A call for prayers, for respect to prevail.

Originated from #Mesopotamia, and proud to be a member of the oldest Christian church in the world, the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, indeed, I come from a church that is built on the blood that was shed of our ancestors who have been persecuted by being killed physically. However, it seems the narrative has been shifting recently from merely physical persecution to becoming emotional, spiritual and psychological persecutions, which indicates lack of respect and appreciation to fellow citizens and members of the same humankind.

Following all the conversations that generated through and by different media outlets as a result of the controversy of the #Olympicgames Opening Ceremony, urged me to stop and contemplate, also reflect on what happened or what is happening to our human kind. The show of DISRESPECT is evident throughout.

It seems that considerations and respect for others is not taken into account anymore, and insulting other humans, specifically #Christians seems to have become the norm. This is unfortunate, and this short article contains a call for prayers that RESPECT will prevail.

Indeed, we have been warned through more than one verse about being attacked, hated, hurt, but as Christians we are the children of hope and faith, thus, reading and sharing an exemplar from those verses from the Holy Bible, especially as I repeat with St. Paul few verses from his Epistle to Galatians chapter 6 verses 7-10, and here I would include these verses in three languages:

??? ???????? ??????? ??? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ?????????? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ????????? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ????????? ????????? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ???????? ????????? ????? ??????? ????????????? ????? ????? ???????? ???????????????

(????????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? : ?? - ??)

Do not be?deceived; God is not?mocked; for?whatever?a man?sows,?that?shall?he?also?reap. He who?sows?things?of the?flesh,?from?the?flesh?shall?reap?corruption; he who?sows?things?of the?Spirit,?from?the?Spirit?shall?reap?life?everlasting. Let us not be?weary?in?welldoing; for in due?season,?we?shall?reap, if we?faint?not. Therefore, as we?have?opportunity, let us do?good?to all men,?especially?to?those?who?belong?to the?household?of?faith.

(Galatians 6: 7-10)

??? ?????????! ?????? ??? ???????? ????????. ??????? ??????? ?????????? ??????????? ???????? ???????? ???????. ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ???????????. ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ????????? ????????? ?????????? ??? ???????? ???? ?????? ??? ???????. ??????? ????????? ????? ???????? ???????????? ????????? ???????????? ????? ???????? ??????? ??????????.

(????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? 6: 7-10)

I can see that, as we have an opportunity, let us all do good to all, and let us all show respect to all without over smarting others.

Further, I hereby conclude this very short article with a simple prayer that I derived from the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch's book of prayer "The Spiritual Treasure on Canonical Prayer by Mor Ignatius Ephrem Barsoum, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East (1957+) translated into English by Rev. Fr. Joseph Tarzi, published by the Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in the Western States in 1999.

Quote

"Before You, O God, I have washed my hands that they may be extended for doing good works, not for evil doing; my eyes, that they may see truth, and may not become licentious; my ears, that they may listen to Your commands and be closed to all depravity; my nostrils, that they may smell the sweetness of Your salvation, not the odors of slothfulness; my mouth, that it may taste praises and thanksgiving, and not speak haughtily and utter falsehoods."

Unquote

Indeed, we pray for RESPECT to prevail.

Thank you for going through this short article.

Theodora Issa

A Proud Christian a Member of #SyrianorthodoxchurchofAntioch

Sources: The Holy Bible and the book of prayers referenced above.