||    Pope Shenouda    ||    Father Matta    ||    Bishop Mattaous    ||    Fr. Tadros Malaty    ||    Bishop Moussa    ||    Bishop Alexander    ||    Habib Gerguis    ||    Bishop Angealos    ||    Metropolitan Bishoy    ||

 

 

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”

Ephesians 1:11, 12

 

Father Matta El-Meskeen (Matthew the Poor)

 

 

 


HERE the Apostle Paul reaches in his discussion our share of everlasting inheritance that is Jesus Christ’s, and that has also become ours who are counted fellows in His resurrection and inheritance. This Christ fulfilled on the cross and through His resurrection from among the dead creating the situation we have without cost, yet as the position of fellowship with Christ.

 

The Apostle Paul takes a big step looking backwards before the times announcing

that this share in the inheritance of the Son is a predestined condition previously

designed in God’s absolute plan, according to the Father’s intent, in accordance to His

will, planned since the beginning in His own mind. It was an intent that must inevitably

be accomplished in its predestined time by the Father.

The reason for which God predestined and planned His will since the beginning of

times and before the world was created was announced by the Apostle Paul according to

God’s inspiration to him. This intent and will was for our sakes since the beginning

because God saw according to His blessed intent that humankind, following His renewal

of it through redemption and the Holy spirit, would have an existence with Him, rather

in His presence, to emit praise to the glory of the Father through unceasing singing day

and night like that of the seraphim’s especially following our acceptance of a living

hope in Jesus Christ.

Our living hope in Christ previously and subsequently created in us the spirit of

praise and singing to God.

When we praise and sing to God the Father, in Christ, our singing can not equal that

of any other creature no matter how heavenly.

Because we but praise and sing through the Holy Spirit given us through the Son’s

mediation, meaning that we take from the nature of God and give to God which in any

case no other creation in Heaven or on earth can resemble us.

We are the only creation that was allowed, due to the Son’s incarnation and His giving us His fully Divine body, to stand in this body before the Father in total holiness,

without blame, in the love of God praising and glorifying Him.

Thus are combined our predestined hope in Christ and the condition of our fellowship in Him on the cross, in death, resurrection, ascension, and being seated in Christ on the right hand of the Father, with the truth of a living hope in the cross,

forgiveness, and nearness to God! For us to attain to the praise of the glory of the Father

in truth and through merit as a creation glorified through the glory of God.

All of this is founded on two basis: First: our being predestined and chosen before

the foundation of the world. Second: our being predestined in accordance to the purpose

of the Father since the beginning and the counsel of His will to be a new creation

accepted before Him.

Prayer

What can we say O compassionate, patient, and merciful Father,

Because according to the pleasure of Your will since the beginning,

You chose us in Your only beloved Son to become Your children.

After having been slaves banned from Your presence we became glorified before

You.

After having been slaves to sin and death we became free and saints.

Had it not been for Your promise, You who are truthful and honest, that we would

praise Your glory,

We would have had no ease before You.

But in accordance to Your fine promise, and the grace of Your extraordinary gift, we

boast about You

Before every other creation in heaven and on earth because You chose us in You.

July 11, 2005

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