi, bringing near those who were far, calling those who were near, and raising those who were dead. John said to Peter, “Since you are the teacher and father of the world, ask (the Lord) the reason for which we are gathered.” Peter said to him, “Previously, it was you who asked him on Thursday evening. Today, too, ask him according to your habit.” When John asked, saying, “Why have you assembled us?”
He said to them, “Since it is My will that churches be built in the name of My Mother from end to end (of the world), I have assembled you to show you church architecture and to teach you church ordinance.” They said to Him, “Alright, show us.” Then He went out to the east, taking them with him. In a country of the east, there were three stones. He showed these to the Apostles, bringing those which were far from each other close to each other, and enlarging those that were small. He took stones and softened them like wax, and they built a church of three rooms, with the stones which He had softened like wax being stretched in their hands.
They also built a baptistery attached, of the length of 24 and width of 12 (cubits), as the Lord has told them in the Book of the Covenant. The 24 are symbols of the Prophets, the 12 of the Apostles, the 3 stones of the Trinity, the 3 rooms of the tabot of Adam, the tabot of Noah, and the tabot of Moses. This took place on Senne 20, four years after the Assumption of Our Lady. The next day, the Lord celebrated Mass for them.
Faith and works:
How to be the temple of God
We must stand in-front of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos and plead him always to keep His Temple (our body) on the right path which he established and passed it to the Apostles.
Too often we work to honour the building made of stones and neglect or defile the building made of our flesh, minds, and spirits, which is made to be the dwelling place of God. Let us take a closer look at our daily lives with the understanding that the temple of God is within us. Knowing that we have been made the dwelling place of the almighty, let us take heed to the words of St. Paul saying “If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is Holy, which you are that temple.” (1 Cor 3:17)
BONUS CHALLENGE:
Increase your prostrations each week of the fast. They build a strong body and soul!
Ask Abba/Kes
In Psalm 45:16, are the children mentioned the apostles?
In His teaching, our Lord Jesus Christ called His disciples His children (Mark 10:24). As you remember, He gave the disciples to His Mother, the Holy Virgin Mary, on the cross (John 19:26-27).Psalm 45 is, as you know, a Psalm of prophecy concerning our Mother the Holy Virgin and in it David prophesies these great things about his daughter, including her children, the holy apostles.
BIBLE QUIZ!
Find two Bible verses that mention the building of a place to worship God
A Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam
There was a certain man who loved the Eucharist, and who never ate any food whatsoever until he had received the Offering, and he received the Offering on each festival of our Lady Maryam.
And one day he set out on a journey and fainted by the way, and he made haste to reach the church, but was unable to do so, and he fell exhausted under a large tree.
And he prayed to our Lady Maryam saying, “What good is the eating of food to me if I have not partaken of the Offering?” And saying this he
wept bitterly and was sorrowful.
Then straightway our Lady Maryam prayed to Her Son, saying, “O my Son, my King, and my God, remember thy covenant. This man is sorrowful through love for the Offering, and Thou sayest, He who hath eaten My Flesh and drunk My Blood shall live the life everlasting.”
And straightway He heard Her prayer and received Her petition, and He sent priests and manna bread, and they pitched a tent, and set up a shrine therein, and they celebrated the Eucharist, and that man received the Offering with them.
And he thanked God the Most High, and our Lady the Virgin Maryam. Amen.
O Holy Virgin Maryam, pray for us!
LIJOCH! The Children's Corner
MEMORY VERSE- ST. JOHN 2: 19
“JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID TO THEM, ‘DESTROY THIS TEMPLE, AND IN THREE DAYS I WILL RAISE IT UP.’”
DRAW A PICTURE OF YOUR CHURCH (BETE-KRISTIYAN)
WRITE THE NAME OF YOUR CHURCH
_______________________________
ORTHODOX Q&A
Give an example of fasting with humiliation?
Fasting with humiliation is mentioned in the fast called for by Joel the prophet (Joel 2 : 12,13).
Who was the prophet who when fasting did not eat meat or any rich food?
Daniel, when he fasted, did not eat any meat or rich food (Dan. 10:3)
Mention an example of fasting that was not individual but where all God’s people fasted?
All the people fasted in the days of Queen Esther and all the people of Nineveh fasted also. (Jon 3)
References
Faith and works: keraneyo-medhanealem.com/post/mikurab; YOTC Facebook -March 22, 2021
Miracle of Holy Virgin Mary: One Hundred and Ten Miracles of our Lady Mary, E.A. Wallis Budge
CONTACT US:
Archdiocese headquarters: Medhane Alem (Saviour of the World), Old Golden Grove Rd. Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago.
Tel. 868-642-4230.
e-mail: eotc.arch.carla@gmail.com
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