Messages Written by Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan

MAKE ROOM FOR THE MIRACLE

“She gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7). The Son of God, the Savior of the world, was about to enter history. The long-awaited Messiah was arriving, and yet, when Mary and Joseph knocked on the innkeeper’s door, the answer was, “No room.”

But that “no” didn’t stop God’s plan. That innkeeper’s refusal didn’t stop Jesus from being born. God’s purposes are going to be fulfilled whether we participate or not. Yet the innkeeper missed out on the greatest blessing of his life. He missed the privilege of housing the Son of God.

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THE GREATEST GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

On a crisp Christmas morning, a mother watched with joy as her six-year-old son eagerly unwrapped his gift. All he had asked for was a wheelbarrow, and there it was—bright red, shining under the glow of the Christmas tree. His eyes sparkled with excitement, lighting up the room brighter than any holiday sparkle.

As she prepared Christmas dinner, her son disappeared with his prized gift. Hours passed, and panic gripped her. Searching the house and yard, she found no sign of him. She ran to a pastor friend, pouring out her fears. The priest, full of compassion, offered to accompany her to the police station but suggested a quick stop at the church across the road to pray for the child’s recovery.

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THE TRUE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

There’s a beautiful story about the birth of Jesus, that teaches us an incredible truth about God’s heart. The shepherds came to see the newborn King, bringing their gifts. Some brought fruits of their labor, others brought treasures from their homes. But one shepherd stood off to the side. He was very poor, he didn’t have anything to give. Can you imagine how he must have felt? Embarrassed, overlooked, like he didn’t belong.

But then something amazing happened. Mary, holding Jesus, looked at that shepherd with compassion. She saw his empty hands, and she called him forward, and she placed Jesus into his arms. In that moment, those hands that once seemed so empty became the cradle for the greatest gift in history.

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THE HELMET OF SALVATION

The head is one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body. Whether it’s a soldier in battle, a motorcyclist on the road, or a construction worker on a job site, they all know the importance of a helmet. Why? Because that helmet gives them confidence. It is their assurance that their head—their most vital and exposed part—is protected.

That’s exactly what the Psalmist is talking about when he says, “O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer, you have covered my head in the day of battle.” (Psalm 140:7). In the spiritual lives, our “head,” representing our mind and thoughts, is a primary target of the enemy. Most of the battles we face start in the mind. The enemy knows that if he can discourage you, distract you, or fill your mind with fear, he’s already halfway to winning the fight.

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COURAGE THROUGH FAITH

Fear is a universal human experience. It whispers lies into our hearts, telling us that we’re all alone, that the challenges are bigger than us, and that we’ll fail. The only weapon against fear is faith. Faith doesn’t mean you’ll never feel fear; it means you don’t have to let fear control you.

Courage, my friends, is not the absence of fear—it’s the presence of faith. Faith in a God who is always with you. Faith in His promises that He will never leave you, never forsake you, as the Holy Scriptures remind us: “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God, he himself will go before you, in your midst. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

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YOU ARE OF GOD

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

This verse from the first letter of St. John is a reminder of who we are and whose we are. We are not defined by the opinions of others. We are not defined by our past mistakes, our weaknesses, or our challenges. We belong to the Creator of the universe. The Almighty God has placed His Spirit inside us, and the One who is in us is far greater than anything we’ll ever face in this world.

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EVERY BREATH IS A GIFT

During the [COVID 19] pandemic, a story went viral that touched millions of hearts. A 93-year-old Italian man recovered from Covid-19 and was given a hospital bill, including 500 euros for a day on a ventilator. As he read the amount, tears streamed down his face. The doctors rushed to comfort him, saying, “Sir, if this is too much, we can work something out.” But the man shook his head and said, “No, I’m not crying because I can’t pay the bill. I’m crying because for 93 years, I’ve breathed the air God gave me—free of charge. And I’ve never stopped to thank Him.”

How often do we pause to thank God for the things we don’t even notice? The air we breathe, the beauty of a sunrise, the laughter of a loved one—all of it is a gift. Genesis 2:7 says, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” …

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OVERCOMING DOUBT

When we face challenges, there’s always that temptation to doubt, to hesitate, to second-guess ourselves. We make decisions, and right afterward, we start asking ourselves, “Did I make the right choice? Is this the right thing to do? Did I hear from God clearly?” And sometimes, even when we pray, we wonder, “Is God really listening? Will He answer me? Can I trust that He will fulfill His promises?”

In the New Testament, the apostle James tells us, “Ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-8).

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

“I thank my God every time I remember you. Whenever I pray for all of you, I always pray with joy…” (Philippians 1:3-4).

What a powerful statement of gratitude! Paul’s heart overflowed with thanksgiving, not for things, but for people—the people God placed in his life. That same feeling is in my heart, my friends, during this beautiful season of Thanksgiving.

I, too, thank God for each one of you: for your faith, your dedication, your kindness. I thank Him for your prayers, your love, and the way you encourage one another and me. Each of you is a blessing, and it brings joy to my heart to think of you, because I know I’m blessed to walk this journey of faith with a wonderful clergy and faithful of the Eastern Diocese.

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THE FRAGRANCE OF VICTORY

In ancient Rome, when a victorious commander returned from battle, the whole city would gather for a grand celebration called a “Triumph.” This wasn’t just any parade. It was a spectacle of victory. The streets were lined with cheering crowds, soldiers marched in their shining armor, and most importantly, incense was burned everywhere. The fragrance of that incense filled the city, proclaiming to everyone that victory had been won.

St. Paul uses this imagery to describe what it means to live in victory through Christ. He writes, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).

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