Contemplations on the Passion week Coptic rite

©HEARTLIGHT http://www.heartlight.org Paul Lee & Phil Ware

Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday


IntroductionIntroduction

• The Holy Pascha week is the holiest week in the entire year. The artistic beauty and spiritual depth of the rites of this week are at its zenith.

• Pascha – Pesach refers to the Old Testament Jewish feast of the first night of the Unleavened Bread and means Passage.

• The Holy Pascha week is the holiest week in the entire year. The artistic beauty and spiritual depth of the rites of this week are at its zenith.

• Pascha – Pesach refers to the Old Testament Jewish feast of the first night of the Unleavened Bread and means Passage.


The Last Week The Last Week

The Holy Pascha Week clearly revolves around the last week of the ministry of our Lord.

• Saturday, Christ attended a feast in Jericho at the home of Simon the leper, where Mary anointed Him with costly perfumes and wiped His feet with her hair. Some disciples protested out of waste of money, but our Lord replied that she was anointing him for his burial.

• Sunday, the Lord entered into Jerusalem. So the church welcomes the Lord into our hearts and the church as the King of Glory.

The Holy Pascha Week clearly revolves around the last week of the ministry of our Lord.

• Saturday, Christ attended a feast in Jericho at the home of Simon the leper, where Mary anointed Him with costly perfumes and wiped His feet with her hair. Some disciples protested out of waste of money, but our Lord replied that she was anointing him for his burial.

• Sunday, the Lord entered into Jerusalem. So the church welcomes the Lord into our hearts and the church as the King of Glory.


Lazarus SaturdayLazarus Saturday

Why has our lovely church put the reading of the raising of Lazarus on the day before Palm Sunday?

• Death can have no dominion over Christ, for He is the Lord of life and of death. So Holy Week begins with a foreshadowing of its end.

• The cross and death will be followed by the triumph of Him Who is the Resurrection and the Life. This assurance gives us hope through the darkest moments of the Passion of Christ.

Why has our lovely church put the reading of the raising of Lazarus on the day before Palm Sunday?

• Death can have no dominion over Christ, for He is the Lord of life and of death. So Holy Week begins with a foreshadowing of its end.

• The cross and death will be followed by the triumph of Him Who is the Resurrection and the Life. This assurance gives us hope through the darkest moments of the Passion of Christ.


Lazarus Saturday: The SettingLazarus Saturday: The Setting


Its HistoryIts History


Lazarus SaturdayLazarus SaturdayMatins of Lazarus Saturday

• Gen 49:1-2810 The scepter will not depart from Judah,nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.11 He will tether his donkey to a vine,his colt to the choicest branch;he will wash his garments in wine,his robes in the blood of grapes.

Matins of Lazarus Saturday

• Gen 49:1-2810 The scepter will not depart from Judah,nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.11 He will tether his donkey to a vine,his colt to the choicest branch;he will wash his garments in wine,his robes in the blood of grapes.



• The Church reminds us of the prophecy given by Jacob to his sons that speaks of the messiah coming from the line of Judah. It says that Judah will continue to rule until him to whom it belongs comes.

• Judah always had a king in history after that until Herod was placed there by the Romans. He was not of the line of Judah and it was during his reign that our Lord was incarnate.

• The Church reminds us of the prophecy given by Jacob to his sons that speaks of the messiah coming from the line of Judah. It says that Judah will continue to rule until him to whom it belongs comes.

• Judah always had a king in history after that until Herod was placed there by the Romans. He was not of the line of Judah and it was during his reign that our Lord was incarnate.



• Why Four Days?• What is the meaning of the Stench?• Why allow His friends to suffer if He loved them?• Why did He weep?• Why ask others to roll the stone?• Why the need to pray to The Father?

• Why Four Days?• What is the meaning of the Stench?• Why allow His friends to suffer if He loved them?• Why did He weep?• Why ask others to roll the stone?• Why the need to pray to The Father?


