Issue 65 September 2026

From the pulpit

Come as you are

Fr Luke · "If You are the Christ, tell us plainly", John 10

In today's Gospel, we encounter a confrontation between the Pharisees and Jesus. They come to Him and ask, "If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." The conversation takes place in Jerusalem, in the Temple, during the Feast of Dedication, now known as Hanukkah.

The Church presents us with a striking contrast. In the chapter before this, Jesus heals a man who had been blind from birth, a miracle that had never been witnessed before. Many people who saw the miracle simply believed and followed Christ. Yet the Pharisees, despite witnessing the same miracle, continued to question Him. Their questions were not born from a genuine desire to know Him, but from a desire to catch Him out and prove Him wrong.

This raises an important question for us: Is it acceptable to question God?

The Scriptures show us that it is.

Throughout the Bible, we encounter saints who brought their questions, their pain and even their confusion before God. Our God, the Creator of the universe, allows His creation to come before Him with questions.

One of the most beautiful examples is Job.

Job was a righteous man. God Himself describes him as "a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil." Yet in a single day, Job loses his wealth and his children. What follows is a long period of suffering without an explanation.

Job does not hide his pain. He brings it directly to God, saying:

Job's friends try to explain his suffering, telling him that he must have sinned. His wife tells him to abandon his faith. But Job remains steadfast. He continues to question God while refusing to turn away from Him.

He says:

And again:

Eventually, God answers Job. But remarkably, He does not give Job the explanation he has been seeking. Instead, God meets him in his suffering and reminds him of who He is.

The Lord says:

God reminds Job of the greatness of His creation and of the limitations of human understanding. Job does not receive an explanation for everything that happened to him. Instead, he receives something greater: the presence of God.

Sometimes, we too will have questions that remain unanswered. There is a mystery in those unanswered questions, and sometimes we encounter that mystery most deeply at the Cross.

St Paul reminds us:

The Cross itself appeared to the world as a mystery. Yet for us, it is the power and wisdom of God.

Three things to remember

Pope Shenouda reminds us of three things when we are faced with unanswered questions.

1. Remember that God is present. He has not left you. He is with you.
2. Remember that this too will pass. This life will pass, our suffering will have an end, and even our unanswered questions will one day find their place in the fullness of eternity.
3. Remember that all things work together for good for those who love God and live according to His purpose.

The Pharisees approached Christ with questions because they wanted to prove Him wrong. We are called to approach Him differently.

Let us come to God with our questions, but with humility. Let us remember how small we are and how great He is. We may never comprehend every mystery of this world or understand why certain things happen in our lives.

But we can still say, as Job did: "Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Some questions will remain unanswered. Yet even in those questions, we can meet Christ. We can meet Him at the Cross, walk with Him through our suffering, and continue our journey with patience and faith.

Glory be to God forever and ever.

Saints of St John's

St Moses the Strong

Feast day: 24 Paoni · 1 July

Who was he? St Moses the Strong was once feared as a violent robber, but after encountering the Christian faith he repented, became a monk, and grew into a spiritual father known for humility, mercy and refusal to judge others.

What can our family learn from St Moses the Strong?

1. We can always come back to God

St Moses did not begin his life as the person people expected to become a saint. His past included violence and serious sin. But when he turned to God, he did not allow his past to become an excuse to stay where he was. He repented, accepted guidance and began a completely different life.

What it means for our family: In a family, mistakes can make us want to hide, defend ourselves or blame someone else. St Moses shows us that the Christian response is not pretending the mistake did not happen. It is having the courage to come back: to God, to one another, and to the truth.

Family challenge: Practise saying "I was wrong. I'm sorry." without adding an excuse afterwards.

2. Don't judge other people

When St Moses was called to a gathering where a monk was going to be judged, he came carrying a leaking basket or sack of sand behind him. He explained that his own sins were falling behind him where he could not see them, yet he had come to judge the sins of someone else. The image became one of the best-known stories from his life.

What it means for our family: It is easy to notice the weakness of a sibling, spouse, friend or another family while becoming strangely blind to our own. This does not mean we ignore wrong behaviour. It means correction should come with humility, not superiority.

Family challenge: When you feel like criticising someone, first name one thing you need God's help to work on in yourself.

3. People are more than their worst moment

Anyone who knew only the early Moses might have decided he was dangerous, hopeless and unlikely ever to change. God saw what he could become. His later life reminds us that repentance is so powerful that the person people once feared became someone Christians still ask to learn from centuries later.

What it means for our family: Families can accidentally give people permanent labels: "the difficult one," "the naughty one," "the messy one," "the one who always forgets." Those labels can make change harder. Christians leave room for grace.

Family challenge: Choose one person you have been frustrated with. Deliberately notice something good about them and say it out loud.

Source: Nayrouz Saint Packs

Parish life

St John's Family Picnic Day

Save the date for what will be a fruitful family day: the Divine Liturgy in the pastures, followed by fruit picking and a BBQ lunch.