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Vol: 5 Issue: 12 Kiahk1728 / Dec 2011

Concerning Those Who Imagine Thatthey are Justified by Works

By: St Mark the Monk

The Lord, wishing to show that everycommandment is obligatory but that sonship

is a gift bestowed on human beings by meansof his own blood, says, When you have doneeverything that you were ordered to do, say,We are worthless slaves, we have done onlywhat we ought to have done (Lk 17.10). Thusthe kingdom of heaven is not a reward forworks but is rather a masters gift prepared forhis faithful servants.

A slave does not demand freedom as a reward, but rathersatisfies his master as someone who is indebted to him and whowaits for his freedom as a gift.

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Cor15:31),and to those who serve him well he gives freedom as a gift, forhe says, Well done, good and faithful servant; since you have beentrustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.Come share in your masters joy (Lk 25:21).

The person who relies on mere knowledge is not yet a faithful servant;no, the faithful servant is the person who puts his faith in Christ byobeying what he commands.

The person who honors his master does what the master orders;when he makes a mistake or disobeys, he patiently accepts whatis coming to him as something he deserves

Some, without keeping the commandments, think they arekeeping the faith, while others, keeping the commandments,expect to receive the kingdom as a reward owed to them. Bothare deprived of the kingdom.

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Why Monasticism?By: Fr Anthony St Shenouda

Acquire a peaceful spirit, and around you thousands will be saved.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov

Visitors to our monastery, usually from non-orthodox background, sometimes have aburning question to ask. Why monasticism?isnt better if the monks use their energy to goout and make disciples of all nations(Mat28:19)?,The monastic life is just a cop outfrom real life in the world, monks go tomonasteries to laze around and get out ofwork? Once a non-orthodox visitor came withhis Orthodox friend who brought him for aretreat, and after spending some time with themonks and learning that they mostly had

University degrees and had good jobs prior to coming to the monastery, told hisOrthodox friend this flattering remark, these monks can actually make it out there

While these comments are usually said with great love yet they show a lot of ignoranceof the Bible and its commandments. The monastic life from its inception was a lifeaccording to the commandments of the Gospels. St Anthony the first monk went out tothe desert following the Gospel commandment If you want to be perfect, go, sell whatyou have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, followMe.(Mat 19:21),therefore the monastic life is a life of perfection.

The monastic life by its mere existence is the greatest witness to the Christian life.Mission work is usually associated with going out and building hospitals, schools, and

churches, which are all great works of the missionaries, yet a prerequisite to all thismissionary work are knees bowed down in prayer for the service and the spread of theWord of God. In the story of Mary and Martha, Jesus praised not the active life butthe prayer life; Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away fromher.(Luke 10:42).This pure and inner prayer life is more than enough for mission andevangelism. In fact in our Orthodox tradition, monks are considered to be the numberone evangelists.

In the life of St Mary we never hear of any active service of preaching or any kind of

philanthropic work, yet in our Praise to her we say: you have brought, unto God yourSon, many people, through your purity (Sunday Theotokia). It was not her words ofwisdom or her active service that brought people to Christ but it was her purity.

In a sermon by Bishop Raphael, he once said that the servants were once tryingPage 3

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The Monastery has received Fr Joshua Takla, a newly ordained priest tospend the 40 days in the monastery

St Abanoube year 12 group spending a retreat at the monastery

The Fathers with some of the youth

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Kiahk Praises:Sat 10

th

Dec 2011 Vespers: 5:00pm 6:30pmSat 17th Dec 2011 Midnight Tasbeha: 11:00pm 3:00amSat 24th Dec 2011 First Liturgy: 4:00am 6:00amSat 31

stDec 2011 Second Liturgy: 10:00am 12:00pm

(New Years Eve)

Glorious Feast of Christmas:

Fri 6th

Jan 2012 Paramoun Liturgy 9:00am 12:00pmVespers 8:00pm 9:00pmFeast Liturgy 9:00pm 12:00 am

Prayer Program for December and January

A servants preparation class from St Marys Church during a spiritual day at the monastery

St Marks church youth group during their visit to the monastery