Shiloh – The One to Whom it belongs

Shiloh – The One to Whom it belongs

• The Rabbis agree that 'Shiloh' refers to Messiah. Rabbi Yohanan taught : "all the world was created for Messiah. What is His name?. The school of shiloh taught: His name is Shiloh, as it is written in Genesis 49:10." (Midrash Rabbah, Genesis 98:7).

• The Prophets refer to the coming of Messiah as being the time that He comes to the Temple.

• The Rabbis agree that 'Shiloh' refers to Messiah. Rabbi Yohanan taught : "all the world was created for Messiah. What is His name?. The school of shiloh taught: His name is Shiloh, as it is written in Genesis 49:10." (Midrash Rabbah, Genesis 98:7).

• The Prophets refer to the coming of Messiah as being the time that He comes to the Temple.


Daniel’s ProphecyDaniel’s Prophecy• The prophecies revealed to Daniel which containing the coming of Messiah are found in the book of Daniel chapter 9. • Earlier in the book Daniel had been given insights into a number of visions about the future of his nation and he understood and believed what had been revealed to Him by the Lord God. • Daniel was deeply distressed and concerned for the sins of his people and he prayed to the Lord God in deep humility with fasting, the wearing of sackcloth and ashes. He confessed the sins and shame of his people and prayed to the Lord God to have mercy on them.

• The prophecies revealed to Daniel which containing the coming of Messiah are found in the book of Daniel chapter 9. • Earlier in the book Daniel had been given insights into a number of visions about the future of his nation and he understood and believed what had been revealed to Him by the Lord God. • Daniel was deeply distressed and concerned for the sins of his people and he prayed to the Lord God in deep humility with fasting, the wearing of sackcloth and ashes. He confessed the sins and shame of his people and prayed to the Lord God to have mercy on them.


Daniel’s ProphecyDaniel’s Prophecy• Daniel was told that "from the command going forth to build Jerusalem until the cutting off (crucifixion) of Messiah there would be a total of "sixty-nine sevens". These "sevens" are called Heptads (weeks of years) and the time given to Daniel is a period of 483 years from the command until the Messiah would come and die.

• The decree to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was made by Artaxerxes Longimanus, King of Persia in the year BCE 445.

• Using the lunar year of 360 days per year it was exactly 483 years to the time when Jesus of Nazareth made his public entry into Jerusalem in the week preceding the Passover in 30 AD and the week in which he was crucified.

• Daniel was told that "from the command going forth to build Jerusalem until the cutting off (crucifixion) of Messiah there would be a total of "sixty-nine sevens". These "sevens" are called Heptads (weeks of years) and the time given to Daniel is a period of 483 years from the command until the Messiah would come and die.

• The decree to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was made by Artaxerxes Longimanus, King of Persia in the year BCE 445.

• Using the lunar year of 360 days per year it was exactly 483 years to the time when Jesus of Nazareth made his public entry into Jerusalem in the week preceding the Passover in 30 AD and the week in which he was crucified.


Sunday of Holy PaschaSunday of Holy PaschaThe readings here of the ninth and eleventh hour point us to the plan our Lord has for Israel to free them.

9th Hour:Lam 1:1-4Zeph 3:11-20Psalm 8:2,3Matt 21:10-17

11th Hour:Isaiah 48:12-22Nahum 1:2-8Psalm 8:2,1Matt 20:20-28

The readings here of the ninth and eleventh hour point us to the plan our Lord has for Israel to free them.

9th Hour:Lam 1:1-4Zeph 3:11-20Psalm 8:2,3Matt 21:10-17

11th Hour:Isaiah 48:12-22Nahum 1:2-8Psalm 8:2,1Matt 20:20-28


Sunday of Holy Pascha: 9th HrSunday of Holy Pascha: 9th Hr

Lamentations 1:1-4

The reading from lamentations paints the picture of desolate and captive Israel in need of salvation

1 How deserted lies the city,once so full of people!How like a widow is she,who once was great among the nations!She who was queen among the provinceshas now become a slave.

Lamentations 1:1-4

The reading from lamentations paints the picture of desolate and captive Israel in need of salvation

1 How deserted lies the city,once so full of people!How like a widow is she,who once was great among the nations!She who was queen among the provinceshas now become a slave.



