Dialogue with God
The text is a spiritual dialogue in which His Holiness Pope Shenouda III addresses God with reproach and questions about human suffering, the falling of believers, and the spread of sins. It begins by recalling examples from the Holy Scripture (prophets and psalms) where some complained and thought that God is absent or indifferent.
Main idea:
The core message is that God does not want the sinner’s destruction but the salvation of all, yet there remains downfall and struggle on earth because of free will and its exploitation by evil. The speaker demands God’s return and merciful intervention, while acknowledging that return does not happen except by God’s work and His grace in souls.
Spiritual and educational dimensions (from a Coptic Orthodox faith perspective):
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Emphasis on God’s mercy and His care as the good shepherd: He seeks the lost and binds up the wounded.
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Admission of human free will and responsibility, with emphasis that freedom alone is not enough without the Spirit’s work and grace.
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The necessity of the Holy Spirit’s work in hearts for true change: God working in us to make us will and act.
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Encouragement to hope and prayer and recognition that returning to God begins with His work, not by our deeds alone.
Practical outcomes for the believer:
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Asking for the grace of repentance and guidance from God through the prayers of the Psalms and church petitions.
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Trusting in Christ’s promises while examining oneself and striving for holiness relying on God’s grace.
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Caring for the weak and standing humbly before the needs of those who have “fallen,” because they are weak creatures needing divine care.
Spiritual conclusion:
A plea to God not to leave people to themselves, and to continue working in creation with love, mercy, and power, that He may pour into us the desire and strength to return to the straight path.
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