On Saturday before Palm Sunday, we commemorate the Resurrection of Lazarus, the seventh and last sign of our Lord Jesus Christ described in the Gospel of John (John 11:1-46).
Jesus Christ freed Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, from the grasp of death and restored him to life through the power of His word: “Lazarus, come out!” The same voice that brought the universe to life now called Lazarus from the darkness of death to the light of life.
The Parable of the Dishonest Manager, as with other parables found in the Gospels, is about the Kingdom of God. Through the observable realities in the parable, Jesus reveals the invisible truths. Many have wondered as to why our Lord Jesus describes the dishonest manager as an example to emulate. It is important to note that our Lord Jesus does not praise the dishonesty but the shrewdness of the manager and his resourcefulness and approach to money. “And his master commended the dishonest manager because he …
The Parable of the Prodigal Son as a whole is considered to be a wise masterpiece amongst short stories. Only our Lord Jesus Christ, who knows the human heart, can describe so well the journey of repentance and the path to return to life. In this story, Christ describes the passions and desires of the young man who departs from his father’s home and finds himself in extreme poverty after throwing away his inheritance. He slips into desperation, living in squalor and eating from the pods of the pig…
“Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’” (Jeremiah 1:4-8)
Many believe that God sent Adam and Eve away from the Garden merely because of the sin of eating the forbidden fruit. Certainly, they did not obey God’s word, and due to their disobedience, they were expelled from the garden. However, their disobedience was only one of the reasons for their expulsion. The more crucial reason was that they did not accept their sin, and they did not claim responsibility for their own wrongs. The Holy Scriptures tell us that after they had sinned, God asked Adam, “Have you …
On February 17, AD 440, St. Mesrop Mashtots was called to be with the Lord. Today, we pause to honor his memory and seek his intercession, celebrating a saint whose life and legacy continue to shine a light on the path of faith and cultural identity for our people. While visiting the Mother See for the Supreme Spiritual Council meeting, I was blessed with the profound privilege of paying respects at the resting place of this great Saint of the Armenian Church. Standing in this sacred space this morning, I …
Poon Paregentan, similar to Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday,” occurs on the Sunday before the Great Lent (Medz Bahk) in preparation for Easter. We celebrate Poon Paregentan (meaning vitality or the good life), which leads us into the longest season of fasting, known as the Great Lent. The Sunday prior to this great feast is when we remember the Good Life in paradise prior to Adam and Eve’s expulsion…
Our world is filled with uncertainties beyond our control. Throughout history, wars, economic downturns, and pandemics have been a constant in human existence. Christians turn to the Holy Scriptures for guidance in these uncertain times. A poignant story from the Soviet era vividly illustrates this faith. On November 15, 1982, Victoria Petrovna stood solemnly before the coffin of Brezhnev, who had presided over an atheistic regime. As soldiers moved to seal the coffin for transport to the mausoleum, Brezhnev’s wife unexpectedly made the sign of the cross over his chest. In the heart of the Kremlin,
Today, as we remember St. Leon (Ghevont), the priest, and his companions, we are reminded of the profound sacrifice and unwavering faith that have shaped our history and sustained our Armenian spirit through the ages. St. Ghevont’s life and actions during the Vartanantz war stand as a beacon of courage and divine commitment, illuminating the path of righteousness for all of us, especially those called to serve in the priesthood.
St. Gregory of Narek, a great figure in Armenian spirituality, profoundly understood this dichotomy: “When your torch of hope is there, even the night is dawn for me.” (Prayer 65) These words, written with the pain and beauty of a soul intimately acquainted with suffering, remind us that it is not the absence of darkness that defines our hope but the presence of a light that darkness cannot overcome. In the quiet moments before dawn, a profound silence seems to envelop the world. During these times, the darkest hours just before the light, our hearts often grapple with the most profound despair. Yet, in this waiting, it is precisely here that we find the potential for the greatest hope.
