Follow me
The sermon addresses the deep spiritual meaning of the word “Follow Me,” which the Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples. It is a call directed to every person to walk behind Him with their heart, mind, feelings, and actions, and not merely with their body. Pope Shenouda III explains that following Christ requires sincere love for Him, complete conviction in faith in Him, and the realization that the pleasures and desires of the world cannot grant a person true salvation. The sermon cites the disciples who left everything and followed Christ, and Abraham, who obeyed God’s call and went to the place He directed him to without knowing his destination beforehand. It also explains that a person may accept God’s call, reject it, or postpone responding to it because of preoccupation with temporal matters and attachment to what they love.
Spiritual Message
The sermon emphasizes that following Christ requires genuine inner change, so that God becomes the priority in a person’s life and the person leaves everything that separates them from His love. The Pope explains that loving even one thing that conflicts with God’s will may prevent a person from following Him completely, because the heart turns toward the treasure its owner loves. He also explains that true discipleship requires denying oneself, carrying the cross, and accepting hardship and tribulations for the sake of Christ, without demanding comfort, honor, or status. The Apostle Paul, the prophets, and the disciples are presented as examples of people who obeyed God despite difficulties and did not make their personal desires or fears the basis of their decisions. He also emphasizes that Christ continually calls people to leave the wrong path and return to Him, and that sincere repentance and returning to Him bring joy to God’s heart.
Educational Lesson
The sermon teaches us that following Christ does not simply mean attending church or reading the Holy Bible, but means bringing one’s entire life into harmony with God’s will. It also distinguishes between those who serve God out of love and obedience and those who choose the service that suits their desires or gives them personal glory. The Pope explains that the call to service comes from God, and that a person must respond to it faithfully, whether the service is easy or difficult, appreciated by people or unnoticed by them. The examples of Moses and Jeremiah show that human weakness or a feeling of inability does not prevent a person from fulfilling God’s call, because God can provide the necessary help. He also warns against listening to the voice of passions and desires that compete with the voice of Christ, and calls people to distinguish between the path that leads them to the light and the path that takes them away from God.
Practical Application
The sermon calls every person to sit honestly with themselves and ask: Am I truly following Christ, or am I following my own desires and personal inclinations? A person should examine the things that distract them from prayer, reading the Holy Bible, and spiritual meetings, and should not postpone responding to God’s call. They should also practice continual prayer and leave behind wrong habits and passions that hinder their spiritual growth, seeking God’s grace and the help of the Holy Spirit. In the area of service, a person should accept the place and responsibility to which God calls them, without seeking glory, comfort, or status. The message concludes with a practical call to surrender one’s will to God and sincerely say, “Let Your will be done, not mine,” and to continue following Christ with love and faithfulness until the end.
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