BLESSED ARE YOU, O MERCIFUL LORD The prophet David wrote this psalm while (swimming) in a (wave) of exalted love, and great mercy of God. Here He provides us with his joyful experience with God, the Forgiver of sins, who crowns His believers with mercy and compassion. This psalm is seen by some as an incomparable praise for God, among all the literature of the world; and many believe that it is a magnificent piece of poetry, packed with flaring feelings of faith; and reveals a heart filled with faith, that touches the exalted mercies of God, which concern both our temporal life and our eternal destiny. This psalm is a praise of thanksgiving, presented by the believer who is faithful in his life in every era, who experiences the sweetness of salvation. This psalm calls on us to offer the sacrifice of praise to the Lord, being the Creator, and the merciful Savior; and presents certain causes that motivate us to praise; some of which are personal experience of the author himself, namely, the prophet David; some concern the dealings of God with His people; and some others concern the mercies of God on all creation…. The psalmist believes that God is worthy of praise by all creation, for He pours His mercies over all. The Jews used to sing this psalm in all their worships; and the Orthodox Jews still use it in their feasts and special occasions. The occasion of writing this psalm: According to the Syrian version, David wrote this psalm in His old age; presenting it as a fatherly commandment to believers as his children, to practice the life of praise for God. And according to the Chaldean version, this psalm is prophetic, as it exhorts us to get in touch with the salvation work of Christ, long prophesied by prophets, and desired with joy and exultation. 1- “Bless the Lord, O my soul” 1 - 2 2- An exalted salvation 3 - 7 3- God, the wholly Merciful 8 - 18 4- The divine throne 19 – 22 1- “BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL”: https://coptic-treasures.com/ 39 Although It is a personal praise and a thanksgiving sacrifice, yet it is not a private one; as the psalmist desires it to be presented by every believer, to enjoy the life of praise, which fills the soul with gladness. Praise for the Lord’s mercies. A psalm of David. “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me bless His wholly name” (1) The word “Bless”, and its derivatives, came six times in this psalm. According to St. Augustine, the expression “All that is within me”, is a repetition of his saying “my soul”. The psalmist does not mean his internal body organs like the liver or the lungs, etc. but what is inside his soul. When you come to the church, your voice would recite praises to God, and sing as much as you can….Leaving the church, your soul will not cease reciting praises for God…. Getting preoccupied with Your daily work, let your soul praise God. … Even while eating your food; remember the words of the apostle, saying: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10: 31). …I even dare to say, when you sleep, let your soul praise God. Do not let the thoughts of foolishness stir up in you; but let the voice of your soul, even while sleeping, be righteousness1. (St. Augustine) “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (2) The dealing of God with man, even in the moments of chastisement, flow with mercies and benefits. It would be difficult for man to present a list of all God’s benefits on him, or on humanity as a whole. God’s benefits would not be before your eyes, unless your sins are. … Do not allow the pleasure of a previous sin to be before your eyes, but rather let its condemnation be … Let the condemnation be from your side, so that the forgiveness be on God’s side. For by that, God will reward you, then you will say: “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” (Psalm 116: 12) 2. (St. Augustine) 1 On Ps. 103 (102). 2 On Ps. 103 (102). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 40 How great are all what we see! … God created us, Conformed us to be born, to live, to move, and to recognize our Creator… He privileged us over the beasts of burden, created with their heads bowed toward the ground; Whereas He created us upright, with our heads looking up toward heaven…. How great are all that! … But what is greater is that, for our sake He was born! … How?! … He, “Being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2: 6- 8)….. Having been submitted to death because of our sins, He intended to die on behalf of us, the mortals, so that we would have life back through Him1. (St. Jerome) 1- AN EXALTED SALVATION: The salvation work starts by the forgiveness of sins, the believer would enjoy the healing of the soul from its wounds, would not stumble on the way, and would not fall into the hidden snares set by the enemy; but would enjoy the work of the Holy Spirit who perpetually renews his depths; and would be supported by the Lord in the midst of the oppression and the opposition of the wicked. “Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases” (3) God’s benefits start by His longsuffering as the Forgiver of sins and transgressions; And together with the forgiveness, He heals the wounds caused by sins in the life of man, especially in his depths. God intends to keep on renewing our inner life, to pour non-corruption on us, instead of the corruption that has dwelt upon us. Being the Physician of souls and bodies, He works for the sake of our enjoyment of the glorified eternal life, body and soul. Now, listen to His benefits: “Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases”… What does the sinner deserve, except to be punished?! … What does the blasphemer deserve, except to go hell?! … He grants you these benefits, so that you do not get terrified, and fear Him without love … Being a sinner, return again, and receive His benefits. “He forgives all your iniquities” … Yet, after forgiving 1 Homily 29 on ps. 102 (103). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 41 your iniquities, your soul may be shaken by certain lusts, and would still be in danger of temptation, Yet “He heals all your diseases”; He heals all your weaknesses; Do not then, get terrified!... Yes, they are great weaknesses; but the Physician is greater. No weakness put before the able Physician that is un-healable! … You have just to allow yourself to get healed; Do nor resist His hands; for He knows how to deal with you!. … Do not be pleased only when He spoils you, but endure Him when He holds the knife! … Endure the pain of treatment; for it has to do with your future1. (St. Augustine) “Who heals all your diseases”. Our souls are infected by several diseases; as many as our sins. It is for the sake of teaching us, what came in the gospel concerning the woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, was bent over, and could in no way raise herself up (Luke 13: 11) Perceive the significance of what the gospel says: When someone has a disease caused by a spirit of infirmity, he would be, bent over and would look downward to the ground, and would in no way raise himself up to look at heaven2. (St. Jerome) We should remember, and never forget five things: 1- God has forgiven our sins (3); … According to what is written by the apostle: “Being justified freely by His grace through theredemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood through faith, to demonstrate Hisrighteousness, because in His forbearance God passed over the sins that were previously committed” (Romans 3: 24, 25). 2- God healed our spiritual and physical ailments (3). 