Zephaniah 3:11-20

• Declares the Lords intention for saving Israel by taking away her sin and ransoming her from the hand of her enemies by Himself coming in her midst!

• Emmanuel Himself will ransom her and take away her sin. He entered Jerusalem with palm branches to greet Him

Zephaniah 3:11-20

• Declares the Lords intention for saving Israel by taking away her sin and ransoming her from the hand of her enemies by Himself coming in her midst!

• Emmanuel Himself will ransom her and take away her sin. He entered Jerusalem with palm branches to greet Him



• Palm branches symbolise not only freedom, defiance and joy, but palm branches are also used in the feast of Tabernacles. This feast commemorates God being with the tribes of Israel in the desert for 40 years in the form of the pillar of fire and cloud. And so unknowingly the people were welcoming our Lord as the one who came to Tabernacle with His people and to ransom them by His death.

• Palm branches symbolise not only freedom, defiance and joy, but palm branches are also used in the feast of Tabernacles. This feast commemorates God being with the tribes of Israel in the desert for 40 years in the form of the pillar of fire and cloud. And so unknowingly the people were welcoming our Lord as the one who came to Tabernacle with His people and to ransom them by His death.


14 Sing, O Daughter of Zion;shout aloud, O Israel!Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,O Daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,he has turned back your enemy.The LORD , the King of Israel, is with you;never again will you fear any harm.

16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem,"Do not fear, O Zion;do not let your hands hang limp.

17 The LORD your God is with you,he is mighty to save.He will take great delight in you,he will quiet you with his love,he will rejoice over you with singin

14 Sing, O Daughter of Zion;shout aloud, O Israel!Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,O Daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,he has turned back your enemy.The LORD , the King of Israel, is with you;never again will you fear any harm.

16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem,"Do not fear, O Zion;do not let your hands hang limp.

17 The LORD your God is with you,he is mighty to save.He will take great delight in you,he will quiet you with his love,he will rejoice over you with singin



The Gospel reading continues the account of Palm Sunday with Our Lord, after his Jubilant entrance into Jerusalem going straight to the temple. We read in Matthew 21:10-13:

10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” 12Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’] but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’”

The Gospel reading continues the account of Palm Sunday with Our Lord, after his Jubilant entrance into Jerusalem going straight to the temple. We read in Matthew 21:10-13:

10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” 12Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’] but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’”



But what was the significance of our Lord going straight to the temple on that day.

• The significance is shown in Exodus 12: 2-7:

2 "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. … 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.

But what was the significance of our Lord going straight to the temple on that day.

• The significance is shown in Exodus 12: 2-7:

2 "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. … 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.



In John’s Gospel we get a confirmation of that time – John 12: 1 & 12-13: 1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 12The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Our Lord entered Jerusalem 5 days before the Passover and later that day went into the temple when all were selecting their Passover sacrifice, because it was lamb selection day. John the Baptist cries out to us, “Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World” John 1:29. He himself the True Lamb of God enters into the temple as the chosen Passover Lamb.

In John’s Gospel we get a confirmation of that time – John 12: 1 & 12-13: 1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 12The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Our Lord entered Jerusalem 5 days before the Passover and later that day went into the temple when all were selecting their Passover sacrifice, because it was lamb selection day. John the Baptist cries out to us, “Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World” John 1:29. He himself the True Lamb of God enters into the temple as the chosen Passover Lamb.



As the True Lamb and Healer of the world they bought to Him those who had need of healing in the temple and He healed them: Matthew 21: 14-17

14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” 17And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

As the True Lamb and Healer of the world they bought to Him those who had need of healing in the temple and He healed them: Matthew 21: 14-17

14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” 17And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.



The prophecy of the eleventh hour from Isaiah the prophet talks about our Lord’s deliverance of Israel and his wrath on his enemies. It contains a very powerful testament to the Holy Trinity and to the Person and purpose of the Messiah.

Isaiah 48:12-22:12 "Listen to me, O Jacob,Israel, whom I have called:I am he;I am the first and I am the last.13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,and my right hand spread out the heavens;when I summon them,they all stand up together.

