Spiritual Words.

"Although the divine vision of created things is very sweet, still it
is a shadow of knowledge, and its sweetness is not distinct from the
dreams of fantasy. But the divine vision of the new world in the Spirit
of revelation, wherein the intellect delights spiritually, is the
operation of grace, not a shadow of knowledge. The sweetness of this
divine vision is not distinct from that of which the Apostle wrote:
'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart
of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But
God hath revealed them unto the saints by His Spirit: for the Spirit
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.' This divine vision is food for the intellect until it becomes able to receive a divine vision higher than the first."

St. Isaac the Syrian.

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If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for
he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God
whom he has not seen? 1 John 4:20

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The Bible reading for the 11th of Baba, October 21st, is:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by
the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a
robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To
him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls
his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his
own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know
his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee
from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus used this
illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to
them.
Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the
door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me,
he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief
does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come
that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
"I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who
is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf
coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep
and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does
not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep,
and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the
Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have
which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear
My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:1-16)
Departure of St. James, Patriarch of Antioch.
Departure of St. Pelagia.

The Bible reading for the 12th of Baba, October 22nd, is: Luke 5:27-32
Departure of Abba Demetrius I, 12th Pope of Alexandria.
Martyrdom of St. Matthew the Evangelist.
Commemoration of the Archangel Michael.

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Prayer Requests:
If you have an update on a prayer request, please let me know.

Please remember the following in your prayers:

Elizabeth - Liver cancer.
The Coptic mission trip to Mexico.
Camilo, Julio Renaldo, Diego and family, Hong and Pablo - Accept the faith and get baptized.
H.H. Pope Shenouda III
David - rectal and liver cancer.
Elmarkiz S. - Stroke, in ICU since last Sunday.
The congregation of St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Delaware and the family of Malak M.
The family of Larry W. - May the Lord grant them peace.
H.M - Hardship.
William H. - Cancer
Makram G. - Liver Cirrhosis in the last stages
Emad - Lung cancer.
Albert - Operation
Abanoub
Eva S - Breast Cancer
M.B.- Breast Cancer
Mark - brain tumor
Fr. Anthony H.
Luka-- May God unite him with his family.
F.Z. may God help him in his service.
Tasony Esther, May God heal her and comfort her.
Akmal T. - Major heart surgery.
Amal M - Lymphoma Cancer.
Shery - Tumor near her spinal chord.
E.Salamah - Breast Cancer.
Mena - Displaced mandibular joint.
Esme - Severe lupus with heart & brain function involvement.
Yvone Y. - Serious Eye Surgery. The doctors now feel she might not need the surgery at all.
Anthony - PTSD from Iraq
Elisha Mary - return to Communion
E. - Brain tumor, 22 yrs old with 2 kids.

The Christians in Egypt. "Blessed is Egypt My people." Isaiah 19:25

Please remember me in your prayers.

Please pray for the peace of the world.

"casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7