NEBAB #5: Lent Week 5- Debre Zeyt

   NEBAB #5

The Orthodox Tewahedo Magazine

LENT WEEK 5: DEBRE ZEYT (ደብረ ዘይት)

The Spiritual Education Unit

Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Archdiocese of the Caribbean and Latin America

5th Week of Lent: Debre Zeyt

In this issue:

Gospel: St Matthew 24:1-36

    1. Debre Zeyt- Mount of Olives

    2. The Mystery of the Resurrection

    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 Matthew 24:24

Indeed there will come a time when many false gods are erected in the temple of our bodies! As our Lord teaches us about the signs of His second coming, He also teaches us to be vigilant as Christians in our everyday lives- and when He speaks of the destruction of the temple, He speaks of our bodies. How is it that our body becomes a temple of idolatry? Worship of God is what tells us what to do, and how and when to do it. If anything or anyone else takes on that role in our lives, it has become the object of our worship. When a man gives himself to drugs or alcohol, are they not a god to him? What of the man who allows sexual immorality to rule his body? Or the woman whose dignity is dictated by fashion trends? If Christ comes in 1000 years, we will not live so long- so for a Christian, the second coming of Christ is tomorrow. Let us make our temples holy in preparation!

May we hear the word of life!

Debre Zeyt- Mount of Olives

The fifth theme is based upon the second coming of Christ, which was announced by our Lord on the Mount of Olives. The signs of the end times spoken by our Lord will culminate in final judgment and resurrection of the living and dead, believers and unbelievers, righteous and sinners. It is in the knowledge of this truth of the second coming of Christ that all people must repent, believe and be baptised in preparation for the arrival of God’s Kingdom so that we will not be condemned. (St. John 3: 18-20; St Matthew 4:17) 

Misbak of This Sunday: “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent;  A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him” - Psalm 50:3

Meaning: The Misbak reminds us of the coming of our Lord and God Jesus Christ to the earth at two different times.

1. Born of a Virgin to teach & preach about the heavenly kingdom, and also to heal and comfort the physical and spiritually sick people. His first coming was to bring all  human beings back to their original place so that no one will taste the fire of hell in His second coming.

2. His second coming- "Judgment Day" with all His Angels, Prophets, and Apostles, Martyrs and Saints to say to those on His right,

 "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' And Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

St Matthew 25:34-40

Yes, God will come in His glory, and all the angels with Him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

 

Mystery of the Resurrection

This Sunday the Church teaches about an important topic from the Pillars of the Church- Mystery of the Resurrection- the Final Judgment based on the Teaching of Our Lord and God at the Mount of Olives. Resurrection is the Mystery of life after death. All those who have departed from the time of Adam, and will pass away until the second coming of Christ, will be risen in the union of body and soul. The souls of the righteous shall abide in paradise and the souls of sinners in Hades until the end of this world. But on the last day, when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ shall come in His glory, to judge the living and the dead, the souls shall be united with their bodies on the day of resurrection and they shall rise from the dust of the earth. (Lk. 16: 19-31).

On the day of the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the graves were opened and bodies of many saints came out. (Mt.27:52). All these prove the truth of the resurrection. All those that sleep in the dust of the earth shall come to life at the last judgment. Our belief in our resurrection is based on the resurrection of Christ. "Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you." (2 Cor. 4: 14). The Church scholars Amoneos and Eusabios said: “Christ is risen, in order to make it known to us that our body shall arise" (preface of the Gospel).

At that time, He shall send forth His angels with a great sound of a trumpet. The dead shall arise. The earth will restore that which was entrusted to it. Then He shall set the righteous on his right hand, but the sinners on the left hand. All arise carrying their works which followed them from the earth; the righteous will be sanctified with the word of blessing, but the sinners will be rebuked with the word of accusation. The righteous shall shine as seven times as the sun, and inherit the kingdom following Christ, while the sinners shall go away into everlasting punishment prepared for the devil and his angels. (Mt. 13:42-49; 25:31-43; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev. 20: 12).

Our Church has put this important reminder day about Judgment so that we might not be lazy in our attentiveness and lose the big picture- Heaven. There are people who only focus on God’s Mercy but not also on His Justice. Those two go hand-in-hand. Yes, We are so precious to God that He will never let us go without fighting, be it in storm, sickness, or discontent, so as to bring us to Him.  But He is also JUST to judge us on our response to His love, sacrifice, call and graceful mercy.

It is time to think deeply about what God has done to bring to us to Him? What price did He pay to make us whole while we consistently reject and disobey Him? It is time to think and realize what would lead from the persistent rejection of God’s call! It is always our choice to determine where we end up- hell or Heaven. God has already chosen a place- “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Glory to be God, And to His Mother Mary And to the Glorious Cross. Amen!

Faith and works:

Preparing for Judgement Day

Can we guarantee a place for ourselves in heaven? Judgement belongs to God! However, we know what deeds our Lord will credit the righteous for- let’s make sure we have the same qualifications! (St Matthew 25:35-40)

        1. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,

        2. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

        3.  I was a stranger and you invited me in,

        4. I needed clothes and you clothed me,

        5. I was sick and you looked after me, 

        6. I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

If you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

BONUS CHALLENGE:

Of the 6 deeds of the righteous, try to do at least one each week, or even better, each day!

