On Sunday, December 29, 2024, His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, assisted by His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak, celebrated the Holy Liturgy in the presence of V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Chamoun and V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Shabo at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Paramus, New Jersey.
This day was also important as it was the Archdiocesan Youth Holy Liturgy. In his sermon, His Holiness began by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, sharing in the joy of the Nativity of our Lord. He then focused his message on the Youth, drawing from the passage in Luke 2:41-50, where the 12-year-old Jesus is found in the temple after being missing for three days. His parents, Mary and Joseph, had been anxiously searching for Him, only to discover Him in the temple, engaged in preaching, praying, asking questions, and learning from the elders. His Holiness reflected on how this is the only recorded event from Jesus’ teenage years in the Bible. Despite being fully divine, Jesus, as God incarnate, did not need to learn in the way humans do. Yet, by remaining in the temple and engaging in learning, He set a powerful example for us.
His Holiness emphasized that Jesus was not merely teaching through words, but through His actions, showing us the importance of living lives of faith. He encouraged the Youth to spend their time wisely focusing on building a deeper relationship with God through prayer, Bible reading, and active participation in the life of the Church. Jesus, in His youth, demonstrated the importance of spiritual growth, and His Holiness called on the younger generation to follow this example, dedicating themselves to learning, praying, and growing in the Lord. The Liturgy, followed by this profound message, was a reminder to all present of the importance of faith, learning, and dedication to a life centered around Christ.