1- God saved us from corruption (4); by His resurrection from the dead. That does not mean, that He saved us from death, which is the departure of the soul from the body, but our Lord, Glory be to Him, has granted us the way to be healed from another death, entailing the departure of the soul from the eternal life, namely, from going down to perdition and hell 4- God crowned us by a great gift; to be the children of God through adoption; a crown described by the apostle, saying: “I have 1 On Ps. 103 (102). 2 Homily 29 on ps. 102 (103). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 42 fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but to all who have loved His appearance” (2 Timothy 4: 7, 8). Such a crown is woven with God’s mercy and compassion. 5- God filled us with the spiritual goods, desired by the righteous (5), which is to become gods; a lust by which the deceiver has seduced Adam to eat from the fruit He forbade him to eat.. Therefore, God has granted us deity, and made us His partners through the holy grace of baptism, by which the nature of man is renewed, his ancient worn-out man is taken away, and he is clothed by the new man. Like the eagle, that gets rid of the old feathers, and develops new ones, the soul will be granted to become a queen, reigning upon the desires of the body, to fly high toward the high heaven. (Father Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem) Our Lord and Savior is the true and perfect Physician, who grants healing to the body, and gives back health to the soul1. (Father Khromatius) Let us hasten to receive the heavenly Manna, that gives every mouth the taste it desires. Let us listen to what the Lord Himself says to whoever approaches Him: “As you have believed, so let it be done to you” (Matthew 8: 13)… If you receive the Word of God you hear in the church with complete faith and piety, these word said by the Lord will be yours. As an example: If you are sad, He will comfort you by saying: “A broken and a contrite heart, these, O God, You will not despise” (psalm 51: 17) If you hope with joy for the future, He will increase your joy, when you hear the words: “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous” (Psalm 32: 11). If you are angry, you will calm down when you hear: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath” (Psalm 37: 8). If you suffer from an ailment, you will be healed when you hear: “He will heal all your diseases” (3). If you are crushed by poverty, you will have comfort when you hear: “The Lord who lifts the poor from the dust, and lifts the miserable from the trash”.(Psalm 103). Therefore, the Manna given to you by the Word of God, will be in your mouth, with the taste you choose. 1 Tractate of Matthew 16: 4. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 43 (The scholar Origen) In such a struggle, the conquest will be great, not just for a limited time, but forever; for the disease will not only come to an end, but will never come again (there in eternity). The righteous will hear himself saying: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103: 2-3). He is the forgiver of our iniquities; and the Healer of our diseases, through controlling our evil lusts. He forgives our iniquities through the gift of forgiveness, and heals our diseases through chastity. The former is enjoyed by the catechumens through baptism; and the later is executed through the struggle of those who strive, who conquer through His grace. One happens when God hears our supplication: “Lead us not into temptation”; as, according to the apostle James, “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed”. Against such a thing we ask God for a cure, for He is capable of healing from every disease. Therefore, all who hear this should cry out to God, saying: “I said, Lord, be merciful to me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against You” (Psalm 41: 4). For, there would not be a need for healing of the soul, unless it is corrupted by the commitment of sin1. In every sin, no doubt, there is some work of lust against Christ; but when He “who heals all our diseases”, leads His church to the promised healing, then there would be no wrinkle nor defilement in any of our body members. Then, because the body will never desire against the spirit, there will be no need for the spirit to desire against the body. That kind of controversy will come to an end, and there will be harmony between the two elements (the spirit and the body) on the highest level. There will be no one carnal; to the extent that the body itself will be spiritual What he does, concerning his body, he who lives according to Christ, is that he desires against the evil lust itself, he resists it to be healed. Although he may not be healed yet, for the lust is still in him, yet he will be dealing gently and flirting with the good nature of the body; “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church” (Ephesians 5: 29). He applies the pressure of rebuke against her, to keep her from becoming proud through exaltation; and He lifts her up by comforts, lest she would fall down to the pit through weaknesses, according to the words of the 1 Continence, 16. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 44 apostle: “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11: 31-32); the way it also came in the psalm, saying: “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul” (Psalm 94: 19) 1. Surely, the renewal of the inner man would not be realized in a single moment, once he receives faith. It is not the same like the renewal by the spiritual baptism, which happens at the very instant of receiving the forgiveness of our sins, when everything against us is taken away; and no transgression remains without forgiveness (Psalm 103: 12). Healing from fever is one thing, and restoration of health after suffering so much weakness is something else. Taking the spear out of the body is one thing, and healing from the deadly wound by long treatment and intensive care is something else. Taking the cause out is just the first step of treatment. This first step by which you care to heal yourself, is the moment you are forgiven your sins. Besides, there is need for healing from the spiritual illness itself, which is realized gradually day after day.; through wiping out the image of the fallen man within, and its renewal according to the image of God. Both processes are included in the same verse (Psalm 103: 3), in which the psalmist refers: 1- To Him who forgives your sins; This is realized in baptism through the mercy of God. 2- We read that He Himself heals your diseases; Here he talks about the daily progress, by which the image of God grows strongly in us. (St. Augustine) “Who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies” (4) According to the Septuagint and the Coptic versions, it came as: “Who redeems your life from corruption”. Corruption dwelt upon us through sin; Whereas our enjoyment of non-corruption and the eternal glory will be realized through the mercy and the salvation work of God. 1 Homily 29 on ps. 102 (103). