Sunday School Corner

THE SPIRIT OF STRENGTH AND
THE STRENGTH OF THE SPIRIT!
Fr. Tadros Malaty

Our Lord Jesus Christ came on earth not to present us with mere commandments, but to renew our nature by His Holy Spirit, and to establish His kingdom in us. He came in order to convert our inner beings, which are void of beauty, into a unique, glorious spiritual world. In other words, He crucified our old man, who was in the image of the earthly Adam, and bestowed on us a new man, in the image of the new heavenly Adam. For this, Jesus advised His Apostles not to quit Jerusalem until they received a Power from above (Acts 1:8). In the Greek language the word “power” is derived from the word “dynamite” or “dynamic.” So our Lord advised His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem, to start their evangelistic work, without the power of the Holy Spirit. He asked them to rely on the Holy Spirit within them, as He shatters the solid sin with dynamic divine power, and creates a new celestial heart suitable for His abode. This dynamic power should be the motivating force of their work, as the Holy Spirit knows no laziness or rest, as He is an influence of love who works unceasingly.
Thus, my dear youth, do not fear the lust of the flesh or sin with all its temptations, or the whole world with all its burdens, as you have attained the Holy Spirit in the Holy Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation (Mayroun), who works in you with all power! If you accept the work of the Holy Spirit in you, and ask His assistance at any time, trust that He will support you.

YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES
You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

Contemplation on the Psalms: (thanks for sending these notes)
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.
A man is blessed when he does not go near or share company with the ungodly. You will be blessed in all aspects of your life. Blessed within your family, school, work, sport, career choices .. Food will be provided and the holy man’s life will be blessed in all aspects. Other people will look from afar and have a curious eye at the difference in their life and yours. Even by just walking in the midst of Godly people, they immediately feel something different; that they are at peace.
The spiritual man stays away from all things that can take him away from God and His presence in his life. It will be a blessing to him on the long run if he faces any trials. God will rescue him. He will ease his path allowing him to be elevated higher in his spiritual life.
In this world the counsel of the ungodly are seen as strong, powerful and prevailing, but God raises His own people, like David.

"Do not ask for love from your neighbor, for if you ask and he does not respond, you will be troubled. Instead show your love for your neighbour and you will be at rest, and so will bring your neighbour to love." + Saint Dorotheos of Gaza +

By Fr. Tadros Malaty

LOVE AND PROTECTION… THE NEED FOR A COMPANION Dear youth, how many times have you suffered from an agonizing experience of loneliness and isolation? This tortured loneliness where no one shares your inner feelings and understands your thoughts! Even if you are surrounded with family and friends this inner anguish still exists! How many times have you secretly and bitterly cried out: • I suffer from loneliness, who can save me from such a feeling? • Who can enter my life with sincere friendship free of selfishness? • Who can accept me for what I am, with all my weaknesses and goodness? • Who can love me without asking for anything in return? I am depressed and feel as lonely as an orphan, I am in desperate need of assistance! Jesus Christ answers the plea: “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you” (John 16:7). He is the only One who can enter your heart and accompany you throughout your way. How can this take place? The Spirit of God in the shape of a dove “was hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2), in order to create from your heart (the rugged and desolate earth) a new beautiful world where the touch of God’s love, His work and beauty are manifested. The Holy Spirit embraces you with His godly love and transforms your inner corruption into God’s joyous Kingdom. Where you felt loneliness in your heart, the Holy Spirit will now build God’s Kingdom within you, that you may enjoy fellowship with God and the fulfilling state of being in the presence of angels. He will carry you as on His wings to find comfort in your heavenly Father’s tender bosom. The Spirit of God is not merely a divine energy working in your life, but He is rather a Friend who accompanies you wherever you go, and removes the dreadful feelings of loneliness. That’s what we got in touch with even in the Old Testament, where the Spirit of God appeared as a cloud that sheltered the children of Israel by day, and in a pillar of fire that gave them light by night and accompanied them permanently. Sometimes He led their way as a commander would lead an army. Other times He walked behind them to protect them from backward hits. On other occasions, He walked with them to bless them along the way. What a wonderful companion and friend!

(suscopts web site)

(suscopts web site)
Do Not Love the World (1 John 2:15-17)
1) Introduction
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17).
In multiple occasions, Our Lord warned us from loving the “world”. He taught that we are NOT of this world just as He is not. Our beloved Church exhorts us in every Liturgy after the readings of the Catholic Epistles with the same message.
But why should we, Christians, not love the world?" let’s find out.
2) Because of What the World is - The "World" in this passage…
It is NOT the "physical world" i.e. God's creation for it is "very good"
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. Gen 1:31
It is NOT the "human world" i.e., mankind for God Himself loves the world of men For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 So what is the world that we are called NOT to love?
It is the world of "sin", the world of "evil" i.e., the "sphere" in which sin, evil, and Satan dominates. Just as the phrase "the world of sports" describes the domain in which sports dominates, so this "world" is one in which sin dominates
- According to the passage, three Things in Particular Make up this "World"
1. "The lust of the flesh"
- Sexually (fornication, adultery, licentiousness)
- Socially (hatred, contentions, jealousies)
2. "The lust of the eyes"
- This can be summed up in one word: "covetousness" or "materialism"
3. "The pride of life"
- This would include pride based upon such things as past accomplishments, money, status, power..etc
- A Noteworthy Observation...
Each of these three things often strikes harder at different times in our life:
The YOUNG are most often affected by the "lust of the flesh"
The MIDDLE-AGED are usually afflicted by the "lust of the eyes"
The AGED are likely to be plagued with the "pride of life"
Whether it is immorality, materialism or pride, it is still part of the "world" we are not to love!
Why else should we not love the WORLD???? (to be continued)

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, took a nap under the shadow... He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by...the little boy had grown up, And he no longer played around the tree every day.One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. "Come and play with me,” the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more" The boy replied. "I want toys. I need money to buy them." "Sorry, but I do not have money... But you can pick all my apples and sell them. But you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money. " The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited "Come and play with me" the tree said. "I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me? " Sorry”, But I do not have any house, you can chop off my branches to build your house. " So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.One hot summer day, The man returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said. "I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. “Can you give me a boat?" “Said the man”. "Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy. " So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time. Finally, the man returned after many years. "Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you... " The tree said”. "No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite " The man replied. "No more trunk for you to climb on" "I am too old for that now" the man said. "I really cannot give you anything… The only thing left is my dying root,” The tree said with tears. "I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years" the man replied. "Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, Come, come sit down with me and rest. " The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears... This is you and the tree is your parents. !!!!!

On your wonderful achievements, and on receiving this well deserved title “officially” last week.
May our Great God and Saviour guide your steps always and give you the success in everything you attempt, all in His Beloved Name, amen.