Full Kidan and Kidase services streaming via YouTube and Facebook on May 10th, 2010
Sermon was delivered, Gospel Luke 24 Ver. 33 – 45.
ሉቃስ 24፡33-34 በዚያችም ሰዓት ተነሥተው ወደ ኢየሩሳሌም ተመለሱ፥ አሥራ አንዱና ከእነርሱ ጋር የነበሩትም። ጌታ በእውነት ተነሥቶአል ለስምዖንም ታይቶአል እያሉ በአንድነት ተሰብስበው አገኙአቸው። 35 እነርሱም በመንገድ የሆነውን እንጀራውንም በቈረሰ ጊዜ እንዴት እንደ ታወቀላቸው ተረኩላቸው። 36 ይህንም ሲነጋገሩ ኢየሱስ ራሱ በመካከላቸው ቆሞ። ሰላም ለእናንተ ይሁን አላቸው። 37 ነገር ግን ደነገጡና ፈሩ መንፈስም ያዩ መሰላቸው። 38 እርሱም። ስለ ምን ትደነግጣላችሁ? ስለ ምንስ አሳብ በልባችሁ ይነሣል? 39 እኔ ራሴ እንደ ሆንሁ እጆቼንና እግሮቼን እዩ፤ በእኔ እንደምታዩት፥ መንፈስ ሥጋና አጥንት የለውምና እኔን ዳስሳችሁ እዩ አላቸው።
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the celebration of Easter extends well beyond a single day, permeating the entire fifty-day period known as the Easter season or Eastertide. This period, rich with liturgical significance, culminates in the feast of Pentecost. Among these celebratory Sundays, the Fourth Sunday of Easter holds a special place, known for its unique themes and reflections on Christ’s enduring presence and teachings.
Liturgical Significance
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, one of the oldest Christian denominations in the world, follows a liturgical calendar that intricately weaves the life of Jesus Christ with the lives of its adherents. The Easter season, or the period of Eastertide, is particularly significant, celebrated with great joy and festivity as it marks the Resurrection of Jesus Christ—a cornerstone of Christian faith.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter, often referred to in liturgical terms as “The Sunday of the Righteous,” focuses on the righteousness found through Christ. It is a time when the Church reflects on the purity and moral integrity that Christ’s resurrection promises to believers who follow His ways.
Scriptural Readings and Themes
Each Sunday in the Easter season is accompanied by specific scriptural readings that highlight various aspects of Christian life post-Resurrection. On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, readings typically emphasize the transformative power of Christ’s teachings and His resurrection. These readings might include passages from the Gospels that recount Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep, echoing the broader theme of sacrifice and pastoral care found throughout the New Testament.
For instance, the Gospel of John often serves as a focal point, where Jesus describes Himself as the shepherd of all people, calling His followers to listen to His voice and follow Him. This imagery supports the pastoral theme of guidance and protection provided by Christ, resonating deeply with the congregation as they seek to emulate His righteousness in their daily lives.
Liturgical Practices and Customs
In the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, like other Sundays during Eastertide, is marked by vibrant and elaborate liturgical celebrations. These include:
- Divine Liturgy: The celebration of the Divine Liturgy is central to the day’s observances, featuring hymns, prayers, and the Eucharist, which commemorate the Resurrection.
- Hymns and Chants: Specific hymns and chants that reflect the themes of protection, guidance, and pastoral care are sung. These often include ancient Ge’ez language hymns, which have been passed down through generations.
- Processions: In some parishes, processions might be held, symbolizing the journey of the faithful following the path laid out by Christ.
Reflections on Righteousness
The Fourth Sunday of Easter encourages the faithful to reflect on their spiritual journey and assess their own lives in the light of Christ’s teachings. It serves as a reminder of the righteous path that Christians are called to walk. The righteousness theme is deeply intertwined with the concept of following Christ not just in faith but in action—living out the values He taught through compassion, justice, and mercy towards others.
Community and Fellowship
This Sunday also emphasizes community and fellowship, reflecting the communal nature of the early Christian communities. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church views this time as an opportunity to strengthen bonds within the church community, encouraging believers to support one another in their spiritual growth and to extend their Easter joy beyond the church walls into the broader community.
Conclusion
The Fourth Sunday of Easter in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is more than a liturgical observance; it is a profound invitation to live out the Resurrection’s transformative power. It calls the faithful to embody the righteousness of Christ in their lives, drawing on the strength and guidance He provides as the Good Shepherd. Through its rich liturgical life, scriptural focus, and communal practices, the church not only commemorates a historical event but invites every believer to become a living testament to the Resurrection’s living reality.