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 45 “Who redeems your life from destruction”. “You were bought at a price; Do not become a slave of men” (1 Corinthians 7: 23). What could be a greater price than when the Creator sheds His blood for the sake of His creation?! “Who crown you with loving kindness and tender mercies”. Saving you, He crowns you. He grants you a crown; not for your worthiness, but for the sake of His compassion and loving kindness. “For You, O Lord, with favor You will (crown) the righteous with a shield” (see psalm 5: 12). Notice what he says: “For You, O Lord, with favor, You crown us with a shield”. You may wonder: Could one be crowned with a shield? crowning is usually with flowers or gold; and not with a shield!... The shield of the Lord is a crown, for He surrounds us with His care and defends us. That is how He crowns us…. The “loving kindness and the tender mercies” in this psalm, refer to what the shield means in another psalm1. (St. Jerome) “Who redeems your life from corruption”…. Think about your health… If your body weakness confirms that you are ill, take care of yourself. … Christ is your health; Think about Him. Receive the cup of His faithful health. “He who heals all your weaknesses”. If you acquire such health (the Lord Christ), your life will be redeemed from corruption … “He who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies”. … When you probably start to feel somewhat haughty, listen to the words: “He who crowns you” 2. (St. Augustine) It is the mercy that sets priests out of men. Yes, It is a priesthood that brings forth a great reward. The merciful man (the priest) is not clothed with a robe that goes down to his feet, carries no bells of gold, and puts no crown on his head, But he is girded with the garment of love and compassion, which is holier than the holy garment. He is anointed with oil, not made of material ingredients, but of the produce of the Spirit … He carries the crowns of mercies, as it is written: “He crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies” (4). 1 On Ps. 103 (102). 2 In 2 Cor. Hom. 20 (P. G 61: 540). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 46 Instead of the breastplate that carries the name of God, he himself will become like God; according to the words of the Lord Himself, saying: “To be like Your Father in heaven” 1. (St. John Chrysostom). ‘Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (5) God alone is the wholly Good, namely, the unchangeable goodness; Whereas the goodness of man changes from man to man, and from time to time. If we wish to have the true goodness, it would be befitting of us to acquire God Himself, the Source of goodness. There are several and amazing things said about the renewal of the eagle’s youth…. Like many birds, it enjoys every year a new set of feathers which renew its energies…. It lives the longest among the birds…. It is blessed with a sharp sight, by which it is able to see the tiniest objects from up high; … And it is said that it suffers no weakness in its old age, .. The eagle is actually counted as the king of birds (See Exodus 19: 4; Deuteronomy 28: 49; Proverbs 30: 19; Isaiah 40: 31; Jeremiah 4: 13; Habakkuk 1: 8). The righteous who lives by faith, certainly has hope in the eternal life; the faith by which the hungry and the thirsty to righteousness, progress through the renewal of their inner selves day by day (2 Corinthians 4: 16); and by which the righteous hopes to be satisfied in the eternal life, where, what is written in the psalm: “Who satisfies your mouth with good things” (5), is realized2.. (St. Augustine) They were called ‘eagles’ on account of that their youth is renewed like the eagle’s; and of that they are provided with wings to fly up to reach the passions of Christ3. (St. Jerome) The Lord says: “Arise, let us go from here” (John 14: 31); Namely, let us depart from the things of this generation and world;; teaching every one of us to (arise) from the earth, and to lift his soul, lying on earth, to the high up things; He calls him his eagle, saying: “so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” 4 (5) (St. Ambrose) 1 Letter & Spirit, 56. 2 PL 23: 179. 3 Death as a Good, 5: 16. 4 Prayer of David 4: 9: 35. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 47 David is right to cry out as someone whose youth is renewed. He says: “Then I will go to the altar of God; to God my Exceeding joy, and on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God” (Psalm 43: 4). He also said: “My eye wastes away because of grief, it grows old because of all my enemies” (Psalm 6: 7); but here he says that he has his youth renewed after being old and falling… And in another text he says: :”Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (5). … We are being renewed by the renewal of baptism, and through the pouring of the Holy Spirit; And we shall be further renewed by the resurrection. To know the way we shall be renewed, read: “Wash me and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51: 7); And in Isaiah: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow “ (Isaiah 1: 18)…. He who changes from the darkness of sin to the light of virtue and to grace, is already renewed. That is why, he who has been previously defiled with uncleanness, shines now whiter than snow1. (St. Ambrose) It is well known, O brethren, that each one of us seeks his comfort and pleasure, yet he does not seek them as he should, It all depends on the discernment of the true pleasure from the false one, and vise versa; as we often are deceived by vain pleasure and false good. The mean, the haughty, the greedy, and the lustful man, all seek pleasure; yet one seek it in gathering riches, another in honors of high ranks, another in enjoyable kinds of food and drinks, and another in satisfying himself with defiled lusts. As none of them seeks his pleasure as he should, none of them will find it, although many desire it. As all what is in the world, are not enough to satisfy the soul, or to provide her with true pleasure, why then would you labor, O foolish man, and wander around in many places, expecting to find goods that would satisfy your soul and body? You should rather seek the One, who has all the goods; as in Him you would find your satisfaction. Seek comfort in the One, great, and general Goodness; for in Him you will find satisfaction of everything! As for you, “O my soul, bless the Lord, who satisfies your mouth with good things” (1-5). (St. Augustine) 1 On Ps. 103 (102). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 48 Asked by a brother about the interpretation of the verse, saying: “Who renews your youth like the eagle’s”, St. Maccari answered: [Like the gold is renewed through being put in the heat of a furnace, So is the soul, if she has of the virtue that could purify her of her defilements, to be renewed and to fly high up]. And when the brother asked him: [‘What does flying up high mean?], he said: [Like the eagle, if it flies high up, it would be saved from the snares of the fowler; while, on the ground it would probably falls in them; So is the soul, if she slothfully descends down from the heights of virtue, she would fall into the snares of the fowler of the spirits]. (Paradise of the fathers) “The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed” (6) In the Septuagint and the Coptic versions, it came as: “The Lord who makes mercy and judgment to all those oppressed”. As the true believers in all eras live in troubles, and are subject to oppression and affliction, the Holy Book confirms that the Lord, for their sake, executes righteousness (mercy) and justice at the same time. Many may assume that there is some contradiction between mercy and justice; But God, is wholly merciful in His justice, and wholly just in His mercy. In His love for mankind, He is longsuffering and compassionate, with the hope that all would eventually return to Him, to enjoy the crowns and the blessings through His judgment and justice. According to St. Augustine, When an adulteress was brought to the Lord Christ to be stoned to death according to the law (John 8), she stood before the Author of the law, who bowed to write something on the dust of the ground, by which those who seized her discovered what truly lie in their own adulterous consciences; and were embarrassed and retreated…. So it is befitting of us to treat the sinners, and to support them, not as being sinful, but as being humans who are in need of those who support them against sin. We should receive the sinners, not as sinners, lest we would perish, but in the name of the Savior of the sinners, so that they would enjoy mercy, and be justified in judgment, by Him