On the evening of Sunday, April 13th, 2025, His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak presided over the service of the Wahdo Dalmino (Arrival to the Court) according to our beloved Syriac Antiochian Liturgical tradition in the presence of V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Chamoun and Rev. Fr. Joseph Shammas.
At the end of the service, V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Chamoun delivered a sermon to the faithful. Abuna Joseph spoke about how we are now entering a holy week full of love and humility and a week of power, where we witness Christ’s victory over death, satan, and sin. He reminded everyone of the deep meaning behind the parables that our Lord gave in Matthew 25: the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the Parable of the Talents, and the vision of the Son of God sitting on His throne, judging the nations, placing the lambs at His right and the goats at His left.
Abuna Joseph explained that these parables were given right after Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly and wept over the city because it had rejected the prophets and those who came with peace. He told the faithful that when the disciples asked Jesus about the end of the age and His return, our Lord didn’t give them a time and He said even the angels didn’t know, only God the Father. He encouraged all by saying that Jesus’ simple message was: Be ready. Be prepared to enter with the Son of Man when He returns in glory. Be ready to join the heavenly banquet prepared for those who love Him. He told us to live this week with hearts full of love, repentance, and readiness because our Lord is coming in power and victory.
