Light Manifest in Darkness

Light Manifest in Darkness

His Grace Bishop Angaelos
General Bishop - United Kingdom

In celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany, we remember that our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world as Light into darkness, a visible manifestation of God and a reminder that there is hope for humanity

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1: 4 - 5 NKJV

Setting aside His glory, our Lord lived a life of righteousness on earth, testifying to the love of the Father. Desiring nothing more than to restore humanity to its former glory, He offered Himself, through His as a means to reconciliation. Just as He became a means to reconciliation and hope, we too are called, as His disciples, to do the same in our daily interactions

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.. Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Matthew 6: 16 NKJV

We can begin to shine and make manifest the love of God by sanctifying ourselves through constant communion with Him, through a life of prayer and partaking of the sacraments. Through these, we not only move towards developing a deeper relationship with God, but we also allow the Holy Spirit to work in us to transform our lives and the lives of those around us

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Al-Keraza Magazine - Coptic Orthodox Magazine Ϯⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉϥϩⲓⲱⲓϣ - Year 41 - Friday 11 January 2013 - Toubah Ⲧⲱⲃⲓ (Tobi, Touba) 1729 Martyrs - Issue 1 & 2

Touba Ⲧⲱⲃⲓ (Tobi, Toubah), is the fifth month of the Coptic calendar. Tobi is also the first month of the Season of 'Proyet' (Growth and Emergence) in Ancient Egypt, where the Nile floods recede and the crops start to grow throughout the land of Egypt.

The name of the month of Tobi comes from Amso Khem, a form of the Ancient Egyptian God Amun Ra

As we celebrate #Epiphany #Theophany, we pray that God does indeed continue to be manifest in the world, and may be seen through us daily
@BishopAngaelos - Tweet 19 January 2013
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4th Sunday - Sunday of The True Light

CHRIST is Risen- Truly He is Risen
Khristós Anésti! Alithós Anésti! 
 
Sundays of the Holy Fifties

Meditation on Church reading during the Holy Fifties:

The fathers of the church arranged and named Sundays of the Holy Fifties as they did with the Sundays of the Great Fasting.


4th Sunday - Sunday of The True Light:

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the True Light "In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."  John 1:4-5
Jesus said “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  John 8:12

"That was the True Light which gives light to every man coming into the world."  John 1:9
"A little while longer the Light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, that you may become sons of Light."  John 12:35-36 
"I have come  as a Light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness”  John 12:46

In the Orthodox Creed we declare our faith in the Holy Trinity "The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit."  
We also pray in the Orthodox Creed, "Light  from Light."
"That you may proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light.” 1Peter 2:9
“A Light  to bring revelation to the Gentile”  Luke 2:32

In the Old Testament the word LIGHT denotes the prophecies about the Divine Incarnation, our Salvation by the 1st coming of the Lord our Savior  “The Lord is my Light and my  Salvation”  Psalm 27:1
“ I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a Light to the Gentiles.”  Isaiah 42:.6   “And He has given us Light”  Psalm 118:27   "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light;”  Isaiah 9:2.   "For with You is the fountain of life; In Your Light we see Light.”  Psalm 36:9

The word  LIGHT in the Holy Scripture also denotes the Light of the live words of  the Holy Gospel “Your Word is a lamp to my feet And a Light to my path."  Psalm 119:105
"lest the Light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them"  2 Corinthians 4:4 
It also denotes the true believers who follow the Word " You are the light of the world ..." Matthew 5:14
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."   Matthew 5:16

Prayer

O God Support us to deserve to be called "The Sons of Light."  Many times I am deceived by the adversary and I fall in the darkness of sin.  By Your Grace I get out of the darkness.  Please support me to stand again when I fall and to walk in Your Light .


You created eyes for me to see the  material light.  But I want to enjoy Your True Light. Please open the eyes of my heart, O Lord Who said: "Let there be light."  Genesis 1:3
Let "Your Light" shine on us to see by our hearts. Enlighten our path to clearly see the path through  the narrow gate.  Amen!