NEBAB #4: Lent Week 4- Metsagu'e

  NEBAB #4

The Orthodox Tewahedo Magazine

LENT WEEK 4: METSAGU'E (መጻጉዕ)

The Spiritual Education Unit

Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Archdiocese of the Caribbean and Latin America

4th Week of Lent: Metsagu'e

In this issue:

Gospel: St John 5:1-15

    1. Metsagu'e- The Paralytic

    2. Why our Lord said "...lest a worse thing come upon you"

    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 5:6-7

Of all the sick people in Bethesda, why did our Lord go to this man? The answer is found in how the gospel identifies him- as having been sick for 38 years. Our Lord chose him to teach us about patience. Patience is a virtue and a crown of other virtues. Patience attracts our Lord to us- if we want our prayers to be answered it is an invaluable virtue for us to practise. Our Lord asked him “Do you wish to be made well?” not because He did not know the answer or to decide if He would heal him, but to show us that our willingness is necessary for Him to act in our lives. He does not force Himself on us, but willingness in our words and our actions invites Him to help us.

May we hear the word of life!

Metsagu'e- The Paralytic (aka The Infirm Man)

The 8 weeks of The Great Fast, also known as Lent, have names and themes laid out in St Yared’s Tsome Digua. The fourth, Metsagu’e, means ‘The Paralytic/The Infirm Man’.

The sick and disabled used to gather at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem to be healed, as whenever the water was stirred up by St Raphael the archangel, the first to step in would be healed. There was one man who had been paralysed 38 years and had no one to put him in the pool, who when our Lord healed saying “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” The miracle took place on the Sabbath.

We commemorate it by going to Church and celebrating the liturgy in the 4th week of Lent. Our Lord found him in the temple, and let Him find us in the temple too, when He comes to us.

 

Image: Bete Giorgis, Lalibela

Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you

It sounds ominous- some might say even threatening- but our Lord’s words to the healed paralytic were not idle. Let’s look at the events following this miracle, and the sad story (don’t worry there’s a hopeful ending) of the infirm man.

Shortly following his healing, the Jews interrogated him, on the surface, upset that he was “breaking the Sabbath”, but deep down furious about his healing. His answer was powerful, silencing their tongues. They accused him saying “By carrying your bed you are breaking the Sabbath.” His reply:

“The One who healed me told me, ‘Take up your bed and walk’.”

What faith! What courage! To challenge the Jews’ authority like that, effectively saying “You say one thing, and the Man who healed my 38 year paralysis and gave me the strength to carry this bed says another. Should I really listen to you over Him?”

St John Chrysostom remarks on his courage in resisting the Jews and boldly proclaiming his Benefactor. He also points out to us the paralytic’s faith. When our Lord told him to walk, he did not scoff at the idea that a Man merely by speaking could do greater works than the Angel of God- no, he just obeyed, and reaped the rewards.

Recommended reading: Homilies on the Gospel of John (Chapter 5)- St John Chrysostom

Heal my soul (Psalm 41:4): Recovering when we slip up

But sadly, even after proclaiming such great faith and showing such obedience, the man would go on to work for the Jews. 

He was one who slapped our Lord in His passion. He also went at their request to steal the body of the Mother of Light on the way to the burial- and famously, when his hands grasped the bier, the angel’s sword severed them from his arms. He then swiftly cried out with repentance to the Holy Virgin and she had mercy on him. Let us take notes- his repentance was:

    + Genuine

    + Immediate

    + Asking for intercession from St Mary

He fell from a greater height than us and was raised up. Let us imitate him in repentance.

Faith and works:

How to be the temple of God

We so admire the faith and obedience of the paralytic, so how can we emulate that in our lives? When God lifts us up from languishing in our sins, how can we carry our beds and walk in our restored health?

+ Penance: Develop (or begin!) your relationship with your confessor father and confess regularly.

+ Forgiveness: Make a list of people who have wronged you. Now cross off their names! Only then will God forgive you.

BONUS CHALLENGE:

Start keeping a ‘rights-and-wrongs’ journal. Use it to track the successes in your Christian walk, and to become familiar with your sins, especially the ones you repeat most.

Ask Abba/Kes

What is the meaning of making the sign of the cross?

From top to bottom indicates the descending of Christ from heaven to earth and the signs from left to right indicates him turning us from left (sinful life) to the right (Righteousness).

 

BIBLE QUIZ!

Who in the Bible was healed by:

water?    ~    a fish?    ~    clothing?

A Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam

A miracle performed by Our Lady Mary, Mariham, Holy Virgin, Mother of God, may Her intercession be with us, amen. A monk in one of the monasteries loved Our Lady Mary, Mariham, Holy Virgin, with his whole heart. He served her with his whole mind. He delighted in praying to Our Lady Mary, Mariham, Holy Virgin. Whenever he commemorated her name, he rejoiced and was happy. This monk was the scribe of the monastery. 

Whenever he was copying [a manuscript] and came across the name of Our Lady Mary, Mariham, Holy Virgin, he honored it and exalted it. He never wrote her name in black ink. Rather, he wrote her name in gold, silver, and red ink. And for others, he mixed his glorious inks. Then, that monk grew ill and drew near to death. Then, Our Lady Mary, Mariham, Holy Virgin, appeared to him and she said to him, “My dear beloved righteous one, my faithful servant, you have written my name in gold ink, adorning it and honoring it with every one of your abilities. Get up and come with me, so that I may show you your name, which is written and adorned in the Kingdom of Heaven. So, now, don’t be afraid of death, for I will give you eternal life, rest, and joy!” After Our Lady Mary, Mariham, said this to him, his soul left his body without pain and it entered into the Kingdom of Heaven.

One of the righteous monks from that monastery told us about this miracle. He told us that he had seen this vision [of Mary appearing to the scribe] on the very night he had died. It was after that scribe died that the monk told us what he had seen. Once all of the monks heard of this miracle, they worshiped God and praised Our Lady Mary, Mariham, Holy Virgin, whose mercy never ceases for those who serve and love her. Rather, she gives good rewards in this world and also in the eternal life to come.  She does not ignore those who call upon her and who hope in her. May the prayer and blessing of Our Lady Mary, Mariham, Holy Virgin, be with your servant Emperor Dawit, forever and ever, amen and amen.

O Holy Virgin Maryam, pray for us!

LIJOCH! The Children's Corner

MEMORY VERSE- ST. JOHN 5: 5

 “NOW A CERTAIN MAN WAS THERE WHO HAD AN INFIRMITY THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS.’”

COLOUR THE PICTURE

NAME THE MAN THAT HAD THE INFIRMITY

_______________________________

ORTHODOX Q&A

What is the prophecy in the Old Testament about a virgin bearing a son and about his name?

It is written (Isa 7:14), A Virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son , and will call him Emmanuel.

 

What was the spiritual effect of the visit of Virgin Mary on Elizabeth?

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting , the Baby leaped in her womb ,and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke. 1:41).

 

Send us your questions at: seu.eotccarla@gmail.com

References

Metsagu’e: Mahibere Kidusan- The Impotent Man (eotcmk.org)

Sin no more: Homilies on the Gospel of John- St John Chrysostom

Miracle of Holy Virgin Maryam: Princeton Ethiopian Miracles of Mary Project (pemm.princeton.edu)

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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