I think it is better to call the parable in (Luke 11: 15-32) “The parable of the Good Father and the Prodigal Son”, rather than just “The parable of the Prodigal Son”. This is because of at least the following reasons:

1- The hero in the story is “The Good Father”: whose paternity embraced and accepted the two sons, regardless of who they are and what they have done.

2- The parable includes the story of the lost young son who was astray away from his father’s house. He “went to a far country” (Luke 13:15).

3- The parable also includes the story of the other lost son. The older son was away in his heart very distant from knowing the meaning of the fatherhood. Also, he did not realist that all what the father had is his. “My son, you are with me all the time, and all that I have is yours” (Luke 31:15).

His bod was in the house but his heart was away: “This people will honor me with his lips, but his heart will depart from me far away” (Isaiah 13:29), (Mark 6: 7).

Jesus offered this parable after the “Parable of the Lost Coin” and the “Parable of the Lost Sheep”. He said these parables to respond to the indignant Pharisees and scribes. They said about Him, “He accept sinners, and eat with them” (Luke 2:15).

In this third parable, Christ drew an “Amazing Picture of God”. Some of the elements of this picture are as follows:

1- God is not just a king or the creator, He is the father of all: “A man has two sons” (Luke 11:15). “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” (Malachi 2:10).

2- The heart of God the Father embraces every human being, whether in the house (church) or outside the house (traveled to a distant country).

3- God the Father gives of His goodness even to those who do not deserve. “He divided to them his living” (Luke 12:15). ” He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).

4- God the Father gives dangerous freedom to man. “I have set before you life and death: blessing and curse, and choose life, that you and your sons may live” (Deuteronomy 19:30).

5- God the Father put in the human being deep longing to return to Him. The older son said to himself, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” (Luke 15:17). ” I will arise and go to my father” (Luke 15:18). God “made eternity in their heart” (Gen. 11: 3).

6- God the Father is waiting for the repentance of His children. “When he [the younger son] was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

7- God the Father embraces the repentant in His bosom and kisses him. “[The father] fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth– For your love is better than wine” (Song of Songs 1:2).

8- God the father to cover repentant and return him to the rank of sonship. “Bring out the first garment and put it on him [the righteousness of Christ] and put a ring in his hand [the ring of sonship] and put shoes on his feet [the readiness of the gospel of peace]” (Luke 22:15).

“When man fell, You God wanted to bring him back to his first rank” (Divine Liturgy).

9- God the Father enters into a new covenant with the repentant in the blood of Jesus Christ. The father said, “bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry” (Luke 15:23).

“Eat my body… Drink my blood of the New covenant, for the remission of sins and eternal life to those who partake of it”.

10- Repentance is the return to the father’s bosom is entry to the experience of the heavenly joy. “They began to rejoice (Luke 15:24). The older son heard “the sound of the instruments of singing and dancing” (Luke 15:25).

God the Father awaits you with his fatherly arms and kisses and the joy of heaven, that is not spoken and glorious, in the Lord Jesus Christ.

المثل الذي ورد في [انجيل لوقا ١١:١٥-٣٢] هو “مثل الاب الصالح المحب والابن الضال” وليس “مثل الابن الضال” فقط، للاسباب التالية على الأقل:

¿Sabes quién es y qué hay más allá de la escena de la Natividad? En Navidad, recordamos la concepción milagrosa y el nacimiento de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, en carne humana, de la virgen Santa María. También recordamos la escena y los testigos de la Natividad y muchas otras cosas.

Recordar todas estas cosas es correcto y bendito. Pero lo que no está bien es olvidar a Dios el Padre mientras celebra el nacimiento de Su Hijo.

Do you know who is and what are beyond the scene of Nativity? In Christmas, we remember the miraculous conception and the virginal birth. We remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Logos of God in human flesh, from the virgin St Mary. We also remember the scenes and the witnesses of Nativity and many other things.

To remember all of these things is right and blessed. But what is not right is to forget God the Father while celebrating the birth of His Son.

While Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is also a celebration of the manifestation of God the Father, in His Son Jesus Christ. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…” (Hebrews 1:1-3, NKJV).

In the divine Liturgy of St Basil, the priest prays addressing God the Father, “in the last days you manifested Yourself to us, who were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, through Your Only Begotten Son. Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.”

While I watched the workers painting the facade of Emmanuel Center’s building with the final color, a thought came across my mind, “This is a Monument of God’s Victory”. I believe there are many who need to be aware of this truth.

It had never occurred to me that financing this project would be a challenge that exposes the spiritual warfare inside us to love and serve one of the two masters. Christ said clearly, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13). Whether we admit it or not, we are in a struggle to choose between the two masters — the “Living God” and “Mammon (Wealth)” — until God gives us victory.

