And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Truly,truly, I say
unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name,
He will give it you.
(John 16:23)

If the soul surrenders to God with all its strength; God will
cleanse it from all its defects & Pains one by one, till it
will be free of them all.
(St. Antony)

May my prayers draw near to Thee, O Lord! Grant me
Thy holy seed, that I might bring Thee a harvest of sheaves
abundant in good fruits.
(Ephraim the Syrian)

If a person wishes, he may live for God.
(St. Macarius)

God's power is capable of doing wonders for you but
He waits for your belief.
(Pope Shenouda III)

Virgins shall be brought to the king after her; Her fellows
shall be brought to you; they shall be brought with gladness
and exaltation.
(Ps.45:14b-15a)

In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so,
I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
(John 14:2)

Dear beloved, He defeated the whole world as we see. He did
not conquer it by military powers, but by the ignorance of
the cross. All spirits surrendered to Him when His body was raised on the cross.
(St. Augustine)

REFLECTION:

Prayer is great good. For when we speak to a person endowed with
virtue, we receive much benefit. How much greater benefits will
flow on persons who speak with God. For prayer is speaking with God.

Heavenly Father, help us to pray to You through Jesus and in the
Holy Spirit. Let us be faithful to our daily conversations with You.
(St. Augustine)

HOMILY:

THE ANGELS OF GOD

Praise ye the Lord, all His angels, praise ye Him all His hosts.
(Psa.148:2)

Adoration is the first duty of man to God, but how little fulfilled! How little prayer there is in
most lives. How little even with believers except for Corporate Prayer in Church. With infinite
mercy God willed man out of nothing into being, so that man might know and praise the Eternal
Beauty and Goodness which God is. And man remains unseeing and unresponsive
- ready to praise anything except his Creator.

This makes us glad to think of the Holy Angels of God. A vaster world than
ours - each of the nine choirs may be more numerous than all the human race.
In their faculties of knowing and loving they tower up far out of sight;
their praise to God is an example to us all. The whole and all-sufficient
occupation of the angels is the praise and adoration of God.

Our Lord is pleased that His Father is known and loved by those who see the
Father's Face. He teaches us to pray, 'Thy will be done on earth as it is in
Heaven.' The angels' praise (compared with ours), is like some mighty
orchestra and choir, compared with a beggar singing out of tune
in the street.

And yet God the Son took on man's nature, not the angels. They played so
much a part in Our Lord's life from the Annunciation to the Ascension. It is
said that the Star that led the Magi to the Christ Child was made up of
myriads of angels, and it was angels who gave the glad tidings of the Lord's
Birth to the Shepherds on the hills.

So once more be grateful for the mercies of Our God to us, and realize
better in the future our primary duty of praise and adoration to Him, both in private prayer as well as public prayer.

If someone does something for you, it is polite to say thank you and not to take it for granted.

Alas how many people take God for granted? No matter how little the Blessing received we
should give thanks, be like the Angels and praise Him without ceasing both day and night.

To Thee be glory and praise; now and ever, unto Ages of Ages.
AMEN!

Today's Readings:

Evening: Psalm 88:2021; Gospel Matt.10:34-42.
Morning: Psalm 131:9,10&18; Gospel Luke 6:17-23.
Liturgy: Heb.7:18-8:13; 3 John 1:1-15; Acts 15:36-16:5;
Psalm 98:6-7; Gospel: John 16:20-33.

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