The prophecy of the eleventh hour from Isaiah the prophet talks about our Lord’s deliverance of Israel and his wrath on his enemies. It contains a very powerful testament to the Holy Trinity and to the Person and purpose of the Messiah.

Isaiah 48:12-22:12 "Listen to me, O Jacob,Israel, whom I have called:I am he;I am the first and I am the last.13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,and my right hand spread out the heavens;when I summon them,they all stand up together.



14 "Come together, all of you, and listen:Which of the idols has foretold these things?The LORD's chosen allywill carry out his purpose against Babylon;his arm will be against the Babylonians. 15 I, even I, have spoken;yes, I have called him.I will bring him,and he will succeed in his mission.

14 "Come together, all of you, and listen:Which of the idols has foretold these things?The LORD's chosen allywill carry out his purpose against Babylon;his arm will be against the Babylonians. 15 I, even I, have spoken;yes, I have called him.I will bring him,and he will succeed in his mission.



16 "Come near me and listen to this:"From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;at the time it happens, I am there."And now the Sovereign LORD has sent me,with his Spirit.17 This is what the LORD says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:"I am the LORD your God,

16 "Come near me and listen to this:"From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;at the time it happens, I am there."And now the Sovereign LORD has sent me,with his Spirit.17 This is what the LORD says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:"I am the LORD your God,



Nahum 1:2-8 “God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; and will not at tall acquit the wicked.

Nahum 1:2-8 “God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; The Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; and will not at tall acquit the wicked.



Summary of Holy Week ThemesSummary of Holy Week ThemesDay Theme Prime Third Sixth Ninth Elevent

hTwelfth

Sun

Mon How we should be prepared and our fight against hypocrisy

Tue

Wed

Thur

Fri

Sat


The theme of this day focuses on how we should be prepared.

In each gospel of the hours the Lord prepare his disciples for his suffering.

In the First hour, he compares the cross to the grain of wheat that must die to rise again.

In the Third, Sixth & Ninth He clearly explains how He must suffer, be killed and rise again.

Leading to the Eleventh hour when the disciples react in fear – as when St. Peter is rebuked.

The theme of this day focuses on how we should be prepared.

In each gospel of the hours the Lord prepare his disciples for his suffering.

In the First hour, he compares the cross to the grain of wheat that must die to rise again.

In the Third, Sixth & Ninth He clearly explains how He must suffer, be killed and rise again.

Leading to the Eleventh hour when the disciples react in fear – as when St. Peter is rebuked.

Eve of Monday of the Holy Pascha: Theme

Eve of Monday of the Holy Pascha: Theme


The theme of the first day of the Holy Pascha week is our fall and rise again. The story of our salvation from the beginning.

It deals with images such as the fig tree, that Adam and Eve used it leaves to hide their sin, to warn us of hypocrisy.

In the first hour’s gospel we get the cursing of the fig tree and condemnation of hypocrisy.Again the third hour condemns hypocrisy.

The theme of the first day of the Holy Pascha week is our fall and rise again. The story of our salvation from the beginning.

It deals with images such as the fig tree, that Adam and Eve used it leaves to hide their sin, to warn us of hypocrisy.

In the first hour’s gospel we get the cursing of the fig tree and condemnation of hypocrisy.Again the third hour condemns hypocrisy.

Monday of the Holy Pascha: Theme



The sixth hour sees Moses as type of Christ interceding for his people and deals with the need to be cleansed.

The Ninth Hour shows us the true meaning of Wisdom and that ‘to fear God is the beginning of Wisdom’.

The Eleventh hour in the homily of St. Shenouda warns us of the dangers of showing indifference to hypocrisy.

The sixth hour sees Moses as type of Christ interceding for his people and deals with the need to be cleansed.

The Ninth Hour shows us the true meaning of Wisdom and that ‘to fear God is the beginning of Wisdom’.

The Eleventh hour in the homily of St. Shenouda warns us of the dangers of showing indifference to hypocrisy.



Contemplations on the Passion week Coptic rite

Spiritual

Transcript of Contemplations on the Passion week Coptic rite