Today, Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria, opened the Holy Mass for priests, held for the annual renewal of pastoral vows, in the presence of a gathering of priests and deacons from various Episcopal churches.
In his sermon, the Archbishop said:
“Every power we possess apart from God is a fleeting, temporary power. Even rivers, no matter how abundant, will one day dry up if they are not fed by a constant source. Likewise, a human being will inevitably weaken and wither if they do not draw their strength from God. It is unwise for anyone to think they have absolute power or can build a world of their own apart from God, for everything is destined to pass away.”
He continued:
“God alone is almighty—He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His power never runs out or fades. A limited human being cannot be compared to the unlimited God. But those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, because their dependence is not on people, but on the living Spirit of God. A true, living church is one whose members rely on the Lord—not on eloquence or powerful preaching, but on the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not ability or philosophy that grants salvation, but the Spirit of God who works within hearts and transforms them.”
He concluded:
“The signs of God’s children appear in their obedience to His commandments and their renewal of vows with Him in great faith and hope. We need to trust that God responds at the appointed time—even if He seems to delay, His work is never nullified but completed at the perfect time. Often, we try to serve based on our personal vision and neglect to follow God’s vision. We may grow weak or weary, but the Lord’s promise remains: ‘But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.’ Let us dedicate ourselves to Him today with sincere hearts, asking Him to grant us the power of the Holy Spirit, with our eyes fixed on Him alone.”
It’s worth noting that the service of renewing pastoral vows is one of the Episcopal Church’s rituals, where priests and deacons gather on Maundy Thursday to renew their ordination vows.