Commentary For the Third Sunday :: Ⲕ̀ⲥ̀ⲙⲁⲣⲱⲟⲩⲧ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲕ̀ⲧⲁⲓⲏⲟⲩⲧ :: طرح للأحد الثالث

Watos:

Blessed and glorious in heaven and on earth are You, O our true God, our Lord Jesus Christ.

When I think and contemplate on Your works and what You have done for our sakes, my mind is overwhelmed.

Listen to His holy teachings which are clear and apparent to everyone. See how He convicts the wrongdoers who own money in this world saying: “The rich of this world have received their reward;” they are arrogant in their hearts and they lust in their souls. Woe to those who cling to their pride, who love the glory of men more than the glory of God.

Observe, O you stubborn, the tenderness and love of our Master Jesus Christ, for His desire is that we imitate Him, as He said: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, pray for those who revile you and persecute you.” You have done well, O good teacher, for You have cut out the root of the deceitful enemy and have widened the path to safety. You have humbled Yourself and have become an example for us.

You abolished the power of the enemy with your humility. So let us love our enemies and walk according to His commandments as God loved us and became a salvation unto us. For if we love our enemies and do what pleases God, we expose the devil and put an end to all his tricks. Especially, my beloved, if we love one another, He abides with us and purifies our homes.

And thus if we walk on this heavenly path, then we gain salvation and deliverance. Let us lend to each other from our money without usury in order to receive our reward at the time of the resurrection of the righteous. Let us excel in doing good, so that the good One may grant each of us compensation according to His promise to us of eternal life. Let us be merciful as He showed us, when He saved us and had mercy upon us according to His true promise: “Be merciful just as your heavenly Father is merciful.” He also said: “Do not judge so that you may not be judged, and do not deliver your brethren to judgment so that you do not receive judgment. Forgive, and it will be forgiven you. Give, to be given. Have mercy, to gain mercy.”

Let us lend our hand to God’s beloved with a full measure overflowing with mercy, so that we may gain a true measure from the hand of the true Judge. For He gives us the heavenly things instead of the earthly, and thanks be to God forever.

Adam:

Why are the eyes of the rich closed and cannot see the light? Why are their ears deaf of hearing? Here is the voice of the Master, which we hear in the Gospel; the voice that causes the mighty to lose their power, their pride and their might. Listen, you lazy and slothful, you owners of money and pleasures and contemplate the warning and fear it.

Open your ears and understand and know. Because it is neither a prophet nor an apostle but it is God the Word of the Father who said: “Woe to you rich people because you have already received your consolation. Woe to those who are full, who do not have mercy on the poor. Now they will be filled and you will be hungry. Woe to those who seek vain glory for they will be exposed on Judgment Day.

So understand and marvel at these life-giving teachings of the Lord Christ as He said: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray without ceasing for those who revile you and cast you away.” Listen and understand that Christ our God is yours, for the sake of our salvation.

So if God has done this to those [whom He warned] and had patience on them through His goodness, then we must also show forbearance toward our friends in order to receive our great reward. So if we have patience with our neighbor whom the Church has raised, and show him a human level of love for the sake of the name of Christ, then He will show us a divine level of mercy in His Kingdom. This commandment is very useful and profitable:

“Brethren, do not resemble the worldly people because they love each other with a vain kind of love. However, I tell you, love your enemies that your reward may be great in the kingdom of heaven. Give to the poor to receive a good fruit and do not lend with the hope of receiving interest that you may instead gain the greatest reward.

Behold how our God through His goodness allows His grace to flow on everyone in the whole world, whether good or evil. Be careful not to judge others that you may not be judged, and do not condemn anyone lest you be treated in the same way you treat others. Forgive to receive forgiveness; have mercy to receive mercy. And have compassion towards the poor for mercy triumphs over judgment on Judgment Day. And let your hands be full in the bosom of the poor so that your bosom may be filled with a measure overflowing and your reward be without blemish from Jesus Christ to whom is the glory forever. Amen.