Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

God is Longing for You


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We live in a society that is full of corruption, where everyone has the right to do what he pleases and does not give a thought to others or what God wants. In fact less and less people are acknowledging God and His rights as a Father, as creator of the universe, and as God.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).

  • When can I feel love toward my brothers and sisters?
  • When can my heart be like Yours?
  • How can I look up to You in all that I do?

"'Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also. And where I go you know; and the way you know.' Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?'" (John 14:1-6).

Many times my sadness takes me away when I realize what God must feel. His children are forsaking Him and turning away to evil things. But when I read His comforting words, my heart fills me with hope again. For I remember that God is in control and He knows when everyone’s time and moment will be.

"On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: 'Behold a sower went out to sow.'" (Matthew 13:1-3).

Here I stopped and my thoughts took me away to the year, I decided to go out and sow .I understood what He meant and how He felt. It was a lot of hard work. I remember how it took me hours each day of digging and turning the soil to improve the soil aeration and mix it with potting soil to enrich the soil. That year I planted shrubs, bushes, and a vegetable garden. It involved aches and pain of course, but it was worth each minute, I still remember how I felt. I looked at it with a smile.

When God created the universe, "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good" (Genesis 1:31).

The Lord Jesus Christ knew that most of these people who are listening were fisherman or farmers and they easily comprehend what He is about to say.

"'Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!'" (Matthew 13:3-9).

Four different types of people with different responses, when the disciples asked if He can explain the parable to them and He did. The seed, representing the word of the kingdom, when it fell on the ground can affect each one in a different way:

  • The wayside is a hard ground which someone who has a hardened heart by sin prevents the seed from getting in the soil. He hears but does not understand it, so it becomes nothing than bird food, which the wicked comes and snatches it.

  • The stony places is representing the man who quickly accepts the word in delight, but as quickly, he forgets it when other matters arises such as tribulations or persecutions.

  • The thorny ground is a represents a man who understands the word and takes it but does not benefit from it due to his heart being full of riches, pleasures and the matters of the world, eating up his time and energy.

  • The good ground is represents in a man who hears the word, understands it, and produces fruit.

Here I stop again and wonder how many people will produce only one fourth?

Is that all who are going to be saved?

Then He led me to the next parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24) which is about a man who sowed good seed and while men slept his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat. So the servant asks if they can gather the tares, but he respond no and insisted that they grow together until the time of the harvest.

I realized our lord Jesus Christ is the sower, and although He sowed in a good ground there is still going to be an enemy which is Satan trying to place unbelievers and false teachers in the world in order to lead others to stray. But our Lord Jesus Christ allowed them to live among us.

Why?

  • Is it not obvious yet between true and false believers. The tares resemble wheat in many ways and only God searches the heart.

  • Give them a chance to repent and change their way as we see in the story of St. Augustine or St. Moses the Black

  • Someday God will pour His righteous wrath on the world and everyone will be judged accordingly

Who can be saved, the disciples asked our Lord Jesus?

"But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" (Matthew 19:26).

Finally, our goal in life is to worry about cleansing our heart than trying to change the world which may end up us judging others. Instead invite God to come and work in us and open our eyes and ears to His word. And let us lift our hearts to God on behalf of others as St. Monica did to save her son St. Augustine. May the Lord grant each one of us salvation.

Written by
Nagwa Abdou


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