May the grace, joy, and peace of this spiritual season full of wonder fill your hearts.
May we bask in the grace that cloaked us during Holy Lent; may we relish the joy of the divine gift of our Lord’s incarnation and His coming to our world with love, forgiveness, and salvation, redeeming us from death through His crucifixion and resurrection. And may we revel in the peace gained by the grasping that our new covenant with God has been redrawn by Jesus Christ who elevated us from slaves of the Divine to children of the Heavenly Father.
We end Holy Lent armed with new traits that reflect on our lives and relationship with all those around us and those we meet. Fasting is an exercise to curb the body’s desires, but it is also a chance to tame the whims of the soul. In this context, let me recall what Pope Tawadros II said on End-of-Lent Friday during the Unction of the Sick rite which involves anointing the congregation with Holy Oil. The Pope called on us to pray “Lord, sanctify my thoughts” as our foreheads are being anointed; “Lord, sanctify my words” when anointed on the throat; and “Lord, sanctify my deeds” when anointed on the wrists. This is how we could translate the fast into a living life standard, regardless of fasting times.
Following Lent came Holy Week, culminating with the glorious Resurrection. On the Feast of the Resurrection, I extend my heartfelt wishes to the shepherd of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros II, and to all archbishops, bishops and priests of the Church, and to the Coptic congregation. I also extend my best wishes to the reverend heads of the various Churches in Egypt, and to their clergy and congregations. And I pray for the Lord to protect our nation from all harm, and to sustain the fusion of its people Muslims and Christians. Perhaps one of the most beautiful forms of this fusion is the celebration of the time-honoured Egyptian Spring Feast, Sham al-Nessim, traditionally marked on Easter Monday, by Egyptians all and sundry. And this year 2023 witnesses the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the feast that marks the end of Ramadan, on 21 April, just a few days following Easter. I wish all Muslims a happy Eid Fitr.
May God fill Egypt and her people with happiness and peace.
Watani International
15 April 2023
