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We are embarking on a journey to uncover God's Wisdom this week. King Solomon began the new proverb by saying that wisdom vies for the heart while lust vies for the external appearance. King Solomon had just concluded preaching against the practices of the immoral. As wisdom screams out from the top of the hills, inviting all of us who were found sick to come and have an encounter with her, this proverb encourages us to establish a genuine relationship with the Father. The unavoidable and recognizable voice of God is wisdom. Furthermore, it is spoken clearly to those who comprehend.
This week we are taken on a trip through the lens of Proverbs 7 which shows us the way that leads to the chambers of death. King Solomon shows us an example of a man who is lured down the path of iniquity. Not knowing that it would cost him his life. Sin here is represented by the immoral woman who seduces the simple to go with her and enjoy the luxurious, prideful, sinful life on her bed which is adorned with the finest linen on the outside, but in essence, it distorts the one word that best describes God: Love. Saying that love is the embrace of worldly longing and a vapid satisfaction.
Fr. Mina begins with Proverbs 6:20, where it is urgently urged that we retain God's commandment in our minds. According to Fr. Mina, until we temporarily live without God's commands, we are unable to fully appreciate their significance. The proverb then goes on to discuss living an immoral lifestyle outside of marriage, highlighting how many lives have been destroyed as a result of this route to sin and lifestyle. Pride and lust caused many people to lose their lives and walks with God. Fr. Mina makes a connection between the two, stating that people have made it their mission to follow their passions, which is why they are inextricably linked and frequently lead to one another. This week concludes with the opening of chapter 7, which emphasizes once more how crucial it is that we live according to God's instructions and bear His remembrance present in our lives!
This week's Bible study continues with a discussion on the value of work in one's life. According to what the Bible says, a person who does not labor should not eat. The work of God is not distinct from our occupations or our studies! God hastened us to subdue the earth during creation; every minute we spend studying or working at a job is a kind of subduing the earth. The proverb then goes on to describe the ant's labors, showing how, although producing relatively little each day, it accumulates enough food for the winter months over time, even if it does not see the results of its labors right away. Similar to how one's soul experiences winter, we must prepare ourselves by reading spiritual books that will keep our souls warm during this dark period. On the other hand, there is the slothful person who hides from God and the outside world and confides through a single habit. Fr. Mina talks about the seven things that God hates as he wraps up the proverb!
Fr. Suriel gives the high school parents meeting about raising our children correctly according to our Christian principles, at the end Fr. Suriel recommends some books if interested in further reading.
Fr. Mina continues by discussing the virtues of marriage in chapter 5 of the book of Proverbs, which states: "There is newness in marriage." Lust is there all around us and at the tips of our fingers. However, the holy mystery of marriage offers an opportunity to encounter a new kind of love—an unfathomably selfless love. This is the "running water" that King Solomon encourages us to drink from, as stated in Proverbs 5:15. The proverb concludes by emphasizing the value of privacy and stressing how much God values family life because it is the first system He established and was raised in. Fr. Mina divides the first three sorts of men in Proverbs 6 as follows: 1) The financially strapped 2) Indolent 3) A source of trouble. Fr. Mina discusses the significance of giving without expecting anything in return as he wraps up his discussion on the first category of men.
Proverbs 4:24-5:14 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ
Proverbs 4:10-23 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ
Proverbs 4:1-9 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ
His Grace Bishop Suriel teaches about the life of St. Habib Girgis who is an immensely important figure in the history of the church and more importantly in Christian education, this is part 2.
His Grace Bishop Suriel teaches about the life of St. Habib Girgis who is an immensely important figure in the history of the church and more importantly in Christian education, this is part 1.
Fr. Mark gives the sermon during the Sunday Liturgy on the Gospel of John 3:22-36 concerning Baptism and it's role in our lives.
H.G. Bishop Suriel gives the sermon during the Sunday Liturgy on the Gospel of John 3:22-36 concerning Baptism and Witness.
Song of Songs 7:9-8:14 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ
Fr. Mina continues Song of Songs bible study with the beginning of chapter 7, where God praises all the traits he finds beautiful in his beloved. Starting from the most insignificant features to the greatest, the Lord describes what characteristics he wants to build in his beloved, and the potential that he sees in the soul that she may not see in herself.
Fr. Mina continues chapter 6 by discussing the different seasons of the spiritual life represented by the different gardens mentioned throughout the book. The four seasons he discusses are spring, a period of grace; summer, a period where the consolations from God lessen; autumn, a period of suffering and humble submission; and winter, a period of purification to the highest order.
Song of Songs 6:1-10 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ
Song of Songs 5:10-16 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ
1 Samuel 19 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ
Song of Songs 5:3-9 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ
Fr. Kyrillos Ibrahim and Fr. Anthony Mourad host a combined Q&A between the Undergraduate and Graduate youth.
The third lecture of the 2023 Graduate Youth Retreat. The theme of the retreat was "The Hidden Person of the Heart" (1 Peter 3:4), Fr. Kyrillos gave the third lecture on Receptivity and Capacity for Divine Life. He goes through the capacity we have and how one can become more receptive for Divine life.
The 4th and final lecture of the 2023 Graduate Youth Retreat. The theme of the retreat was "The Hidden Person of the Heart" (1 Peter 3:4), Fr. Kyrillos gave the final lecture on Inner Poverty, Meekness, and Modesty and gave beautiful definitions and steps we can take to attain these great virtues.
The 2nd lecture of the 2023 Graduate Youth Retreat. The theme of the retreat was "The Hidden Person of the Heart" (1 Peter 3:4), Fr. Kyrillos gave the second lecture on Interior Silence. He goes through 12 different types of silence and expounds on how one can go about each type.
The 1st lecture of the 2023 Graduate Youth Retreat. The theme of the retreat was "The Hidden Person of the Heart" (1 Peter 3:4), Fr. Kyrillos gave the first lecture on the concepts of Hiddenness, Solitude, and Newness. He gave beautiful definitions for each concept as well as how we can go about living each one.
Song of Songs 4:12-5:2 - Bible Study - Fr. Mina Dimitri by Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, East Brunswick, NJ
Fr Mina continues his bible study with Song of Songs chapter 4 with more of the story of the souls marriage to God. Like a true lover, God describes to us the details of what he loves about us. Fr. Mina delves into the symbolism behind all beloved’s features that capture the lover’s heart, and how the love and word of God makes the beloved even more beautiful.
In this week's bible study, Fr Mina discusses the next stage of the soul’s journey with God by describing our marriage to God and how we can enter into the eternal Trinitarian love with the thermometer of our love to God being suffering. As much as the human soul praises God in heaven, God praises the human soul in a perfect requited love.
Fr. Mina continues with our study of the most beautiful song ever written. He speaks about how the human soul begins to feel discouraged when the soul does not feel God as it used to. The soul searches for God during the period of sin and doubt and does not find Him. When we do not find God in our laziness, we must rise now into action. The soul performs true repentance by searching for the One she loves. After this period the soul enters into marriage with God.
Fr. Mina continues the second chapter of Song of Songs by discussing the journey of the soul after she finds God and experiences the absence of God in periods of spiritual dryness. He explains how as doves, we can present little acts of love that become great.
