Arabic original here.
This is a golden opportunity for us to purify ourselves of our faults through fervent prayer, fasting and austerity.
I have contemplated a great deal seeing Christians wanting to close the churches during a time of distress.
Pray and do not weary: this is an opportunity that God allowed for us to be chastened and indeed, for us to be sanctified.
We do not judge anyone. The Lord alone judges. He is the Judge. We want the leaven to stay true upon this earth. "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
Do not fear the one who kills the body, but fear the one that kills the soul.
Yes, we have sinned. We have departed from God. Awaken from your misstep: the Lord is generous, the Lord is sweet: "taste and see how good is the Lord."
How can they prevent us from tasting Him?! He is the source of life! We Christians have departed from God, not only here but throughout the world. We have longed for the world. We have longed for science alone. We have forgotten the Creator. We have ignored Him.
What remains for us but spiritual death and also bodily death or repentance, repentance so that we may be saved?!!!
Tripoli, 20.3.2020
Metropolitan of Tripoli, al-Koura and their Dependencies
+Ephrem
Thoughts during this Time
This is a golden opportunity for us to purify ourselves of our faults through fervent prayer, fasting and austerity.
I have contemplated a great deal seeing Christians wanting to close the churches during a time of distress.
Pray and do not weary: this is an opportunity that God allowed for us to be chastened and indeed, for us to be sanctified.
We do not judge anyone. The Lord alone judges. He is the Judge. We want the leaven to stay true upon this earth. "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
Do not fear the one who kills the body, but fear the one that kills the soul.
Yes, we have sinned. We have departed from God. Awaken from your misstep: the Lord is generous, the Lord is sweet: "taste and see how good is the Lord."
How can they prevent us from tasting Him?! He is the source of life! We Christians have departed from God, not only here but throughout the world. We have longed for the world. We have longed for science alone. We have forgotten the Creator. We have ignored Him.
What remains for us but spiritual death and also bodily death or repentance, repentance so that we may be saved?!!!
Tripoli, 20.3.2020
Metropolitan of Tripoli, al-Koura and their Dependencies
+Ephrem
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1 comment:
Thanks for the encouraging words.
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