“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16)
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate – The Church of Alexandria

St. Mary & St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church
Reaching out to Somerset and Hunterdon Counties in NJ

Resources on 1. Annual Weekly Gospel Contemplations

2nd Sunday of Epep

The Greatest in the Kingdom On this blessed 2nd Sunday of Epep, the Church reads from the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 18:1-9. In this passage, we see the disciples experiencing some human weakness. They were stung by jealousy when the Lord honored Peter more than all others in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you…

1st Sunday of Epep

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two On the First Sunday of the blessed month of Epep and the final Sunday of the Apostles Fast, the Church reads Luke 10:1-20. In this reading, Christ provides instructions to the seventy apostles on how to preach to the Gentiles (those not of the Jewish faith). Christ describes how service…

4th Sunday of Meshir

The Redemption of Zacchaeus On this Sunday (3/03/2024), the Fourth Sunday of the blessed month of Meshir, the Church reads Luke 19:1-10. In these verses, Zacchaeus, a tax collector, short in stature, climbs a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus passing through the town. Jesus, aware of Zacchaeus and his desire to see him, invites Himself…

3rd Sunday of Meshir

On this Sunday (02/25/2024), the Third Sunday of Meshir, the Church reads from John 6:27-46. Through the month of Meshir, we continue our journey into Christ’s message of being the Bread of Life. In John 6:27, Jesus says “‘Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life,…

2nd Sunday of Meshir

Feeding the Multitudes On this Sunday (02/18/2024), the 2nd Sunday of the blessed month of Meshir, the Church reads John 6:5-14. In this passage, Christ feeds the 5000 (not including women and children) from 5 loaves and 2 fish. While this story is read numerous times throughout the year, this specific excerpt focuses on the…

1st Sunday of Meshir

I Am the Bread of Life On this Sunday (02/11/24), the first Sunday of Meshir, the Church reads from John 6:22-27. Despite its brevity, this Gospel passage reveals many important lessons worthy of contemplation. We will focus on three lessons: genuinely seeking Jesus, uncovering our intentions behind believing in God, and laboring for the food…

4th Sunday of Tobe

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind On this Sunday (02/04/2024), the Forth Sunday of the blessed month of Tobe, the Church reads John 9:1-38 (These Bible verses are read also at the 6th week during Lent). In these verses, Jesus and His disciples came across a man born blind. Jesus’ disciples ask if the blindness…

3rd Sunday of Tobe

John the Baptist Exalts ChristThe One from Heaven This Sunday (1/28/2024), the Gospel is taken from John 3:22-36. In this passage, there was an argument between the disciples of St. John the Baptist and the Jews regarding purification, and they notified the Baptist that Jesus, the one that he baptized, was baptizing others. St. John…