who forgives and justifies. Let us present to the sinners the divine mercy, so as to enjoy it ourselves. “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel” (7) https://coptic-treasures.com/ 49 God delivered His law to Moses, and revealed to him His divine plan, not to judge and condemn, but for all to perceive their need for the Savior, the divine Physician, full of love. “He made known His ways to Moses” …For such a purpose He gave the law: for the sick to recognize his weakness and seek the Physician … to receive the grace of healing1. (St. Augustine) The ways of God are the works of mercy and judgment for all the oppressed. For He made mercy and judgment for His people, when He rescued them from Pharaoh, and destroyed their enemies. He made them known to Moses, and through him to the children of Israel. His will (His works) are His commandments: Do not kill; do not steel, do not commit adultery, etc. His ways and His will, are also the works of incarnation, made by the Son of God for the sake of our salvation; For crossing over the sea has been a symbol of our baptism; … And the water that flowed from the rock and satisfied the thirsty, has been a symbol of the precious blood that flowed from the body of our Lord, and gave us life; … And the manna that came down from heaven, has been a symbol of our spiritual food. All those were ways to our salvation, made known to Moses and the children of Israel by the symbol; namely, to the prophets, the seers of God. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) GOD THE WHOLLY MERCIFUL: This section includes a meditation in the Mosaic era (Exodus 34: 6-7), and in the prophetic preaching (Hosea 11: 1; Isaiah 1: 2-4; Jeremiah 3: 4, 19; 4: 22). “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (8) According to father Onesimus of Jerusalem, the Lord made His ways known to Moses, when he stood alone at the head of the mountain, and “God descended in the cloud and stood with him there, passed before him and proclaimed: ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; ….Before all your people I will do marvels, … and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord; for it is an 1 On Ps. 103 (102). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 50 awesome thing that I will do with you” (Exodus 34). … That was what God made known to Moses: to perceive that God will take a body, and be seen; so that the people will return to Him and will not perish. According to St. Augustine, it is befitting of us not to misunderstand the long-suffering of God, and not to be like the raven which was sent by Noah out of the ark and did not return. It went out crying ‘Gras!’, ‘Gras’, namely (Tomorrow!), (Tomorrow!); … and kept crying out, postponing his return to the bosom of God; and for it, tomorrow never came. “He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever” (9) God is the Judge of the earth, and a Father, merciful, gracious, long-suffering, and opens up the doors of His mercies, to prepare the faithful souls for glory on the great day of the Lord. “He has not dealt with us according to our sins; nor punished us according to our iniquities” (10) If our sins are many and extremely heavy, Yet God in His longsuffering, even while chastising, seeks our comfort and peace, and not our recompense. Thanks be to God, for not dealing with us as we deserve, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities” 1 (St. Augustine) “For as heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him” (11) The Holy Book confirms the greatness of God’s graciousness and compassion (Psalm 36: 5; 57: 10; 108: 4; Isaiah 55: 7-9). This analogy, revealing the limitless exalted compassion of God, and His great might of salvation, lifts the soul from the dust up to heaven. Notice how heaven (the sky) covers the earth on all sides; with no place on earth that heaven does not cover. While humans commit sins and iniquities under heaven; heaven keeps covering them up; … From it the eyes enjoy light, we get air to breathe, and rain for the fruits to grow. … From heaven we get mercy and help; which if taken away from the earth, the later will collapse right away. … As the protection of heaven covers the earth, so the protection of God dwells 1 On Ps. 103 (102). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 51 upon those who fear Him. You fear God; You may suffer, and assume that God has forgotten you; … God may forget you, if heaven ceases to protect the earth1! (St. Augustine) The riches of God’s mercy becomes clear when He proclaims it upon those forsaken by men, and trodden under their feet; upon those who put their hope, not in their riches, nor in their own strength, but in the Lord2. (The scholar Origen) The holy words of the Song of songs bear some hidden thoughts, as though they are covered by a thick veil; and are difficult to understand. We should give more care to the text; and seek help from God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer, that their meanings are not lost from us. The way he who seeks the knowledge of the stars of heaven; Although we keep enjoying their beauty; yet we wonder how they were created, how they give light, how they glitter and twinkle, and how they fill the eyes of the soul with light. … The prophet says: “As heaven is above the earth…” (11). If this is the place where our soul will ascend; as it was in the case of Elijah; where our minds will be taken up to the beauty of heaven, in a fiery chariot (1 Kings 2: 11); and we understand that the fiery chariot is the Holy Spirit, who came down to grant Himself to those dwelling on earth, in the form of tongues of fire, divided on the disciples; We shall not despair of approaching the stars, or searching the holy things that shine their light upon our souls by the spiritual heavenly words of God3. (St. Gregory of Nyssa) Responding to those who got depressed, and came to him saying: “The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me”, the prophet says: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?” (Isaiah 49: 14, 15).. As though he says: As a mother would never forget her nursing child, God would rather never forget humanity. By this the prophet does not mean to compare God’s love for men to the mother’s love for the son of her womb; but that, although the mother’s love for her nursing child surpasses all other loves; yet God’s love is greater! 1 Commentary on Rom. 9: 23. عظة 10 على نشید الأناشید ترجمة الدكتور جورج نوّار. 2 العنایة الإلھیة للقدّیس یوحنا الذھبي الفم، ترجمة عایدة بسطا. 3 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 52 The Lord of the prophets, and the Lord of all, confirms that His love surpasses that of the father and mother for their children; and the love of man for his beloved; the way light surpasses darkness, and good surpasses evil…. The prophet David says: “As the heavens are above the earth, so great is God’s mercy toward those who fear Him” (11) The way man, in his love, would frantically recall all the words he uttered, for fear that he might have said something that would hurt the feelings of his beloved, So the Lord says: “My heart churns within me, My sympathy is stirred; I will not again execute the fierceness of My anger” (Hosea 11: 8-9). God does not refrain from using such a human expression to proclaim His love for His beloved creatures. The works of God’s care are shining more than the sun. By mentioning the examples of the father, the mother, the groom, and the lover who fears, lest he would hurt the feelings of his beloved, even by a single word; God intends to confirm that His love differs from all kinds of other loves, the way good differs from evil1. (St. John Chrysostom) “As far as the east from the west, So far has (God) removed our transgressions from us” (12) The way man