It is God who begins
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that God is the One who initiates the work for humanity’s salvation, and He does not wait until a person asks Him for salvation or seeks reconciliation with Him on their own. He explains this through the story of the Prophet Jonah, in which God initiated His work with the people on the ship, the people of Nineveh, and Jonah himself, leading them to repentance and faith. He emphasizes that this approach is evident in God’s dealings with humanity from the beginning, as happened with Adam after his fall into sin, with Lot in Sodom, and with God’s people in Egypt during the time of Pharaoh. He also mentions that God was the One who called Abraham and Jacob, led the Prophet David to repentance, and called the Apostle Paul to His service despite his previous resistance to the faith.
Spiritual Message
The sermon emphasizes that God’s love for humanity is manifested in His continual pursuit of human salvation, even when a person is far from Him or unaware of the need for repentance. God uses various means to lead a person to Him, such as the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, the advice of others, warnings, trials, and afflictions that may awaken a person and help them reconsider their life. The Pope points out that God calls everyone to salvation and to the knowledge of the truth, and He does not desire the destruction of the sinner, but rather awaits their return to Him. He also explains that God works in every person, even in those who are weak, hesitant, or resist His calling, giving them the opportunity to return and change.
Educational Lesson
The Pope teaches us that God’s initiative in salvation does not eliminate the human responsibility to respond to His work. God knocks at the door of the heart, but a person needs to open it to Him and accept His presence and work in their life. He emphasizes that rejecting God’s calling or hardening one’s heart may deprive a person of the fruits of the grace God offers. He also explains that repentance is not merely an independent human decision, but a work accomplished through God’s grace and the person’s response and cooperation with Him. He further explains that the Holy Sacraments, such as Baptism, Chrismation, and the Eucharist, are divine gifts through which God initiated the work of salvation, so that a person may share in the new life He grants.
Practical Application
The Pope invites us not to rely on our personal strength alone in repentance and spiritual growth, but to ask God to work within us and change our hearts. We should recognize God’s work in our lives and not attribute the good we do solely to ourselves, but acknowledge His grace and help. He also encourages us to respond to God’s voice through prayer, reading the Holy Bible, accepting spiritual advice, and benefiting from the Holy Sacraments. He urges us to place our hands in God’s hand, walk with Him, and strive along the path of salvation instead of merely waiting for His intervention without participating ourselves. He concludes the teaching by calling us to offer our hearts to God so that He may correct what is wrong within them, nurture the good, and purify whatever needs purification, especially as we prepare for periods of holy fasting.
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