This building stands as a monument of God’s victory in His Cheerful Givers who stood against loving and serving Mammon; those who accepted willingly to share with us our incredible adventure of faith. Their names are recorded in heaven, and this building stands as a witness to many generations, of how God won the battle in them.

I saw God’s victory in many Cheerful Givers. Among these victorious are children who have offered their allowances, widows and new immigrants who have donated from their needs, young couples who have offered generously, and rich people who have loved God more than their wealth.

I saw God’s victory in many who wanted to express their gratitude toward St Mark’s Church for its services to them personally, and/or its services to the land of immigration, as the mother church to all churches in North America.

I saw God’s victory in loving people from many churches that have contributed and enjoyed the sense of being ONE church, regardless of where they are and where they worship. They offered their donations as to the Lord; some of whom do not even know St Mark’s Church or its priests.

I saw God’s victory in many of the Cheerful Givers, including the youth and kids, who have contributed while feeling the heart of missionary work in the middle of Jersey City.

I saw God’s victory in many Cheerful Givers who have faithfully pursued their walk with God by paying their first income and their tithes, in holy fear of God’s word (Malachi 3:8).

In all of these loving people, I saw by my eyes how God won the battle inside them against Mammon, and how He richly has blessed them. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

I am sure God will continue to fulfill the needs of His Church, through His loving people, to complete the building. I hope you will not miss the opportunity of such blessing and honor. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Fr Abraam Sleman

www.SaintMark.com/donate

In the Coptic Orthodox Churches, the congregations are blessed in the divine services, not only with the participation of the priests but also of the deacons. I thank God, that I personally have been touched by the participation of the wonderful deacons, especially during the Holy Week of Pascha and the Feast of Resurrection in St Mark’s of Jersey City, for many years. I thank God for the gift of having such wonderful deacons, as they are really amazing.

I really love the deacons and value the presence and the role of every single one of them, young or old. But I fear that somehow their pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent (2 Corinthians 11:3). For this reason I wrote this message, in all fatherly love, to all the deacons in all the churches!

The rites and the prayers of the Holy Pascha Week are amazing tools in the hand of God to portrait before the eyes of the people the crucified and risen Christ (Galatians 3:1). Such remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection is intended to bring the hearts of the worshipers into a living fellowship with Christ in His death and resurrection. We would miss the point of the Holy Week of Pascha if the portrait of the crucified and risen Lord disappeared from our conscious and hearts.

Every Divine service of the Pascha Week is a real worship before the throne of God. It has to be offered by the Spirit of grace and prayers, in fear and reverence (Zechariah 12:10). We should not be intimidated with the limit of time verses the many prayers, readings and hymns. It is better to read, pray and chant little with understanding than doing this without understanding (1 Corinthians 14:19). Moreover, let your humble voices be heard in heavens, in Spirit and truth.

The Holy week is about the Christ who emptied Himself and obeyed the Father until the death of the Cross (Philippians 2:8). So let us be in harmony with Him through emptiness ourselves. God is looking for our obedience to the priests, the elder deacons and our parents. He is also looking for our kind affections to the younger deacons and the weak with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another (Romans 12:10). Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else (Mark 9:35). In this Holy Week, and always, learn the meaning of washing the feet of your brother as Christ washed your feet (John 13:14).

Beloved Deacons, please be aware of this: Either we are going to work with Holy Spirit to portrait the crucified and risen Christ or we are going to be deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent and portrait a false image of ourselves. I am looking forward to the day when I kneel down kissing and washing the feet of every one of you. I wish you a blessed Holy Pascha Week and the joy of His Holy resurrection.

Fr Abraam Sleman

frsleman@CopticChurch.net

(732) 718-4129

Emmanuel Center is a gift from God the Almighty to His people, where there is much need of such community center. It is located in the premises of the Coptic Orthodox Church of St Mark’s church of Jersey City. It will be a holy place for worship, conferences, Sunday school classes, social occasions as well as the many other spiritual, missionary, social and sport activities of all ages. It is a place for God to rejoice with His people and for His people rejoice with Him.

I kindly request your help to the church with your prayers and donations to complete the construction of the building. God bless you and thank you so much.