cannot measure the distance between the east and the west, God takes away from us our transgressions, in a way difficult for us to describe or to put into human accounts. The way the east and the west will never meet in one point, so God’s mercies can take away our transgressions from us eternally; as though there is, and never has been, any relation between us. According to the church tradition in the east, as well as in the west, when denying the devil, together with his evil hosts and works, the one to be baptized, together with his godfather look toward the west. Then when confessing the Holy Trinity, they turn their faces toward the east. That is why St. Augustine asks us to keep looking toward the east, seeking from the grace of God to shine upon us, and abide in us forever; and to turn our backs to the west, proclaiming our total rejection of the devil and his works; so that our sins would (set) and forsake us with no return. It is befitting of us to look at the east, and turn our backs to the west; to forsake our sins, and to return to the grace of God; For, once our sins fall down from us, we would be lifted up… Let our sins, then, fall down; and let the grace of God abide in us forever. 1 Sermon 226: 3. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 53 (St. Augustine) The human mind could not find an analogy of the mercy of God over those who fear Him, more fitting than to compare it to how heaven is high above the earth; and to how east is far from the west. It also likens the virtues to heaven and to the east, because of their high status and their light; contrary to the iniquities.. Whoever fears God and avoids iniquities, would rise up to heaven, reach the east, where God has established His paradise; enjoy the light of the glory of God, acquire the Son, and enjoy seeing Him. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) Keep away, then, from the west, and head to the east. Remember one man, in whom both ‘Saul’ and ‘Paul’ were -- Saul in the west, and Paul in the east; a persecutor in the west, and a preacher in the east; an ancient man in he west, and a new man in the east1. (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arle) “As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear Him” (13) The fear of God would never bring us forth into a condition of terror, but rather into the taste of the compassionate fatherhood of God; As according to the Lord Christ: “What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone. Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” (Matthew 7: 9-11). Let God then, be angry as much as He intends to be; for He is our Father. Let Him chasten us and allow us to grieve, and let Him wound us; for He is our Father. .. O son, if you wail, do that under the eyes of your Father; do not do it with malice, nor with the haughtiness of pride; for the sorrow you suffer is a medication and not a punishment. Therefore, do not reject chastisement, if you wish to have the inheritance. Do not think of the punishment while suffering from chastisement; but rather think of the place which you have in the covenant of God2. (St. Augustine) 1 On Ps. 103 (102). 2 Paedagogus, 1: 8. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 54 He reveals to us His fatherly love; for he remembers for sure how He created us out of dust; how He has got our nature of dust, over the Person of His deity; and how He experienced our weakness. (Father Onesimus, of Jerusalem) “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (14) In His love, God deals with us according to our weakness; For He knows that we are dust, who need to be raised up from it. It is rather more befitting of the psalmist to pray with such words as: “Remember that we are dust”; Namely, [Commiserate with us; as having Yourself a personal experience of the extent of suffering because of the weakness of the body]. … That is why the Lord is good, trustworthy, and commiserates with us; out of His great love for mankind1. (St, Clement of Alexandria) The prophet Jeremiah, likewise, attempting to seek forgiveness for the sinners, says: “O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do it for Your name’s sake” (Jeremiah 14: 7); and, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10: 23); And the prophet David says: “Remember that we are dust” (14). Those who supplicate for the sake of the sinners, when they find no good thing to say in their favor, they diligently seek any shadow of excuse for them, even if it is not literally or Theologically true; for that would probably be a kind of comfort for those who mourn the arrogance of the sinners. … You should therefore not literally read their words; but rather take them as coming out of a bitter soul, seeking to save the sinners; and a just verdict in their favor2. (St. John Chrysostom) “For He knows our frame”. He knows what He has created; how they would fall, how to mend their ways, and how to adopt them3. In His mercy, He would look at our weakness, and “remember that we are dust” (14); For He is the One who created man out of dust and gave him life; And for the sake of His earthen handwork, He في مدیح القدیس بولس، 1 .3 2 On Ps. 103 (102). 3 Sermon on NT Lessons, 7: 13. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 55 delivered His Son to death. … Who then, could explain; And who would be worthy to perceive the extent of His love for us1? (St. Augustine) Why have You forgotten me?... Why have You rejected me?... God would never forget; and it is not possible for Him to forget; For all the past, present, and future events are before His eyes; Yet, for “God knows His own” (2 Timothy 2: 19), our sins led Him to wipe out those unworthy of His visit;; And when some commit evil, He says to them: “I do not know you”. Who then, can say to God: “Why have You forgotten me?”… Such feeling is shared by the saints and us, the weak. The saint talks as though he is aware of his worthiness; but the more holy he is, the more humble he becomes. So, if the saint talks with such labor, how much more would I do, a sinner, other than to go back to that complaint, and say: “Why have You forgotten Your work?”; “Why have You forgotten Your visit?”. Yes, Why have You forgotten my weakness? For who is man to visit? (Psalm 5: 8 (4); Hebrew 6: 2). That is why You would not forget the weak; You would remember that You have created me weak; That You have created me out of dust!... How could I stand, if You do not perpetually cover me with Your care to give strength to that mire? “When You hide Your face all are troubled” (Psalm 104: 29)… If You practice Your judgment, Woe to me, for You will find in me nothing but the filth of sins! … What would be the use of being forsaken, or of being taken care of? When, even while being the subject of Your care, we still commit iniquities? Yet, I am still sure that God will never forget those for whom He cares; for He purifies those He sees; and “A fire before Him that devours sin” 2 (Joel 2” 3). (St. Ambrose) When it is sought of us to search ourselves, so that our behavior would conform to the statutes and teachings of God, We find some who preoccupy themselves with interfering with the affairs and the works of others. And in case they find some fault in their ethics, they hasten to tear up their persons with sharp tongues; disregarding the fact that by slandering the others they are actually slandering themselves; Hence the wise Paul says: “Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in what you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judge, practice the 1 Prayer of David 4: 6: 22. 