SERMONETTE

Since today is the fifth sunday of the month, the sermon would normally be entitled-"Feeding The Multitude."  However if a Feast of the Lord falls on a sunday, it always takes priority.  Today is such a day.  Today is Medhane Alem (Commemoration of the Annunciation, the Nativity, and the Resurrection).  This holy day falls on the 29th of every month (Julian Calendar), except on Christmas and Easter.

ANNUNCIATION

St Gabriel the Archangel appeared twice:

1. first to Zacharias the High Priest, telling him:

a. that is wife Elizabeth, who was 82 years old, would bear him a son

b. and his name would called John

c, that John would prepare the way for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

2. and secondly to the Virgin Mary telling her:

a. that she would bear a Son, without the seed of a man

b. that the Holy Spirit would come upon her

c. that He would be called Emanuel

Zacharias was doubtful, while the Virgin Mary accepted the good news with great joy.

NATIVITY

The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ represents several things:

1. God The Father sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, to save us.

2. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came to share His inheritance with us.

3. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came to adopt us as His brothers and sisters.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born:

1. of the immortality of God His Father

2. and the virginity of St Mary, His mother

3. of His Father without limit of time

4. and of His mother without seed

5. God The Father as thesouse of life

6. His mother as the end of death

RESURRECTION

Through the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we receive he following through baptism and confirmation:

1. removal of the adamic sin

2. eternal life

3. adoption

4. gift of the Holy Spirit

Please understand this very valuable lesson.


Melkem Medhane Alem!

Melkem Medhane Alem!

Melkem Medhane Alem! 
 

  

This is a very beautiful and very profound lesson. So let us try to understand the great depth of its meaning to Christianity:

1. Timket also known as the Epiphany is called:

a. the shining forth

b. or the manifestaion of God

c. the baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

St John the Baptist baptized our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the River Jordan.  This brings out a very interesting point:

1. When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born, this was viewed only by a few privileged people:

a. St Joseph and the Virgin Mary

b. and the Three Wise Men

2. However the baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was witnessed:

a. by St John the Baptist and his disciples

b. and by the crowds

Timket consists of two aspects:

1. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ showed a gret deal of humility in allowing Himself to be baptized by John the Baptist

2. The divine witness that God The Father and The Holy Spirit bear to The Son.

During Timket, two solemn testimonies were given to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

1. the testimony of St John the Baptist

2. the divine testimony of God The Father, and The Holy Spirit:

a. God The Father wasthe voice that came down from heaven.  "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I Am well pleased."

b. The Holy Spirit descended on the head of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, like a dove.

Let us be humble, like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Please understand this very valuable lesson.