English Title: The Sermon on the Mount – Ask and It Will Be Given to You, Seek and You Will Find, Knock and It Will Be Opened to You Part 1
In this lecture, Pope Shenouda III explains the meaning of the words of Christ: “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you,” clarifying that the response to prayer is not merely the literal fulfillment of everything a person asks for, but it is connected to the good will of God and His divine wisdom.
The Main Idea
Pope Shenouda III confirms that man often asks for things he believes are beneficial for him, while God alone knows the true good and the spiritual salvation of man. Therefore, God may not answer some requests because the lack of response may sometimes be the true good for the person.
The Spiritual and Educational Dimension
The teaching explains that accepted prayer must be:
According to the will of God.
With a pure heart and sincere repentance.
With faith, humility, and love.
Accompanied by works and righteous spiritual conduct.
It also explains that God may sometimes allow illness, hardship, or delayed response so that a person may benefit spiritually and learn repentance and dependence on God. He gives examples from the Holy Bible such as Saint Paul the Apostle, David the Prophet, and Jonah the Prophet, to show that even saints did not always have requests that agreed with the divine will.
He also confirms that a person should not ask for things against the commandment or out of revenge or pride, but should first seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He also stresses that prayer requires struggle and work, for it is not enough for a person to ask for success without effort, study, or faithfulness in work.
He also speaks about the importance of love and giving to others, because the person who has mercy on others and gives to them receives mercy and response from God. As a person treats others, God also treats him.
At the conclusion of the teaching, Pope Shenouda III explains that God is a loving Father who sometimes gives to man even before he asks, and that the goal of prayer is not only receiving gifts, but entering into a relationship of love and fellowship with God
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The Sermon on the Mount – Ask and It Will Be Given to You, Seek and You Will Find, Knock and It Will Be Opened to You Part 1
English Title: The Sermon on the Mount – Ask and It Will Be Given to You, Seek and You Will Find, Knock and It Will Be Opened to You Part 1
In this lecture, Pope Shenouda III explains the meaning of the words of Christ: “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you,” clarifying that the response to prayer is not merely the literal fulfillment of everything a person asks for, but it is connected to the good will of God and His divine wisdom.
The Main Idea
Pope Shenouda III confirms that man often asks for things he believes are beneficial for him, while God alone knows the true good and the spiritual salvation of man. Therefore, God may not answer some requests because the lack of response may sometimes be the true good for the person.
The Spiritual and Educational Dimension
The teaching explains that accepted prayer must be:
It also explains that God may sometimes allow illness, hardship, or delayed response so that a person may benefit spiritually and learn repentance and dependence on God. He gives examples from the Holy Bible such as Saint Paul the Apostle, David the Prophet, and Jonah the Prophet, to show that even saints did not always have requests that agreed with the divine will.
He also confirms that a person should not ask for things against the commandment or out of revenge or pride, but should first seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He also stresses that prayer requires struggle and work, for it is not enough for a person to ask for success without effort, study, or faithfulness in work.
He also speaks about the importance of love and giving to others, because the person who has mercy on others and gives to them receives mercy and response from God. As a person treats others, God also treats him.
At the conclusion of the teaching, Pope Shenouda III explains that God is a loving Father who sometimes gives to man even before he asks, and that the goal of prayer is not only receiving gifts, but entering into a relationship of love and fellowship with God