HH Pope Tawadros II sermon at the 9th consecrated conference: “so that you surely rejoice”

HH Pope Tawadros II Pope of Alexandria participated in the 9th consecrated General Conference, organized by youth bishopric at the house of St. Mark in Abu Talat, with the participation of more than 400 consecrated from different dioceses. 

This year’s conference entitled “fulfill my joy” attended by Their Eminences Anba Moussa, Bishop of youth, Anba Rafael, general bishop and secretary of the Holy Synod, Anba Makarios, General bishop of Minya and Abokerkas and executive of consecrated committee of the Holy Synod.

His Holiness delivered a sermon about “joy”

First: concept of joy:”Count it all joy when you fall into various trials” Joy is to receive this invitation “Enter into the joy of your lord” If you live with this concept you will only by happy.

Ask with faith .. .. take with patience .. .. so that your  joy may be complete.

Second: the elements of a life of joy:
1. Jesus, in the Bible.
2. Jesus, in the church.
3. Jesus, in eternity (completed joy).

Third: how to live a life of joy
Through Psalm 122, “I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the Lord”
Joy is one of the Holy Spirit fruits.

Fourth: rejected manifestations of joy, including:
1. Jonah joy with the pumpkin
2. Suleiman joy with his money
3-eldest son in the example of prodigal son as he refused to joy in a time of joy he asked (grief)
4. The joy of taking out the demons “Do not rejoice that the demons yield to us”
5. Joy for others trouble and gloat.
This are fake and false joy.

Fifth: the real joy
Go to the house of God, and the joy of repentance and tribulations.
1. repentance.
2. satisfaction.
3. open service and leaving selfishness.