Arabic original here.
On Giving
Today's Gospel reading speaks to us about the material giving that causes the giver to stand in the presence of God until the end of the age. However, the discussion is broader than material giving and those who practice it. As for the generous person, one with a generous spirit, "he righteousness endures forever" (2 Corinthians 9:9) because he breaks his heart in order to give it to people and to spread generosity of spirit among them.
If the human heart folds in on itself, it withers. God does not abide in a solitary heart, but comes to the heart whenever it is open. Inasmuch as it gives of itself, it is given. In this sense, "For to everyone who has, more will be given" (Matthew 25:29).
God always wants the one with a generous spirit to be in beauty and splendor. If the Lord comes down into the heart, then He is capable of demolishing all barriers. God is transmitted from heart to heart. He has no throne apart from the human soul. He sits within it and treats it kindly, causing it to be kind to other souls.
At the liturgy, we recline together upon the breast of the Beloved at the Mystical Supper. The holy supper that we perform is a call for us all to recline upon Jesus' breast as John did on a blessed day for human history.
It is today and not tomorrow that we come to the Lord to hear from Him words of kindness and for Him to hear from us a word of repentance. If we have returned to God, then we return to all human beings because they are the children of God. How can someone who does not love the person he sees love God, whom he does not see?
We must love person who is seeking God, the person who is with us. We do not have to go very far in order to find the person that we must love. The first who should be mentioned is the one whom we have harmed or who has been harmed without our intending to harm him. The human soul is fragile and breakable. It may be that this is no one's fault. It may be that through laziness, negligence, disregard, or forgetfulness we are all responsible for any soul that suffers on account of this. Therefore we are all implicated in one responsibility in His presence, may He be exalted, under sin and under mercy so that we may appear to those who have suffered and so that we may cast them as well upon Jesus' breast, as He can heal every soul. He came, as He said, to heal the brokenhearted (Psalm 146:3), to make people pleased with existing.
"Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your heart" (Hebrews 3:7-8). Today, if you will hear His voice, His voice is sweet and His melodies will place you in paradise. Therefore, let us purify ourselves by repenting to Him, may He be exalted, and fall together at His feet. Let our hearts be victorious through the mercy that we ask of Him.
If our spirits are open to the Lord's giving, then we are generous and then we give and our righteousness endures forever.
Christ our Lord, Christ our Shepherd, let us go to Him as He came to us. And in this He will be pleased and in this we will rejoice and be as He wanted us to be, enjoying joy, peace and grace.
On Giving
Today's Gospel reading speaks to us about the material giving that causes the giver to stand in the presence of God until the end of the age. However, the discussion is broader than material giving and those who practice it. As for the generous person, one with a generous spirit, "he righteousness endures forever" (2 Corinthians 9:9) because he breaks his heart in order to give it to people and to spread generosity of spirit among them.
If the human heart folds in on itself, it withers. God does not abide in a solitary heart, but comes to the heart whenever it is open. Inasmuch as it gives of itself, it is given. In this sense, "For to everyone who has, more will be given" (Matthew 25:29).
God always wants the one with a generous spirit to be in beauty and splendor. If the Lord comes down into the heart, then He is capable of demolishing all barriers. God is transmitted from heart to heart. He has no throne apart from the human soul. He sits within it and treats it kindly, causing it to be kind to other souls.
At the liturgy, we recline together upon the breast of the Beloved at the Mystical Supper. The holy supper that we perform is a call for us all to recline upon Jesus' breast as John did on a blessed day for human history.
It is today and not tomorrow that we come to the Lord to hear from Him words of kindness and for Him to hear from us a word of repentance. If we have returned to God, then we return to all human beings because they are the children of God. How can someone who does not love the person he sees love God, whom he does not see?
We must love person who is seeking God, the person who is with us. We do not have to go very far in order to find the person that we must love. The first who should be mentioned is the one whom we have harmed or who has been harmed without our intending to harm him. The human soul is fragile and breakable. It may be that this is no one's fault. It may be that through laziness, negligence, disregard, or forgetfulness we are all responsible for any soul that suffers on account of this. Therefore we are all implicated in one responsibility in His presence, may He be exalted, under sin and under mercy so that we may appear to those who have suffered and so that we may cast them as well upon Jesus' breast, as He can heal every soul. He came, as He said, to heal the brokenhearted (Psalm 146:3), to make people pleased with existing.
"Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your heart" (Hebrews 3:7-8). Today, if you will hear His voice, His voice is sweet and His melodies will place you in paradise. Therefore, let us purify ourselves by repenting to Him, may He be exalted, and fall together at His feet. Let our hearts be victorious through the mercy that we ask of Him.
If our spirits are open to the Lord's giving, then we are generous and then we give and our righteousness endures forever.
Christ our Lord, Christ our Shepherd, let us go to Him as He came to us. And in this He will be pleased and in this we will rejoice and be as He wanted us to be, enjoying joy, peace and grace.
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