Divine Sonship and the Liberation of Humanity

Divine Sonship and the Liberation of Humanity

The General Message of the Lecture

The lecture focuses on deeply entering into Holy Week as the holiest days of the year, during which the believer lives the experience of divine sonship and true human liberation from sin, through repentance, purity, and conscious participation in the Church’s sacraments.

First: Oil and Water in the Divine Economy

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the biblical and spiritual meaning of using oil and water in the Church.
Oil is a symbol of consecration, sanctification, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It was used in the anointing of priests, kings, and prophets, and is still used today in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and the holy Myron.
Water symbolizes life, purification, and the work of the Holy Spirit, as seen in baptism, the sanctification of water, and the washing of feet on Covenant Thursday.

Second: Holy Week as a Spiritual School

Holy Week is a time of “spiritual storage” that cannot be compensated for during the rest of the year.
Through it, the believer contemplates Christ’s sufferings and realizes his personal responsibility for these sufferings because of his sins, leading to true repentance and contrition.

Third: Palm Sunday and the Kingship of Christ

Christ is received as King, not only over Jerusalem, but over the entire life of the believer.
Each person is called to ask: what within me has not yet submitted to the Kingdom of God?
This day is also linked to the cleansing of the Temple, meaning the purification of the heart, mind, and senses.

Fourth: Purity and Preparation for the Sacraments

The teaching emphasizes the necessity of purity before partaking of the holy mysteries, as Christ purified His disciples before the Eucharist.
Covenant Thursday is presented as the holiest liturgy of the year, because it is the day of the New Covenant between God and humanity.

Fifth: Living the Spirituality Inside and Outside the Church

It is not enough to be spiritually moved inside the church only; the spirituality of Holy Week must extend into daily life so that its fruits are not lost after the feast.

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البنوة لله
Divine Sonship