The Departure of the Great Prophet Joshua Son of Nun.

3rd July - 26th Baouna

On this day, of the year 2570 of the world, the great prophet Joshua Son of Nun, departed. He was born, in the year 2460 of the world, in Egypt (Fifty three years before the deliverance of the people of Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh). He was a disciple and servant to Moses. Moses, after leading the people of Israel out of Egypt with the might of the Divine arm and the extraordinary wonders, brought them to the nearby mount of Sinai. He went up the mount taking with him Joshua, his minister, to receive the commandments. During the war of Israel against Am-a-lek, Joshua was the leader of the soldiers. When Moses chose twelve men to spy out the promised land, one from each tribe, Joshua was one of them. He completed this mission with honesty. He and Caleb alone brought forth the true and accurate information about the promised land. Therefore they alone entered this land without the people of Israel that came out of the land of Egypt. Because they had murmured and doubted in the sincerity of the promises of God, God swore in His anger that they would not enter to His rest. Their children that they begot after their deliverance from Egypt, entered this land along with Joshua and Caleb. After the death of the great prophet Moses in the year 2553 of the world, the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun saying: «Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them; the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.« )Joshua 1:1-8( Joshua›s heart was strengthened and he sent out two men to spy out the land secretly. So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. The woman hid them; and they swore to spare her and all her household. Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall. (Joshua 2:115) Then Joshua opened (i.e. conquered) Jericho after he had gone around its walls several times and when they shouted with a great shout the great walls of the city fell down. The people went up into the city and killed both man and beast. The two men that had spied out the country, went into Rahab›s house and brought her, her father, her mother, her brethren, and all that she had, out of the camp. Joshua spared their lives as the two spies promised her for she had spared their lives, and hid them. Then they burnt the city, and all that was therein. The gold, and the silver and vessels of brass and iron, were taken to the treasury of the house of the Lord. The Lord was with this righteous man, so he opened many cities, killed many kings, and the nations feared him. Because of the great fear, the inhabitants of Gibeon worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua, and said to him, «We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.« But the men of Israel said to them, «Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?« They said to them, «From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame ... this bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy ... and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.« Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. Three days later, after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, «Why have you deceived us, saying, ‹We are very far from you,› when you dwell near us? Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves.« Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the house of the LORD. (Joshua 9:3-27) Joshua fought with the five Amorite kings, hence the hand of the Lord had helped him by casting down great stones from heaven upon them. The children of Israel fought them before the city of Gibeon, and he made the sun stand still until the five kings and their soldiers were destroyed. Joshua divided the land according to the command of God among the children of Israel. He gave the priests cities to dwell in, and land for their cattle. He set apart five cities of refuge wherein all those who had committed a murder unintentionally might dwell. When he completed about one hundred ten years and reached a good old age, he gathered together the elders of Israel, their heads, their judges and their officers, and commanded them to keep the commandment of the Law and not to deviate from worshipping God, then departed in peace.

May his prayers be with us. Amen.

The Martyrdom of St. Ananias, the Apostle.

4th July - 27th Baouna

On this day, St. Ananias, the apostle, departed. The apostles ordained this saint bishop for the city of Damascus. He preached therein with the life-giving gospel, as he preached also in the city of Beth-Gabriel and converted many of its people to the faith, and baptized them and their children.

St. Ananias was the one to baptize the apostle Paul when the Lord sent him to him. When he baptized St. Paul, something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight at once. God wrought many great miracles by his hands; and many of the Jews and Gentiles believed through his preaching. Afterwards, Lucianus the governor seized St. Ananias, and tortured him with sever tortures, such as burning his sides with fiery torches. Finally, Lucianus took him outside the city, and commanded him stoned until St. Ananias delivered up his pure soul in the hand of the Lord. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

The Martyrdom of Sts. Abba Hour and his Mother Theodora.

6th July - 29th Baouna

On this day also, Sts. Abba Hour and his mother

Theodora, were martyred. Abba Hour was a soldier in the army of Antioch. He came to Alexandria, and confessed the Lord Christ before its governor. He commanded that Abba Hour’s hands be cut off, that he be tied to the tail of an ox and dragged through the city. Then he was thrown into a pit filled with snakes which did not harm him. During all that torture, he cried out to the Lord Christ, who healed and strengthened him. His mother came to see him and she rejoiced in his strife.