2 .33 ، عظة عن إنجیل لوقا 32 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 56 same things” (Romans 2: 1). We should, therefore, have compassion on the weak, who fell captive of his own vain lusts, and before whose face, all the ways are shut, that it is difficult for him to rid himself of the cords of sin and evil. Let us then pray for the sake of such despairing miserable men; Let us stretch the hand of help to them; And let us strive not to fall as they did; “For he who speaks evil of a brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law” (James 4: 11). … As it is supposed for him who attempts to judge the evil soul, to be better than that soul; And as we cannot claim for ourselves to take the position of judges, because of our own sins, We should therefore refrain from taking over such a task; For, how could we, being sinners, judge and condemn others?! If you find in yourself the tendency to judge the others, you should know that the law has not set you a judge or a prosecutor; Therefore, claiming for yourself such a position will bring you forth under the verdict of the law, on account of that you are violating it.. Everyone who has a pure mind, instead of fishing for the transgressions of the others, or preoccupying his mind with their iniquities and sins, should only concentrate on searching for his own shortcomings and drawbacks. That was what the blessed psalmist did, describing himself by the wise words, saying: “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130: 3); And in another psalm, he, confessing his weakness, and asking for the forgiveness of his sins, he entreats God with the words: “Remember that we are dust” (Psalm 103: 14). Drawing His disciples’ attention to the danger of tearing up the others with sharp tongues, the Lord said: “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7: 1). Then He mentioned several parables, and many evidences, to exhort us not to condemn others according to our desires and wishes; that we would rather search our own hearts to liberate them of the evil tendencies that flare between our ribs; and entreat God to purify us from our own iniquities and transgressions. To draw our attention to an apparent bitter fact, the Lord addresses us, saying: [How could you criticize the others, expose their evil and wickedness, and look for their ailments and illnesses, when you yourselves are evil, wicked, and sick?! … How could you see the speckin the eye of the other, when there is a plank in your own eye, that keeps you from seeing anything?! … Do not dare to do that! … You should rather care to take away your own shortcomings, and to quench https://coptic-treasures.com/ 57 the flame of your faults, to be in a position to judge the others who may be guilty of things less serious than your own. While the Lord was going through the grain fields; His blessed disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. Seeing them doing that, the scribes and the Pharisees approached the Lord and said to Him: “Why are your disciples doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” (Luke 6: 1, 2). They so uttered while they, themselves have done everything wrong to the sanctuary, and disobeyed God’s commandments and statutes; About whom the prophet Isaiah said: “How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers. Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them” (Isaiah 1: 21-23). Despite all the shameful things committed by those people, they persisted on their craftiness, and dared to accuse the blessed disciples of the Lord of breaking the holy Sabbath. But the Lord Christ brought their reproach back on them, saying: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matter of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who stain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23: 23- 24). The Pharisee was, as you can see, a hypocrite and deceptive; used to bring others into account for little things, while he, himself, commits the worst shameful things. No wonder that the Savior called them “like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside full of dead men’s bones, and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23: 27). That is the way of the hypocrite, who judges others, and accuses them with the most horrible sins, while being blind of himself, on account of that the plank in his eye hide the light from him. We, therefore, should care to search ourselves before sitting on the bench of judgment to judge the others, particularly if we occupy the position of a guide or a teacher; For, if the instructor is pure, adorned with the grace of reverence, not just having the knowledge of the exalted virtues, but doing and behaving according to them; Such a man would be worthy of being a role model, and of having the right to judge the others, if they go astray from the upright path. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 58 Whereas if the instructor is slothful and blameful, he would not be fit to judge the others, on account of having the same shortcomings and weaknesses which he sees in them. Hence, the blessed apostle counsels us, saying: “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3: 1). And the Lord Christ, while adorning the foreheads of the righteous with the holy crowns, and punishing the sinners with a multitude of chastisements, says: “Whoever, therefore, breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; But whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5: 19) 1. (St. Cyril the Great) “As for man, his days are like grass; as the flower of the field, so he flourishes” (15) Likening the life of man on earth, with its short duration, to the grass, which soon appears and soon withers, is common in the Holy Book (Psalm 37: 2; 90: 5; Isaiah 40: 6-8; James 1: 10-11; 1 Peter 1: 24). Why would we be haughty, if we flourish now, to wither and dry after a very short time? … It would be better for us to have God’s mercy dwell on us, to turn into gold. Do not marvel that you are going to partake of His eternity, for He, Himself, has already partaken of your grass nature! … Would Hewho has taken from you what is low, refuse to grant you what is glorified2?! (St. Augustine) “For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and its place remembers it no more” (16) By the “wind” here, he most probably refers to the devastating kind of typhoons, common in the far east, which leave in its wake, vast stretches of land, utterly destroyed, with no trace of life. “For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and its place remembers it no more”. Here he does not talk of the material grass, but of those, for whose sake, the divine Word has become grass…. “Every flesh is grass”; and “The Word became flesh” (John 1: 14)… How great would be the hope of the grass, when the Word has become flesh?... 1 On Ps. 103 (102). 2 On Ps. 103 (102). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 59 He, who endures forever, did not despise to become grass, so that the grass would not despair of itself1. (St. Augustine) “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children” (17) While the temporal life, eventually, and very soon, will come to and end, and would be as though it has never been; God’s mercies on those who fear Him, who enjoy entrance into a covenant with Him, are everlasting and eternal. He who fears God would enjoy it here, and its traces would endure over his children, and his children’s children; and would provide him, as well, with a fellowship in the eternal glories. Meditate in yourself, think about your low stature; think about the grass; do not ever be haughty… If you are in a better situation, it would be through God’s grace and mercies … And You, who does not fear Him, will become as miserable as grass; … I wish those who fear Him rejoice, for His mercy is upon them. “And His righteousness to children’s children” (17) … As many of the ministers of God may have no children, he calls our works ‘our children’; and the reward of the works are the children’s children2. (St. Augustine) As the godly things undoubtedly surpass the human things; and the spiritual things surpass the carnal; he who wishes for the true life, would anticipate that bread, for through its hidden practice, the human hearts are strengthened3. (St. Ambrose) “To such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them” (18) God by nature, and at the same time, is Merciful, Just and Unchangeable. Our enjoyment of His mercy depends upon our fear of Him, our desire to keep His covenant, and our obedience of His commandments. Although He presents His free grace to mankind; yet he does not force them to receive it. “Therefore know that your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand 1 On Ps. 103 (102). 