Fr Abraam Sleman

Donation by Credit Card:

www.SaintMark.com/donate

Donation by Check:
Coptic Orthodox Church of St Mark
PO Box 4397, Jersey City, NJ 07304

20130119 Epiphany – Fr Abraam Sleman – Arabic
هناك كثير من التساؤلات حول موضوع عيد الظهور الالهي، ومنها ما معني “ينيغي أن نكمل كل بر”، ولماذا كانت الضرورة لحلول الروح القدس علي السيد المسيح؟ ومن هو صاحب الصوت السمائي: هذا هو ابني الحبيب الذي به سررت؟ وبعد ذلك كله: ما هي أهمية كل هذه الأمور لخلاصنا وحياتنا الأبدية. أدعوك لتسمع كلمات النعمة في هذه العظة.

While all Coptic Orthodox churches have the same worship prayers, rites and multitude of activities, some consider the Church of St. Mark in Jersey City as “a church covered with badger skins”. Perhaps you may ask, why talk about this church and not others, and what “badger skins” are? Let me share with you some personal memories that you may share how I feel about calling this church, A Church Covered with Badger Skins.

I revere all the churches, and appreciate the effort of all their fathers, but I simply testify of what I have been touched within the church of St. Mark in Jersey City. Following the example of St. Paul, and as a servant of St. Mark’s church in Jersey City I magnify the ministry that has been entrusted to my weakness by the Lord. In doing so, declare the strong work of God, and to bring glory to His name (Romans 11:13).

The Thrice-blessed of Memory H.H. Pope Shenouda III called my weakness to serve in this church in 1995. I remember at that time, there were many loved ones waiting for my return from Colorado to serve in the Church of the Virgin in Ard El-Golf in Cairo, where I had previously started my service. When they heard that my next stop would be Jersey City, they were upset. One of them had even called me and warned me saying: “Are you going to serve in the garage?” I was not comforted with this description of the church. I replied back: “I do not deserve to serve, even in a manger of Bethlehem.”

If you are not familiar with Jersey City, it is a city suitable for new immigrants to the United States, because of the availability of public transportation, its proximity to Manhattan, and the high concentration Egyptians and Egyptian stores. You do not feel alienated in Jersey City, but rather that may be in Shubra or Upper Egypt. However, the situation was a little different for us, since we were not new immigrants. The idea of moving to Jersey City was a shock to my young children, because – according to human wisdom – it did not make sense to leave Ard El-Golf or Colorado for Jersey City; except the Divine plan is greater than human wisdom.

What awaited us was even more shocking. First, the church building was outdated and its architectural design was no longer suitable for the growing number of congregants served by the church. The church doors were not adequate to enter and exit the building. The staircase was not safe for going up and down. The restrooms were unacceptable. Due to this shock, I said bluntly to the Thrice-Blessed of memory H.H. the Pope: “When I entered the church at first glance I felt I was in prison”. But by the grace of God and the love of the people, the church has been renovated with simple architectural modifications that were necessary for the church service. May the Lord reward everyone’s labor of love with regards to this matter, and write their names in His Kingdom.

The biggest shock was even not in the building, but in the congregation which had fallen into a state of disunity. To make matters worse, some of its leaders were spreading propaganda against others, but thanks to the Lord that the voice of the Spirit of God has been much louder those voices. Again the compassionate fatherhood of God embraced all who were at odds with one another and brought peace.

I will skip the details of the long years that I have spent in St Mark in Jersey City. However, there is something worth mentioning that from the first day I considered it as the place of my witnessing and martyrdom. During these years, the altar of the church witnessed many tears, shed for everyone in the church by name, especially for all antagonists and wrongdoers, to be blessed children of grace

God’s response was amazing. The Lord has called some of the children of the church to the holy priesthood and to the monastic life. Many have become blessed deacons and servants in whom the church rejoices. Even the children have enjoyed the fatherhood of God in the church, and wore their diaconal vestments with their fathers in joy. These young children shared in the church readings from the lectern joyfully. Moreover, many of the church’s youth have attained advanced degrees, and prestigious positions in their careers. I thank You, my God on Your great work with the children of this church.

I have a lot to say about this church which I love from my heart. Many honored Bishops and visitors have testified of the work of the Lord in this church. But, unfortunately, in spite of all this grace in which we stand, some see the Church of St. Mark in Jersey City as church covered with badger skins.

In the Old Testament “ram skins dyed red, and badger skins” were the outer cover of the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:5). This was according to the Lord’s command: “You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that”  (Exodus 26:14). As many have interpreted this, the badger skins were unsightly in appearance and taken from animals that were unclean. So, the appearance of the tabernacle from outside was not appealing.

Badger skins here symbolize the external condition of the Church of St. Mark in Jersey City, which is no longer favored by some due to reasons that are unrelated to the essence of the Church. Some have mentioned that one of the reasons is that the church is a little more distant from their homes which they have chosen in better places, away from Jersey City.  Others see the effort that is sometimes necessary to find parking. Or perhaps newly-built churches are more appealing. Some others do not like the fact that St Mark Church in Jersey City includes so many of the new immigrants, “the brethren of the Lord”, while other churches have families that are more stable and well-to-do.