They told the governor about her, and he had her brought to him. He asked her to sacrifice to the idols but when she refused he became enraged at her, and frightened her but she was not afraid of his raging. He commanded to put red-hot iron rods in her sides. When they did so she rejoiced and sang hymns to venerate the Lord for He made her worthy to suffer for His Holy Name. Later on she delivered up her soul and received the crown of martyrdom.

As for St. Abba Hour (Hor), they placed him in a cauldron of boiling oil and tar, and he praised God until he delivered up his soul and received the crown of martyrdom. His brother Abba Bishai (Pishai) was martyred on the 1st day of Nasi (Intercalary days)

May their prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.

The Martyrdom of Saint Febronia the Ascetic.

8th July - 1st Abib

On this day, St. Febronia, the ascetic virgin, was martyred. This saint was the niece of the superior of a convent that had fifty virgins, in a place called “Ouryana” in Mesopotamia. Her aunt brought her up in the fear of God and taught her the reading of the Holy Books. St. Febronia vowed herself to the Lord Christ, and she fought the good fight by asceticism, fasting for two days at a time, and unceasing in her prayers.

When Emperor Diocletian issued his edict to worship idols, many Christians were martyred by his hands. When the virgins heard that, they were afraid and left the convent and went into hiding. None was left in the convent except St. Febronia, another sister and the abbess.

On the following day, the envoys of the Emperor came, seized the abbess, and humiliated her. St. Febronia said to them, “Take me and set free this old woman.” But they took her as well, bound in ropes, and brought them to the Governor. At that time she was twenty years old, and was attractive. The Governor asked her to worship the idols and promised her many things but she refused. He ordered that she be beaten with rods, and her dress to be torn off. The abbess cried out to him saying, “May God rip you up, O wild beast, for you want to put to shame this young orphan girl.” The Governor was wrathful, and ordered St. Febronia to be squeezed by the wheel, and to comb her body with an iron comb until her flesh was completely torn. During all that, she prayed to the Lord asking for help. He then cut out her tongue and smashed her teeth so that she could not pray. But the Lord strengthened her and comforted her.

Finally, the Governor ordered her head cut off, and she received the crown of martyrdom. A righteous man took her body and shrouded it with costly shrouds, and placed it in a golden box.

May her prayers be with us. Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Baouna Luke 6: 27-38

“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise”. )31)

It may be easy to reward good works with good favours. We know very well how to please others and how to act with courtesy. We feel this what we should do out of duty. But why should you be rewarded for this? You are just acting as it should be. Even non-Christians will do the same. You do not have to be Christian to love those who love you. In fact, if you do not act in in this manner you will be considered as impolite person who has no respect to others. It is a civilised way of dealing. Even people can go further to help the strangers and people whom I do not know out of being a good human. What difference it makes to be Christian who has been redeemed and saved by your loving Christ Who died for you on the Cross and taught you to love and live according to His great love to you and all the world. You need to go much further than that reactionary level which the world applies. Christians should be able to do what the world cannot do. Our Lord has taught us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us and bless those who curse us or spitefully us even to pray for them. The Christian is a living blessing to the world.

+ But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?

Thieves love one another. Ungodly people co-operate together. The principal of treating people the same as they treat you is fair worldly principal but it is expression of weakness and inability to progress beyond your desires and human thoughts. Even in the Old Testaments you can see great saints and fathers who went much further than this limit. King Saul hated David and planned to kill him. He falls into the hands of David twice )1Sam 24, 26) and David could have killed him but he said “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master the anointed, to stretch out my hand against him”

