The Lord Christ came as a Savior to the world, as the angel said to the
shepherds: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) And the Lord has said
concerning Himself that He came “to seek and to save that which was
lost.” (Luke 19:10)
In addition to all of this, He had an important message in teaching,
and in leading the people to the knowledge of God, having said to the
Father: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
He also said to Him: “And I have declared to them Your name, and will
declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I
in them.” (John 17:26)
Did all of these people not know God, till Christ came to tell them
about Him? Of course not, for without doubt they knew His Hebrew name:
Elohim, Jehovah, Adonai, that is, the One who is and is to be, God and
Lord. But this mere knowledge of the mind is not enough.
They knew that the One God is the Creator of heaven and earth and the
only One who works wonders. But they did not have a relationship of the
heart with Him, even in their prayers! Therefore God said concerning
them: “…these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with
their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me.” (Isaiah 29:13)
They had an outward worship only, without spirit! Prayer without a
connection!! For this reason God rejected their prayer. He said to
these people: “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from
you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands
are full of blood.” (Isaiah 1:15)
God desired the pure heart that is full of love towards God and people.
Thus the Lord Christ said to God the Father: “And I have declared to
them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved
Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26)
The Lord Christ came teaching people about love, through His life and
words; so that they will know that God is Love (1 John 4:16); and that
every virtue void of love is not accepted before God… Thus He said to
His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one
another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John
13:34) He also said to them: “By this all will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) It was said
about Him that He “loved His own who were in the world, He loved them
to the end.” (John 13:1)
He taught them to love everyone, even the enemies, saying: “But I say
to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those
who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute
you...” (Matthew 5:44) He explained this by saying: “For if you love
those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax
collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:46)
As long as God is Love, then anyone who is far from love is far from God…
With this we understand the meaning of prayer. It is not merely talking
with God, or merely a duty that we perform, instead, prayer is a desire
for God, as the psalmist says in the Psalm: “As the deer pants for the
water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.” (Psalm 42:1)
The prayer that is distinguished by the love from the heart to God is a
spiritual enjoyment, during which the heart enjoys the company of God.
The sign of this is that when a person starts prayer, they do not want
to finish it, desiring to continue in the enjoyment of talking with
God. The ending of the prayer to this person is like snatching the
suckling infant from his mothers' breast…
The Lord Christ offered God to people with a lovely name of heavenly
Father. He taught us to call Him saying: “Our Father Who art in
heaven…” He is the Father who is full of beauty and compassion, and He
is the source of all goodness…
We love God Who gives to us without us asking, and above what we ask.
We love Him for He is the Good Shepherd, who makes us lie in green
pastures and leads us beside the still waters (Psalm 23). He is the
true Shepherd who said about Himself: “I will feed My flock, and I will
make them lie down … I will seek what was lost and bring back what was
driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick...”
(Ezekiel 34:15, 16) With all of this the Lord Christ came as a Good
Shepherd, giving Himself for the sheep (John 10:11, 15). He gives His
sheep eternal life, and they will not perish forever (John 10:28).
Blessed is the Lord in His incarnation, in His love to us, in His care
which is sacrificial and redeeming. We thank Him for all of this, and
glorify His Name from now and forevermore, Amen.
A blessed season to you all.
January 2010
(Signed)
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
Comparative Theology 1.JPG)