Golden Friday('Rubto D'Dab'ho) (Friday after Pentecost)

Golden Friday('Rubto D'Dab'ho) (Friday after Pentecost)

The Friday after Pentecost, known as Golden Friday ('Rubto D'Dahbo) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. On this feast celebrated annually on the Friday after Pentecost, the Church commemorates the first of the miracles by the Holy Apostles following the descent of the Holy Spirit. In the reading from the' Acts of the Holy Apostles', St. Peter and St. John encounter a paralyzed man by the temple gate. The man looks their way expecting money, but St. Peter replies, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Hearing this the once paralyzed man is miraculously healed, and "he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." Mor Jacob of Serugh (Mimro 179) on the healing of the Paralyzed man by Peter and John (courtesy heavenly bread):Simon said (to the lame man): “Look at us, O man, why did you insult us by considering us like those who possess gold to grant you?Look at us and see: we possess neither a bag, nor a purse, nor a shoe, not even two robesWe have no gold, no silver, so do not insult us and ask us for something we were commanded not to possess” He (Simon) wanted to primarily proof, as he was commanded, that he despises gold and neither possess nor love itHe Revealed in front of the public that he keeps the commandment of His Lord and is not subject to money and gold. For this reason he lifted up his voice proclaiming that he does not possess gold but power and strength. He did not say to the lame man: “I have nothing”, because he possesses invisible richness much valuable than the whole world. He took pride that he possess neither gold not silver, and proved that he possesses something different, He said to him: “the thing I have I give you”, proving to whom who understands that he both have and does not have, He does not have gold which suffocates who possesses it, and he had the power to heal whoever comes near him, Whatever I have I grant to you: hearing to the deaf, light to the blind, the ability to run for the lame, life to the dead, forgiveness for those who ask, and a healthy (or clean) body for the Leper. The Son did not make the Apostles poor, but he taught them to possess true richness.It is an insult for the hand of Simon to count silver, but it did support the lame to walk.The Apostle of the Spirit did not degrade himself to tie a purse, because he was worthy to untie it thus tying sin. The word that possesses the power to call the dead and he rises up, did not speak with the coin to become his, Simon and John did not have a penny, but they had the tenderness to heal the complications of the sick, the word that looses in earth and heaven, the voice that drives out and defeats the devils and demons, the shadow that visits the sick and heals them , the great power that gives resurrection to the dead,The Head of the disciples, relying on all this riches, told the lame man: “all that I have I give you”. And because he possessed great riches, he promised a gift richer than the world’s richest, What king that mortgages his crown can give legs to the lame man as these two disciples did? In which stores was such a gift sold? And how much gold will a person give to possess it? Who could give a lame man the ability to run? And if he could, the world would have bought it in riches That is why he (Simon) said to the lame man: “the thing I have I give you”, because he was sure of his treasures, “In the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk”, along with the word, healing flew and supported the sick.The man of pain gained strength and endured fears and was healed by the strength that called on him wisely. That person who was tortured all his life with an incurable disease enjoyed life within an hour. That person who was bound with an inability to walk from the womb was loosened by the mercies and given the gift to run with speed. That person who was fallen was supported by the tenderness of the Son of God, and rose up with strength and walked his paths. Simon’s mouth was a fountain overflowing with life and a full treasure that enriched plentiful when it was opened The sound of his word trembled the sickness and removed it away, and his shadow was rich with healing. Whom of the patients did He meet and left without a cure? Or whom of the needy that he did not grant all his needs?The name of Christ is all the richness of the college of the apostles, and through Him does the great road of discipleship pass. The name of the Nazarene has put wonder amongst the powerful, for He has attracted, through His name, all the creation to submit to Him. May the intercession of the Holy Apostles, through the power of the Holy Spirit, grant us miraculous healing that we too may jump and leap in praise of God to show the world His true glory. The Holy Bible readings from the Church Lectionary:Evening:St. Matthew 19:23-30Morning:St. Matthew 9:36-10:15Before Holy Qurbono:Genesis 12:1-9Jeremiah 16:16-21I Kings 8:1-6Daniel 1:1-9Isaiah 43:1-14Holy Qurbono:Acts 3:1-10I Corinthians 12:28-13:10St. Luke 22:24-30Tone of the Day: 3http://www.malankaraworld.com/Library/sermons/Sermon-of-the-week_Golden-Friday.htmA Study on Wednesday and Friday Fasts of the Syrian Orthodox Church (courtesy Hymonutho): https://bit.ly/WedFriFast