St-Takla.org  >   books  >   en  >   pope-shenouda-iii  >   life-of-faith
St-Takla.org  >   books  >   en  >   pope-shenouda-iii  >   life-of-faith

Christian Library | Full Free Coptic Books | Orthodox Library

Life of Faith, book by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

69- Yielding And Having A Weak Personality

 

5- Yielding And Having A Weak Personality:

Mary Magdalene is as an example of those: she saw the empty tomb, heard the angel's good news, even saw the Lord Jesus after His resurrection, held on His feet, heard His voice, and He gave her a message... but after all that she said three times “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.“ (John 20:2,3,13, 1 5), and in this she denied the resurrection. What is the reason of this transfer? and how did her faith weaken after seeing Jesus and speaking with Him (Mark 16:9, Matt. 28:9)?

St-Takla.org Image: Apparitions of Jesus after Easter, No. 37 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 21. Resurrection (Noli me tangere), by Giotto di Bondone, 1304-06, Fresco, 200 x 185 cm, Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua, Italy صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: ظهور السيد المسيح بعد القيامة: لوحة رقم 37 من صور حياة السيد المسيح (نولي مي تانجيري)، للفنان جيوتو دي بوندوني، 1304-6، فريسكو حائطي (لوحة جصية) بمقاس 200×185 سم، في كابيلا سكروفيني (كنيسة أرينا)، بادوا، إيطاليا

St-Takla.org Image: Apparitions of Jesus after Easter, No. 37 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 21. Resurrection (Noli me tangere), by Giotto di Bondone, 1304-06, Fresco, 200 x 185 cm, Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua, Italy

صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: ظهور السيد المسيح بعد القيامة: لوحة رقم 37 من صور حياة السيد المسيح (نولي مي تانجيري)، للفنان جيوتو دي بوندوني، 1304-6، فريسكو حائطي (لوحة جصية) بمقاس 200×185 سم، في كابيلا سكروفيني (كنيسة أرينا)، بادوا، إيطاليا

Mary Magdalene was young in age, as we have discussed this issue before here on st-takla.org in other sections. Her personality weakened due to the rumours which the Jewish priests spread against the resurrection. She also weakened due to the disciples' non belief in the resurrection (Mark 16:11,13,14). Doubts and suspicions entered her heart, and she repeated it with her own mouth the rumours she had heard.

The faith of Mary Magdalene could not oppose the rumours and the people's talk.

She was inwardly moved due to the outer pressure and she yielded to it.

Many people are inwardly moved. They retreat. from their first faith, belief or behaviour, due to people's mockery and due to that their personality is being weaker than the opposition.

God wants your personalities to be strong. As the apostle says, “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3: 1 5). The children of God are not weak. They should be like those whose faith or rather spiritualities are moved, and yield to any outer ideas, but apply what the apostle says “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable... " (1 Cor. 15:58).

Our mother Eve is also an example of the kind who deviated from faith due to yielding. She deviated from faith as she heard what the snake said and it resulted in her being sent out of Paradise.

How many go after rumours and believe them. How many utter words about the Second Coming and people believe them. They say the Anti Christ is born, is in an American State, and that he is now 17 years of age!! And also that the world will come to an end this year or another! How many dates did the Jehova's Witnesses fix about the second coming, and nothing has happened...

The faith of some may weaken and they would follow those who claim they saw visions and dreams.

They think that those who claim having visions and dreams are true and that they come from God! They are cheated by what he says, even if it was against their beliefs and spiritual principles. God warned against those people since the days of Moses the prophet, and said:

If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, `Let us go after other gods'--which you have not known--`and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart." (Deut. 13:1-3).

Yielding is one of the reasons that weakens the faith. Another reasons is:


Bible | Daily Readings | Agbeya | Books | Lyrics | Gallery | Media | Links

https://st-takla.org/books/en/pope-shenouda-iii/life-of-faith/weak-personality.html

Short URL (link):
tak.la/kk7j7tp