Fr. Joseph explains that many of us struggle with conflicting wills, our own will and God’s will, and encourages us to emulate St. Mary in the way she aligned her will with God’s will by fully trusting in Him. God has instructed us to test Him so we can strengthen our faith and trust in Him. Because true love cannot exist without trust. Tune in to hear more.

Fr. Joseph Abraham – August 21, 2022
Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Icons communicate a hidden reality to us. They are a source to teach us, and there is much to learn from the icon of St. Mary. Jack Ghali mediates on three lessons we can learn from her beautiful icon—to always carry Christ, to intercede for the world, and to see with spiritual eyes. 

Jack Ghali – August 16, 2022
Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

St. Mary suffered like no one else. Her love for Christ bound her to Him through every step of His suffering. She also identifies with humanity in all our afflictions because of her bond with us. This has a profound implication for our life. Fr. Joseph explains that for us to emulate St. Mary is for us to walk in the same path and to embrace the afflictions of life with faith. It’s no easy task but we can do that in a practical way by sympathizing with others, praying with perseverance, and bearing the general inconveniences of life with patient endurance. 

Fr. Joseph Abraham – August 14, 2022
Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Fr. Joseph explains that Christ is our chief cornerstone. He is absolutely essential in our life and without Him, we are broken. With Him, we are stable and protected, and the pillars that He provides to strengthen our spiritual life should not be taken for granted. Some of those pillars are our liturgical life, creating relationships with the Saints, and receiving the blessings of fasting and prayer. Tune in to hear more.

Fr. Joseph Abraham – August 7, 2022
Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Although it seems courageous, St. Thomas’s suggestion to go with Christ and “die with Him,” comes from a cowardly place. The wisdom of the early Church fathers tells us that Thomas wanted to simply escape the suffering, even if the escape was death itself. As we are afflicted by countless struggles in life that seem hopeless, we are tempted to look for a way out and circumvent the path of suffering. Fr. Joseph explains that many of us are willing to die with Christ, but few of us are willing to suffer with Christ. Tune in to hear more about how we can avoid this temptation to escape the path of suffering and embrace this sacred path full of meaning and life.

Fr. Joseph Abraham – July 31, 2022
Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

The event of feeding the multitude with the five loaves and the two fish prefigures the act of Christ feeding humanity with Himself. We are likewise called to participate in this Eucharistic offering, to give ourselves to others in the very same manner that Christ gave Himself to the world. Just as Christ first blessed and broke the bread to be distributed, we must also be blessed and broken. Fr. Joseph meditates on what these two words really mean and how our unique blessedness and brokenness relate to the way we are to give ourselves as food and nourishment to the world.

Fr. Joseph Abraham – July 24, 2022
Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

In this sermon, Fr. Joseph elaborates on what it means to have the faith of a child. To be like children means to grow in trust and simplicity. These attributes serve as the remedy for our stress and anxiety. Living a stress-free life doesn’t come from turning a blind eye to the troubles around us or pretending like they don’t exist. We often say, “Ignorance is bliss.” But a stress-free life doesn’t come from ignorance; it comes from child-like faith. This means we depend on God not because we’re ignorant about the problems in the world, but we depend on God despite our knowledge of the problems in the world!

Fr. Joseph Abraham – July 17, 2022
Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Christ sent His apostles to minister to the people “as lambs among wolves.” This daunting imagery tells us that ministry is a journey of complete dependence on God since we are to go out as helpless lambs. Fr. Joseph explains that this is the nature of our ministry. To go out as lambs among wolves means to reflect Christ crucified. It means to assume the position of a slaughtered lamb, to sacrifice ourselves for the life of the world. It means to cover the sins of others, to be crucified for others and with others, to carry their burdens no matter the cost, and to identify with their shame and nakedness.

Fr. Joseph Abraham – July 10, 2022
Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Fr. Anthony explains that we should be merciful toward others. We do this by:

1. Not judging others
2. Not condemning others
3. Forgiving others as God forgives us
4. Giving to those who ask while lifting them up and providing comfort

Tune in to hear more.

Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

The first line of the Didache tells us, “Two Ways there are, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference between the Two Ways.” This principle echoes exactly what Christ teaches us, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” (Matt 12:30) As difficult as it is to commit to the right side, God has set before us "life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” (Duet 30:19). In this sermon, Fr. Joseph explains the necessity of living a decisive life and how we can do that in practical ways.

Fr. Joseph Abraham – June 26, 2022
Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org

Christ the Savior American Coptic Orthodox Church
Diocese of Los Angeles
www.thegoodsavior.org