)1Sam24: 6). He preferred rather to leave the Lord to deal with him. He knew that the Lord will carry His promises to make him a king in the due time. David son Absalom one day arose against his father and plotted to take the kingdom for himself. David had to runaway )2Sam 15). On the way, Sheimei son of Gera from the house of Saul )2Sam 16) came out cursing David and throwing stones on him and describes him as a bloodthirsty person. David refused to hurt him or respond to his abuse and prayed that the Lord looks on his affliction this day. He even asked Joab the army leader not to hurt Absalom. Only once David was angry and wanted to avenge to himself from Nabal )1Sam 25) who refused to offer due help to him and sent his messengers emptyhanded. The Lord has inspired Nabal’s wife to meet David plead for her husband and ask David not to avenge for himself as this will be no grief to him and offense of heart that he has shed blood without cause )1Sam 25). These wise words from Abigail has stopped him from returning the evil with evil. One day justice must be fulfilled. The Lord will bring punishment to the evil person who does not repent. David did not hurt Nabal but the Lord struck him and died on the same night. David di not punish Sheimei but later he was punished by King Solomon as he continued his evil conduct. So also, Saul went further in his arrogance and disobedience and was killed in the war )1Sam 31). Learn to do good with no conditions or any expectations. Do not wait to be motivated by anyone to do the good things. Do not wait for your friend to be nice so that you be nice with him. Do not expect a gift to respond with a gift. Then you just got your wage but no reward. Learn to “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Ecclesiastes 11:1). You can avoid people to get yourself away from trouble. This is the negative way to solve problems. When your heart is full or love you can say the good word and respond with the good work whatever the reaction of other people. It will be horrible if the Lord treat us according to our deeds. No one will be spared. We pray every day asking God to treat us:

“according to Your mercy and not according to our sins”.

+ Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless and pray: You could be a good person by nature, but you say I am forced not do good with those people as they are evil and full of hatred. You are trying to get yourself an excuse not to carry the Lord’s commandment to love even your enemies. Loving others is not an act of weakness. It is actually a very powerful act. It is the secret of victory. The King of Syria knew that secret power of the people of Israel was the prayers of the man of God Elisha )2King 6: 8-23). He decided to kill him. He sent a huge army to look for him. When the servant of Elisha saw the mountain surrounded with soldiers he was terrified but Elisha prayed that the Lord open his eyes to see the mountain is full of horses and chariots of fire protecting them. The Lord struck the enemy soldiers with blindness as Elisha prayed. Elisha went down to lead them to Samaria. When the king of Samaria saw them, he asked if he can kill them. Elisha stopped him and asked him to feed them and let them go back to their master. Here the Book of Kings the second says: “So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel )2Kings 6: 23). They were defeated by love. Love could achieve what armies could not do. Loving the enemies is not an act of the weak to do. It only can be done by the strong in heart. The weak only can surrender, but the strong can forgive and respond to the evil with good. In the Lord, we are never weak but very strong. We should be able to carry out the commandments of true love. Why we still live in the old law of the weak while we are strong? David was not weak when he refused to kill Saul. Elisha was not weak at all when he forgave his enemies. Definitely, our Lord Jesus Christ was not weak when he forgave those who crucified Him. Also, St Stephen was very strong when he asked for forgiveness to those who are stoning him. Learn to be strong in our Lord Jesus Christ through the law of love. Taking revenge, hatred and acts of evil are the weapons of the weak. Love always prevail and victorious.

+ To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also

The strike of the right cheek is the first strike, the unexpected one. It can be an act of someone who is close to you. Usually, this strike is done by the left hand which is the weak hand, the one who acts unnoticed. It is a symbol of acts of weakness in the dark. The strike on the left cheek is different. It is the strike which you can see it coming and you can be ready for it or to act to avoid it. You are expecting hardship and pain but you are ready to accept it with joy and love. The first strike did not defeat you and you did not lose your peace. You are strong through the Lord. Those who are defeated by the first strike will have no second. The second one is the act of the right hand. It is the strong painful premeditated and planed strike. The one who strike is the weak one. The one who can turn the lift cheek is the strong one. Be strong and accept in patience and love. The one who strike you on the right cheek want you to turn your head to the left and force you to follow him in his evil. When you turn the left cheek you are actually turning your head to the right declaring that you are steadfast in the life of Grace declaring that you will never lead to the wrong way and will be persistent in the work of good and love regardless of any challenges that may face you. Learn the virtue of turning the left cheek. It is the work of those who are strong. It shows your strong will and your persistence in the true life of love. You are following the steps of your Master looking for the heavenly life rejecting life of evil, hatred and revenge. Our Lord is merciful so we must be also. Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.