2 Exposition of Luke 4: 19-20. 3 On Ps. 103 (102). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 60 generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7: 9). It so seems that St. Augustine could not memorize many texts of the Holy Book by heart, as much as meditate in them and practice them. He used to say to his listeners: [You may haughtily boast of memorizing the psalms, or texts of the law by heart, something that I, myself cannot do; In that you are better than me, and than any one who fears God, who cannot memorize them word by word; while you keep the commandments as well]. How can you keep the commandments? … Not by just memorizing them by heart, but by practicing them in life1. (St. Augustine) 4- THE DIVINE THRONE: What a glorious end! The prophet David, since his youth has recognized God as “The Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” (1 Samuel 17: 45); and by such faith he has overcome the one who reproached God and His people. “The Lord has established His throne in heaven; and His kingdom rules over all” (19) God’s throne is high up in heaven; nothing is higher, comparable, could hinder His work, nor hide it (See Job 9: 4;Isaiah 44: 28; 46: 10; Ephesians 1: 5; Philippians 2: 13) 2. God refers His throne to heavens, on account of that they are more exalted than the earth, with its continuous confusions, disturbances, and non-steadfastness, and about which it is written: “He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble” (Job 9: 6). Heavens are so high up, pure, and glorious, that, neither the deceptions of the devils, nor the craftiness, uncleanness, or defilement of men, could crawl into them. Who would establish His throne in heaven, except the Lord Christ; who descended and ascended; died and is risen from the dead; He who raised up to heaven the Manhood He took for Himself? (St. Augustine) Men refer to heaven as the throne of God, because it is higher and more beautiful than all the seen creation; Because of the presence in it of the hosts of angels, on whom, as it is written, He sits and settled, 1 W. S. Plummer, Ps. 103. 2 W. S. Plummer, Ps. 103. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 61 for He finds pleasure in their purity and holiness; Because there, the souls of the righteous ascend; And up to it the Lord ascended with His body after being risen from the dead; And from there He will ultimately come to judge the world…. And lest it would be assumed that His dominion is limited to heaven alone, the prophet David added: “And His kingdom rules over all”. His dominion over men is of two kinds: by force or through choice. He rules by force over those unworthy of His kingdom; on account of that He is the Creator and Lord of all; And He rules through choice over the righteous for whom He established the kingdom of heaven. For this, our way, as believers, is to let “our citizenship be in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3: 20); And also, according to the apostle Paul: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3: 1) … Blessed are they who submit to God’s rule by choice. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word” (20) About the angels four things are said1: 1- They are referred to God, as “His angels”. 2- They excel in strength; No one is equal to their strength or authority. 3- They minister to God. According to the two testaments of the Holy Book, angels are presented as messengers and minister of God, who carry the spirit of obedience to Him, and the spirit of love to us. If the fallen angels with Satan their head keep on opposing the truth in us, to draw us to the sonhood of the devil, and the servitude to him; There would be no doubt that the angels would not stand negatively, but would pray and work in true longing to let us enjoy the sonhood of God, and to be liberated from the captivity of the devil and his angels. 4- They are holy, they consummate the will of God, and the subject of His pleasure. Describing the perpetual work of the angels in the obedience of God, the psalmist says: “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word” (20). The psalmist does not present this song alone; but is accompanied by a harmonious choir that embrace the mighty angels of راجع نبذة عذوبة العمل البناء: كنیسة مارجرجس باسبورتنج. 1 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 62 God, and all His hosts of working ministers, together with His whole works everywhere. It is as though the psalmist finds pleasure in having all the heavenly and earthly creation accompany him in praising God; and to accompany them in their joyful task. This section is considered, as well, of special importance. If God, Himself, works for the sake of the pleasure of His creation, the heavenly hosts work as well; And man, sanctified in the Lord, finds special pleasure in work, in fellowship with His brethren, as well as with the whole creation; according to the words of the apostle: “God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3: 9) 1. You are committed to discern between work and toil, for they are different. But, is there work without toil? Is it possible? Yes; for this has been the will of God in the first place; yet you rejected it. He put you in paradise to work (See Genesis 2: 15), and set for you what to do, but did not bind it to toil, because if He did from the beginning, toil would not be a punishment later on (See Genesis 3: 17). It would have been possible for man, therefore, to work without toil like the angels, who also work. Listen to what David says: “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word” (20)…. The absence of mental health, is the reason behind toil. But it was not that way from the beginning… God still works, as confirmed by the lord Christ, who says: “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5: 17) 2. You can work with no anxiety like angels3. What is the most exalted thing we see in angels? Is it not their doing the word of God? according to the testimony of David, saying: “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word” (20). There is nothing equal to this achievement by these pure spirits4. I bless the unseen hosts, for they love God, and do His word in every thing5. I wish we present thanksgiving, not only for the sake of the blessings that dwell upon us, but for the blessings that dwell upon the others as well … That is the kind of thanksgiving that liberates man from earth, 1 Homilies on John. Homily 36. ترجمة: دكتور جورج عوض إبراھیم. 2 3 In Hebr.. homily 36: 2. الأب الیاس، ص 4 286 5 Homilies on Rom. Hom 10. