Pope Shenouda’s Words About Anba Rewis on His Feast Day

Pope Shenouda’s congratulates everyone on the feast of Saint Ambrose, who is regarded as a saint who blesses and watches over this area.
He points out that Saint Ambrose was a reason for transforming this place from graves and burial grounds into a place filled with life and activity, and that his tomb became a sacred treasure whose blessing the faithful continually seek.
The passage from today’s Gospel emphasizes that Christ has complete authority over nature, for He rebuked the winds, calmed the storm, and commanded the sea, and it obeyed Him.

Spiritual Message

The sermon explains that the disciples were afraid of perishing during the storm because they thought that the Lord was asleep, and this expresses a weakness of faith during times of distress and trials.
The Lord neither slumbers nor sleeps, but remains watchful over the care of His children continually, even when a person feels that He is distant or absent.
A person needs to believe in the Lord’s work, power, love, and authority, trusting that He is able to set things right no matter how difficult they may seem, and that He comes at the proper time even if it appears that He has delayed.

Educational Lesson

The sermon shows that even during dark ages, the Lord raised saints and witnesses in the Church who illuminated the way, such as Saint Ambrose, Pope Matthew, Saint Mark the Ascetic, and his disciple John the Theologian.
The presence of these saints bears witness that the ship of the Church does not sink, and that the Lord continues to watch over it even in the darkest days.

Practical Application

The spiritual application is for a person to remain steadfast in faith during trials and not think that the Lord has abandoned him when the waves and troubles become severe.
Prayer is also offered for the blessing of the Church and the spread of the Gospel, and that the spirit of Saint Ambrose may be with the faithful wherever they go, after which the sermon concludes with directions to go down to the body of the saint, offer perfume and spices, organize the faithful’s visit, and conduct a procession with his icon calmly and orderly.

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