Commentary For the Second Sunday :: Ⲡⲉⲛϭⲟⲓⲥ Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ Ⲡⲓⲭ̀ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ :: طرح للأحد الثاني

Watos:

Our Master Jesus Christ fasted for us, and He is the good Lover of Mankind and the only One without sin.

Come sinners, observe and understand: the sinless One fasted to teach us

that the power of the deceiver is resisted by fasting, as the Savior of souls said: “This kind can come out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.” Moses, the head of the prophets and the first orator fasted, also, for forty nights without bread or water. So, God gave him the two tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments written by the finger of God.

Also, the blessed Elijah the Tishbite, the dweller of the deserts, had zeal against the acts of Jezebel who was killing the prophets. So, he went to the wilderness and fasted there and closed the heavens with his prayer. Through his fasting, he also opened what was closed and restored Ahab the king along with those who obeyed him.

The lions became gentle to Daniel, the beholder of God by fasting, when he was thrown into the den; and the three saintly young men, with the grace of their fasting and prayers in front of God were able to conquer the power of the fire.

Come and behold our good Savior the Lover of Mankind. He completed the fasting with the greatness of His humility by isolating Himself in the wilderness above the high seas, and He taught us the way to follow in His steps. He resisted the power of the enemy and his tricks and traps. The tempter was exposed in front of Him. As for His own disciples and saintly apostles, they witnessed that the majority of the enemy’s tricks are fierce

and that the benefits of fasting are so many as it protects against sins and washes away trespasses. So, abandon laziness and learn to be vigilant. Strive for the love of the brethren and rush towards fellowship and complete humility. Know that by fasting, sins are forgiven. So, whoever clings to fasting always bears a strong weapon in his hands.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of peace, is pleased with fasting and with all who use it. All the wicked soldiers flee and perish by fasting, prayer and supplications. The martyrs of Christ overcame tortures and withstood suffering by fasting and prayer. The wise virgins, the wearers of purity, filled their lamps with oil by fasting and prayer. Those who pleased the Lord with their good deeds loved the beauty of fasting and the joy of patience.

David cries in the book of Psalms saying: “I humbled myself with fasting”. Also, St. Paul, the fragrant-tongued, spoke of fasting and prayer and alert vigilance. Fasting opened the door of repentance. Sinners have entered through it and their sins have been erased. Holy is the infinite God; Holy is the Immortal. Holy in all Your acts because You taught us victory.

And Glory be to God always and forever. Amen.

Adam:

Your law, my Lord, is a lamp unto my feet and Your commandments are a light unto my path. The Creator who completed everything has shown us compassion by overcoming the tricks of the enemy and stopping his filthy, diabolic traps.

After our Lord the Life-Giver and the Master of unfathomable deeds came out of the waters of the Jordan, He ascended to the mountain as a founder of the Law. He hastened and fasted forty days and forty nights without food. The tempter, the source of deceptions and fantasies, left Him for a time. When the forty days were completed and the Lord eventually became hungry, he approached Him to tempt Him saying: “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” So the Savior answered and said to the devil quietly: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” The word that proceeds from the mouth of God is the bread, the only-begotten Son, God the Word, through whom the world was created, who gives life to the souls.

Then Satan the destroyer, the father of all lies in his arrogance, carried Him and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him: “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” So, the true Master answered him saying: “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.”

Then, the third time, Satan showed Him the kingdoms of the earth from the mountaintop, and all its riches and glory in one moment and in a twinkle of an eye, and said to Him: “All this belongs to me, so if You bow down and worship me I shall give it to You.” So, He answered saying: “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.” So when Satan was done with all his temptations, he left Him and went away, and the angels came to serve Him for He is their Master.

Who is like You O Jesus our Savior, the healer and the Master of everyone? Because through Your love for mankind, You prepared this great salvation for us, and we learned to overcome the tempter by Your great power. If we have fallen in many evil deeds, and digressed in transgressions and trespasses, may Your capable might raise us, for You are our God and we are Your people and Your flock. O Good Shepherd, be our victory and our helper always, and comfort Your people O merciful One.

We worship You, O Christ, with Your good Father and the Holy Spirit for You have come and saved us.