His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the service of the washing of the feet at St. George Patriarchal Cathedral in Bab Touma, Damascus.During this service, His Holiness called twelve young people who represent the twelve Apostles and washed their feet following the example of the Lord Jesus Christ Who washed the feet of His disciples.
In his sermon, His Holiness spoke Humility; He said: “Our Lord Jesus has put humility at the top of all virtues, just after love, for because of pride man fell into sin.” He then explained that Christ came to heal us from this sin that came to existence because of the first human. “Jesus came to heal us from the sin of pride” His Holiness said, “only if we throw away pride we can return back to the stage of children of God.”
He alerted the faithful that “we still fall on a daily in this great sin, though with different types and names, this is why we should love one another.” He added “it is sorrowful that we, as disciples of the Divine Master, cannot humble ourselves before one another! We always prefer our own benefit, what is good for ourselves, our homes and family only.” He considered that “this is the reason of wars and troubles in our world; it is also the reason behind natural disasters, for by our greed, we unbalance the environmental equilibrium.” His Holiness added “millions of people suffer hunger because, on the other side, millions are not satisfied with what they have! Only if humility fills the hearts of all humans, our world shall live in peace and security.”
His Holiness recalled that “the voice of Christ still calls us today to wash the feet of one another; not physically but through loving one another as we love ourselves. This way only can we be called real disciples of Christ.”
At the end, His Holiness prayed to the Lord, who humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross, to “strengthen our faith and provide us with His support when we try to become humble.”
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