Calling St. Mark’s church a “church covered with badger skins”, in that sense does not degrade the church or making little of the glory that God shed on it. While the Tabernacle was not so pleasant from the outside because of the badger skins, it was adorned with gold from the inside. Moreover, inside the Tabernacle, there was what is greater than gold which is the dwelling of God with His glory on the Mercy Seat (the cover of the Ark of the Covenant). That is according to the words of the Lord: “And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel” (Exodus 25:22).

Jesus was not born in Herod’s palace, but in Bethlehem amid the animals of the manger. Neither the palace nor the manger matters, and not the visitors of either, but what matters to us Christ of the manger. I have seen Him in the Church of St. Mark through the afflicted souls and in those who are in need of service. For the spiritual person, Church is not for socializing with friends, but it is a place to worship the Lord, and to have a real encounter with the Lord Jesus and to serve Him through those who are needy and hurting. I thank God that the church is always filled with such blessed people.

The Lord asked His people to come and present to Him their offerings in the Tabernacle or the Temple no matter how distant their countries were. This is so according to His command: “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed” (Deuteronomy 16:16).

The Psalms of Ascents have always been a joyful expression of the people to ascend to the house of the Lord, saying: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’ Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!” (Psalm 122:1-2). Jerusalem was not in the backyard of their houses, but many miles away during an era when travelling by animals were very difficult.

The spirit of God made of the Church of St. Mark a resting place for them. They found in it loving people who embrace them and support them, making their new journey easier. Thus, St. Mark’s church has become a fertile field to serve Christ through these people. A church without serving the needy is a church without serving Christ, according to what He said: “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40).

There are now what are the so-called “wealthy churches” and “poor churches” depending on the income of their members. Sadly, some have forgotten what is real wealth and what is real poverty, as the Apostle Paul said: “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (2 Corinthians 6:10). So is the case with the Church of St. Mark, which is the church that is poor in financial resources, but rich in the glory of the Holy Spirit, and the gift of love. We thank God for this because living in luxury might be the cause of spiritual death, according to the words of the Apostle Paul: “but she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” (1 Timothy 5:6). Moreover, we thank God that He satisfies all our needs in due time.

In a testimony to the history, I have discovered, over the years, that the Church of St. Mark in Jersey City is not a “garage” nor a “prison”, but a resting place of the spirit of God, where He works with amazing strength. From the beginning we have accepted the words of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” (Zechariah 4:6-7). Thus the church emerged out of all the challenges she faced with a great glory that bears witness to the Lord’s work through His Holy Spirit.

The Spirit of God has made the Church St. Mark a safe haven for children to be raised according to the Gospel and away from human wisdom and currents of American society. This is also is according to the words of St. Paul the Apostle: “and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).

I thank God that the skins of the badger, that are not so appealing have, have a deeper meaning in the scriptures.  The are symbol of equipping and beautifying the church with the readiness of the Gospel of peace. The Lord said, I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk” (Ezekiel 16:10). St Paul reveals the meaning and says, “having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15).

The Spirit of God has instilled a sense of responsibility in St Mark Church’s priests and srevants to have Bible classes for all the ages of her children in addition to the Sunday school classes. Again, I thank God that the sound doctrines of the Bible are emphasized in all the sermons and the services of the church, as the early church fathers did. Thus many have become disciples of the Lord according to His promise: “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children” (Isaiah 54:13).

Also, by the grace of the Lord, the message of the Gospel is sent from St. Mark’s church to the whole world via satellite TV and internet. This is to feed the hearts of thousands with the word of God, as it is written: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11). I thank God that in this we see the fulfillment of what the Scripture says: “There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (Psalms 19:3-4).

It is worthy to mention that behind all this services in the church were the efforts of the Late Hegumen Reverend Fr. Gabriel Abdelsayed over the span of no less than 23 years. Then the Spirit of God, along with my weakness, provided blessed priests, numerous servants, deacons and people, in a harmonious symphony of love led by the Holy Spirit, to speak of the glory of God and His salvation in Jesus Christ.  O Lord, reward everyone who labors in the church.

By faith, I hear what the Lord is saying for this amazing church: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11) … and also what Nehemiah said: “Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach” (Nehemiah 2:17).

I thank You my God for this great blessing …

I thank You my God for every soul that enjoyed being in Your presence in this church …

Remember O Lord all those who labored with us and reward them the heavenly reward …Fr.  Abraam Sleman

frsleman@CopticChurch.net