Today I attended a wake. The church was sad and we were all in a sea of black. Normally during wakes we remember the dearly departed and try to comfort the family of the deceased. Today was different though since we were all one family trying to comfort each other while finding comfort from the departure of our father Pope Shenouda III. He departed to heaven on March 17, 2012. No words can really express my deep sadness and hurt. We lost a father.
I could sit here and write my personal experiences with the Late Pope Shenouda III but really they aren't a lot. I met him in person on several occasions and I was blown away by his love for those around us. St. Augustine said "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us". Really this sums up Pope Shenouda III. I did not live in Egypt, but the imprint of his legacy are in the youth of today's church in Egypt and abroad. I am one of those youth abroad, his hand is in every church, every altar, every cornerstone. You walk into any Coptic bookstore and will find tons of sermons and translated books by His Holiness...he aimed to provide us with the spiritual food needed for us to develop knowing fully well that the church has expanded beyond the borders of the motherland of Egypt. The Coptic church is now on six of seven continents with Divine Liturgies translated into English, French, German, Spanish, etc. Most recent consecration of a church was in Budapest, Hungary in 2011 by His Holiness.
I can go on and on about Pope Shenouda's contributions, because they did have a direct impact on the church abroad. But what many don't understand is why we are so sad. Why do we have such a connection with a man that we saw once in a while here and there? First, he was a father and a shepherd in the true sense. For those who do not understand how our the church clergy functions, in the true sense they serve the people. They've dedicated their lives to God and in turn they serve the people as a reflection of Christ Himself as the Good Shepherd. In so many ways, this was Pope Shenouda. He has ordained priests, made himself available, visited the sick, sat with the people, sermonized and taught the flock and so much more. In 2005, I was in Cedar Grove, NJ at his residence to pray the midnight praises with HG Bishop Youannnes, his secretary. The youth were gathered and after the prayer was done, I was walking to my car when I heard someone come out of the residence building telling me to come in quickly. I didn't ask questions. I entered the residence and walked down the stairs to find His Holiness sitting in the reception area. He was with the bishops and all of a sudden HG Bishop Youannes said 'these are amazing youth that I just prayed with'. We took his blessings and chocolate (that was the norm). We sat with him until around 2am, joking with us. For maybe the first 30 min I was thinking in my brain "oh my God this is the Pope sitting with us", but as the night went on, we were sitting with our amazing father who wanted to make sure we were okay. It was one of those times where you just didn't want to leave because you were having a great time. It was amazing. I can talk about more experiences but this one has had a lasting effect on me.
In his sickness, he gave everything to us despite his pain. That's the true love of sacrifice there, can't really elaborate on this. The last year has been difficult on the church and I don't really know how His Holiness in his physical pain was able to guide the church but really that is God working.
I was a bit disappointed in the wake of his death to find many people on social networking sites attacking His Holiness as they learned of his death. I was in so much sadness and the attacks only added salt to the wound. I was asked my opinion about this. To the haters out there, you didn't know him, you didn't experience him, you didn't understand him. You only saw him from the narrow view of politics (which I will not address at this point). You judged him without allowing to understand the other side and yes revolutionaries...you are ignorant in just attacking while a huge portion of the population is in pain. You lost sensitivity in your quest for freedom and you're just as bad as those who have tried to divide this country on sectarianism. There is a verse in Romans 'Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep'. Christians have done their share of doing both with their fellow Muslim neighbors who are EGYPTIANS as well. If you don't know, Egypt just lost one of the greatest citizens of the modern age but instead of learning, you choose to shut your ears. Whatever.
I choose however to focus on the amount of messages I received from Muslim Egyptians, they are the true Egyptians. They share in the sufferings and many have seen how Pope Shenouda always reached out to people regardless of race or religion. This is Egypt. I thank you Muslims who have reached out to me. You have shown the true sense of the religion of peace to Christians and please keep us in your prayers. Pope Shenouda loved Egypt, you are Egypt.
Many people looked to him as a source of comfort especially in the past year or so where things have been certainly difficult to the Christian community. The loss of our father at this time is another blow to us. We lost the modern day St. John Chrysostom and Athanasius. Read his books, you will be moved. My favorite was Release of the Spirit. I've read a lot of articles about the uncertainties amongst Christians with the latest loss. My priest told us today not to lose faith in God. There was the same uncertainty after Pope Kyrollos VI departed but God gave us the gift of Pope Shenouda III who really was exceedingly more than we could have ever asked for. My dad today also said that our church has survived for over 2000 years and God wouldn't just leave us hanging now. I was comforted, yet I still hurt.
As I was waiting on line to receive the Holy Eucharist, a girl about 10-12 years old was weeping. I mean she just was balling...I went up to her and asked 'whats wrong?'. She just kept saying 'I miss him'. I wanted to cry with her...I held her and let her cry. I told her that he is praying for us in heaven and that he is happy that you're standing on line about to receive the Holy Eucharist. Yes, my words really had no comfort as she kept weeping. Her heart was broken and so was all of ours. This our time of mourning. We ask that prayers are raised for the future of the church. I feel this happened during Lent for us to become closer to each other. I don't doubt that today that church attendance was at the level of one of the Feasts out of sense of loss and love our father who is now with the saints, the martyrs he often spoke about and most importantly in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Below are some sermons/poems to enjoy:
God's love in your life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCuo4fInGOI
I want nothing of this world
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4-APT-hbMw&feature=related
After death Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDfVMzNzgZM&feature=related
Come back to God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3IKtj79rwE&feature=related
Stranger Poem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg_2X9GG8JQ&list=UUGvHqFLowTlubXfis39tA1Q&index=12&feature=plcp
Last Sermon of His Holiness on 7 March 2012 on Intelligence and Repentance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTOoE3-heRw&list=UUGvHqFLowTlubXfis39tA1Q&index=31&feature=plcp
People's Tribulations and the Pope's response
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avd_XvUkgCs&list=UUGvHqFLowTlubXfis39tA1Q&index=1&feature=plcp
From the Pope's Sayings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG_FVIgkOj0&list=UUGvHqFLowTlubXfis39tA1Q&index=5&feature=plcp
Pope's comments on Maspero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r9HEnQ-MX0&feature=related