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 63 lifts him up to heaven, and makes him like angels, who present thanksgiving to God for the sake of the goods granted to us men, saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2: 14) 1. Nothing could hinder us from reaching the perfection of those high hosts. We cannot use our dwelling on earth as an excuse; for even while dwelling here, we can do everything as though we are high up. What he says here is this: [The way the angels, “… who excel in strength, who do His word” do not obey God partially, and disobey Him partially; but obey Him in everything, and submit to Him all the way; Let us, men, as well, do God’s word, not partially, but according to His will2. (St. John Chrysostom) The Holy Spirit who first commands the soul of the righteous to bless the Lord, Now commands the angels to do the same, … How then, could some people say that the Holy Spirit is equal to the angels in rank; when He commands them as He commands the soul of man to bless the Lord? … Let them know from this that the Holy Spirit is God, a Creator, equal to the Father and the Son in essence of Deity, in might, and in authority; and is not in the rank of the created angels. As the angels rejoice for the sake of the repentance of the sinners, the Holy Spirit exhorts them to bless the Lord, and to give thanks to Him for the sake of the repentance of the Gentiles and their salvation through their faith in Christ. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “Thine will be on earth as it is in heaven” The holy and blessed angels of God do the word of God, according to the prophet David who says: “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word” (20). Hence, this prayer means: “As Your will is in angels, let it be on earth in me, O Lord” 3. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem) “Excelling in strength” (20), in doing the word of God, and in destroying His opponents, this is a proof that the angels, on account 1 In Matt. Hom 25: 3. 2 On Matthew, homily 19. 3 14 ، الأسرار 5 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 64 of their good will, stand before God, and minister to Him, as though they are His right hand (Luke 1: 19) 1. (The scholar Origen) When the term “strength’ (or power) is used in the singular tense, it refers to the power of God; Whereas when it is used in the plural tense, it refers to the strength (or power) of the angels. For example, using it in the singular tense in saying: “Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1: 24), refers to the deity of the Lord Christ; Whereas using it in the plural tense in saying: “Bless the Lord, all you His hosts (powers)” (21), refers to the spiritual nature of the angels. Using two or more terms of the same meaning, implies a more conformation of the meaning, the way the divine inspiration often does, as for example, in saying: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God, my strength, in whom I will trust, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18: 2-3). Here, every word expresses the same meaning, yet using several words gives more confirmation to the meaning. … So is the use of the plural tense for the word power or strength, of the same meaning, refers to the nature of the angels2. (St. Gregory, bishop of Nyssa) “Bless the Lord, all His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure” (21) This phrase, as well as the one preceding it, are used to reveal the honor of labor, which is practiced, not as a punishment, namely, as a ‘chastisement’. Before man falls, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden ‘to till’ it and keep it” (Genesis 2: 15) But it would be a way of ‘chastisement’ to bind the ‘labor’ with ‘toil’; as it is in the words of God to Adam: “By the sweat of you face you shall eat bread” (Genesis 3: 19). He probably refers here to God’s works, like the sun, the moon, the stars, and the rest of creation that join the heavenly hosts in praising God and blessing Him, each with its own language or tongue; sometimes even with the language of silence. Those disciplined hosts (the angels), are forever perpetually holding the reign of things, have authority on everything, and unceasingly 1 De Principiis 1: 8 (Henri de Lubac). عظة 4 على نشید الأناشید ترجمة الدكتور جورج نوّار 2 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 65 glorify God. The Siraphim, although continuously flying, yet they never change their places; and the Cherubim never cease carrying the divine throne. So are all His hosts and ministers, who perpetually “do His pleasure” (21) 1. (St. Gregory, bishop of Nyssa) “Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul” (22) It is befitting of my soul to learn from all who, and what, are around her, to practice what the heavenly and the earthly creatures do of praise and thanksgiving to God. That should be my first and main task. According to father Onesimus of Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit calls, not only the angels to bless the Lord, for the sake of opening the door of salvation before the Gentiles, through faith in the Lord Christ, but He calls, as well, all the works of the Lord, including the souls of the righteous to partake of this work of the angels. Let no one say: I cannot praise the Lord in east, for He has departed to the west; or I cannot praise Him in the west, for He is in the east… God, being everywhere, we can rejoice in Him everywhere we live well… As this verse starts and ends with blessing the Lord, We should set forth praising Him everywhere, and continue praising Him forever2. (St. Augustine) When, in an assembly, a message from the emperor is publicly read, all present, including all the elites, and leading officials who happen to be there, would listen to it with reverence and in complete silence;. A disturbance by anyone in the midst of this silence would be strictly dealt with, on account of that it would be considered as an insult to the person of the emperor….. Here, in the church, there is chaos everywhere, while messages come down from the King of kings in heaven, who is incomparably greater than all earthly kings, and the audience are of higher caliber; including, not only men but angels, and archangels, who are commanded to praise, according to what is written: “Bless the Lord, all His works” (22); And although the messages recited, always bring to us news of conquests which stir up in us greater awe than any earthly news. عظة 4 على نشید الأناشید ترجمة الدكتور جورج نوّار 1 2 On Ps. 103 (102). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 66 Yes, the works of the Lord are not little achievements, but they surpass all talks, all thoughts, and all understanding of man1. (St. John Chrysostom) AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 103 LET ME JOIN THE CHOIR WHO PRAISE YOU Grant me, O Lord, to join the choir of those who praise You; My soul exults in Your holy name; You are the Holy One, who sanctifies my depths by Your Holy Spirit; You forgive my trespasses, and heals the ailments of my soul and body; You save me from the hidden snares of the enemy; And rescue me from the pit he set for my perdition; You satisfy me, o the Bread that comes down from heaven; You renew my youth like the eagle’s; What more should I ask, than to be attached to You forever? If oppression would become the law of the world; You alone would help the oppressed; Revealing to me Your mercies, I would never fear the oppression; Proclaiming to me Your longsuffering, my depths would find comfort; Forgiving my transgressions, You would lift me up from earth to heaven; You would carry me and bring me forth from the west to the east; The devil and his hosts, together with his deceptions, would have no authority over me; As long as I am in Your bosoms. You created me from dust; Yet You received me as Your son; Although my life is like grass, yet heaven waits for me; Although the world is ever changing, yet Your promises are steadfast forever; Allow me to join the choir of those who praise you; To enjoy the fellowship of the heavenly hosts; To follow their lead, and enjoy their love and their support of my weakness; To bless You together with them forever and ever, Amen.
Welcome