Lesson #3 in the Series: “Profound Sermons Delivered in Short Statements”, by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
“Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4).
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, gave his weekly Wednesday sermon on the 16th of February 2021, from the Church of the Transfiguration, located in the Papal Residence at the Logos Center (Saint Anba Bishoy Monastery, Wadi El-Natroun, Egypt). A limited number of people were in attendance. The sermon was also broadcast live on several Christian satellite channels and over the Internet, on the Church’s Coptic Media Center channel (COC).
On the occasion of the Fast of the people of Nineveh, which the Church is currently observing, and as part of his series of contemplations entitled “Profound Sermons Delivered in Short Statements”, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II reflected on a statement from the Book of Jonah, in which the prophet said, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown” (Jon 3:4).
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II elaborated on Chapter Three of the Book of Jonah, discussing how in God’s hand, a person’s destiny can be transformed, from a fugitive to an evangelist. Jonah was a clear example of this. H.H. also mentioned several other characters from the Holy Bible, whose lives were changed:
1- The people of Nineveh – from sin, destruction and death, to repentance, heaven and life.
2- St Peter the Apostle – from his denial of the LORD Christ, to delivering the sermon on the Day of Pentecost, through which 3,000 souls believed.
3- St Paul the Apostle – from persecuting to preaching … “an ambassador in chains” (Eph 6:20).
4-The Samaritan Woman – from a life of sin to being a witness, testifying that He is the Christ (Jn 4:29).
5- David the Prophet – from a fall [into sin] to repentance, in his 51st Psalm.
There were also those whose direction changed, but to the extreme opposite, to the left, so to speak, such as:
1-Judas, the betrayer
2-Achan, son of Carmi, who was the reason for the Israelites’ defeat by the people of Ai (Josh 7:2-5, 1 Chr 2:7)
To conquer our weaknesses, His Holiness emphasized the necessity to follow the steps taken by the people of Nineveh in response to Jonah’s message.
5 Practices to Overcome Weaknesses:
1-Repentance
2-Confession
3-Fasting
4-Perseverance in our spiritual struggle
5-Prostrations (metanias)…
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