Ask Abba/Kes

What do the two snakes on a bishop’s staff mean?

 

Some people are trying to link it to #666 by saying that the beasts on the staff are dragons.  But it is not a dragon, but a snake.  And the serpent, as you can see, is seen under the cross.  Because the cross is where the head of the serpent, the devil, is crushed.

You are deceived because you do not know the scriptures and the power of God. Matthew 22:29

The episcopal staff has the cross of Christ with two snakes and this may seem disconcerting. There are actually two explanations for this symbolism.

The staff reminds us of the brass serpent erected by Moses in the desert (Numbers 21). When the Israelites were bitten by poisonous snakes (being the sign of sin and earthly/demonic wisdom) the brass serpent that was lifted up was a type of the cross. Jesus Christ “became sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21) for us and triumphed over the poisonous and lethal power of sin. Hence, the snakes on the staff recall this story and the words of the Lord in John 3:14: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”

Another way to consider the snakes is to see them not as symbols of false wisdom (James 3:15) but of true and holy wisdom, as in Lord’s saying (Matthew 10:16): “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

The holy patriarchs, bishops, and bishops who lead the Orthodox churches hold in their hands a cross and a serpent symbol.  "Moses made a bronze snake and hung it on a target, and everyone who was bitten by the snake was saved when he saw the bronze snake."  (Numbers 2:19).  When Christ taught that this is an example, "as Moses crucified the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be crucified so that whoever believes in him may not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:14), in order to make a believer who was an example and a shadow, our Lord our God Jesus Christ taught him that all who see Him crucified will be saved.  Jesus Christ was not ashamed when he compared the brass snake to his own crucifixion.  It would not be shameful for our ancestors to hold the example of the brass serpent called the "rod of Moses" in their left hand and the cross on which they were crucified in their right hand.

In the old days, when the people wronged God, "He sent snakes, and they bit the people, and many people from Israel died."  (Num 21:6) He caused all those who were bitten by snake venom to be cured by looking at the non-venomous brass snake.  This is the example for us.  When the wronged Israelites are an example of our people;  A poisonous snake is a symbol of the devil.  Just as a brass snake has no poison, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was crucified without guilt and died for our sins.  Num 21:8 is a parable of those who were saved when they saw the brazen serpent, and saw the Lord crucified.  Because in their sermon, "Jesus Christ was crucified before your eyes" according to Galatians 3:1.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

A Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam

There was a certain transgressor of the law of God, and he had not one good deed to his credit. One day he went on a journey, and his sickness seized him, and he became helpless, and his kinfolks said unto him, give us some of that money and we will go to a physician or magician. And when the physician came, said unto him, bring carobs and oil. And the man gave the physician whatever he asked him, and his money came to an end. And the sick man said unto his wife, celebrate the commemoration of the Holy Virgin Maryam and she will save me, and having said this he fell asleep. 

And our Lady Maryam appeared unto him in a vision and said unto him, ”Thou art a man who has lived to thyself all the days of my life without knowing me, but when death cometh to thee knowest me.” And the sick man said, “Now I know Thee, and I will become thy servant; make me not a thing for the Judgment, but heal me.”

And our Lady Maryam, who showeth grace unto all creatures, and healeth the sick, and is compassionate unto all who take refuge with Her, spat and anointed the whole body of the sick man with Her spittle, and he was healed straight away. And all those who saw and heard of this miracle marvelled, and the Man became well pleased our Lady Maryam and love Her. Amen.

O Holy Virgin Maryam, pray for us!

LIJOCH! The Children's Corner

MEMORY VERSE- ST. MARK 13:3

“NOW AS HE SAT ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES OPPOSITE THE TEMPLE, PETER, JAMES, JOHN, AND ANDREW ASKED HIM PRIVATELY.”

BIBLE QUIZ!

Find 3 Psalms in which David uses the phrase “I am poor and needy”

ORTHODOX Q&A

“Where is that in the Bible?”

The Holy Bible is the foundation of Christianity- it is the word of God. However, our church recognises the necessity for both the Holy Bible and Holy Tradition, as taught by St Paul in 2nd Thessalonians 2:15 and 3:6. Without canons and traditions passed down to us from the apostles and church fathers it is impossible to understand the Bible, and anyone who tries will not only fail, but bring destruction on themselves, as St Peter warns in 2nd Peter 3:16..

 

“Where can I read more about what you’re telling me?”

The truth is, some things you just have to hear with your ears. Remember that our Lord never wrote any books, He left the apostles with the words of His mouth- oral tradition. While many of the teachings of the Church have been written down over the years (and many are not in English!) we preserve the equally important oral tradition- faith comes by hearing after all! (Romans 10:17) 

 

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

References

Debre Zeyt: Mahibere Kidusan- (eotcmk.org)

Mystery of Resurrection: english.eritreantewahdo.org/?sermons=5th-sunday-of-lent-mount-of-olives-debre-zeit-part-1-2

Miracle of Holy Virgin Maryam: 110 Miracles of our Lady Mary- #LXXXVII pg:302 - Brit. Mus. MS.Orient. No.652. Fol.138, No.121.

Ask Abba/Kes: Promised Land - The Festival Of Mount Olives THE ORDER OF FASTS IN Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

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