Prayer gives strength and wisdom to face challenges
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II delivered today the first lecture during the Conference of Priests and Pastors of the Egyptian Council of Churches, in which he addressed the topic of love as a The greatest virtue that leads a person to heaven.
His Holiness stressed that love is the only thing we take with us in eternal life, and that this truth, despite its simplicity, escapes the minds of many in this complex world. Pope Tawadros based his speech on the experiences of Saint Paul the Apostle in his second letter to Timothy, pointing out that every one of us is “Timothy,” carrying lofty commandments for his spiritual life and service.
His Holiness the Pope presented basic signs to ensure a strong relationship. And effective between the shepherd and the flock, the first of which was “repetition”, where he stressed the necessity of planting the word of God in the hearts of people amid the temptations of the world that preoccupy their thoughts and feelings.
His Holiness explained that the world seeks to distance people from the feelings of heaven, emphasizing the The importance of having the word of God deeply planted in the heart.
One of the signs that His Holiness the Pope spoke about was “solitude,” where he called for every shepherd to have his own time before undertaking any external activity. He stressed the importance of allocating time for personal contemplation, saying: “Pay attention to yourself so that you follow a careful approach.”
His Holiness also pointed out the importance of attention and deliberation before committing mistakes, likening the shepherd to a palm tree that produces its fruits without being affected by external factors, and stressed On the necessity of continuous spiritual awareness, as sin is always preceded by heedlessness.
One of the basic aspects that His Holiness addressed was the importance of lack, as he stressed the need for the shepherd to visit his children regularly, not only for the sake of guidance, but also for the sake of showing love. And care. Missing enhances the personal relationship between the shepherd and the flock and reflects the shepherd’s concern for every individual in the church.
His Holiness the Pope also stressed the importance of prayer as a basic pillar in the shepherd’s life, stressing that prayer is not just a duty, but rather an ongoing personal relationship between the shepherd and God. . Prayer gives strength and wisdom to face challenges and keeps the shepherd connected to the spirit of joy and inner peace.
His Holiness the Pope also spoke about the importance of enduring hardships in service, noting that service is not rest, but rather effort and giving. He cited the words of Saint Paul: “For your sake I died all day,” stressing that enduring hardships is an essential part of the spiritual mission of the shepherd.
His Holiness the Pope continued, saying: “Service is not about results, but about giving.” He called Pastors need to work in the spirit of missionaries, and focus on planting joy in the hearts of the flock without caring about immediate results. He stressed the importance of performing visits, praying, and preaching in a spirit of joy, encouragement, and love.
At the conclusion of his speech, His Holiness Pope Tawadros stressed the necessity of completing the service with perfection and comprehensiveness, likening the relationship between the shepherd and the flock to the relationship of a father to his children, which is based on guidance with pure love. Spiritual care and continuous guidance.
His Holiness also pointed to other aspects of great importance in the pastor’s service, such as paying attention to the different groups within the church, promoting spiritual education and developing the spirit of communication within the church family.
