Today, The Most Reverend Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Province of Alexandria of the Episcopal/Anglican Church, presided over the Holy Eucharist at St. John the Baptist Church in Maadi, where he officiated the Confirmation service for new members of the congregation, in the presence of Rev. Osama Fathy, the church pastor.
In his sermon, the Archbishop said:
“As human beings, we often see only what is on the outside. But what if we could look into the heart of a person? In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 13, we find the miracle of the healing of the bent woman — a scene that combines both physical and spiritual bending. This woman had been crippled for eighteen years, unable to lift her head. Perhaps no one noticed her when she entered the synagogue, but the eyes of Christ saw her true essence, for He does not look as man looks. Christ sees us as we are and longs to free us from every burden that bends our lives.”
He continued:
“This woman was weary and bowed down, too weak to straighten herself. Perhaps her life was once filled with joy, but over time, her weakness grew until she became bound by chains — not only in her body but in her mind as well. Yet, when she entered the synagogue, she found the Lord Jesus there. He looked at her, saw her pain and need.”
He added:
“Then He called her and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity!’ In that very moment, her life was transformed — her chains were broken, she stood upright, and she glorified God with great joy. This miracle teaches us that while Satan may bind us, he cannot destroy us, for we are in the hands of Christ, who alone can give us complete freedom.”
The Archbishop concluded:
“This miracle reminds us that spiritual bondage is as real as physical infirmity. Sometimes we feel burdened with worries, looking only down to the ground and not up to heaven. Yet God sees us and personally cares for us. No matter what chains hold our lives, Christ alone can set us free. Let us trust His promise today and learn to lift our eyes toward Him, for He alone can turn our sorrow into joy and our pain into praise.”
It is worth noting that the Confirmation service in the Episcopal Church marks a person’s formal admission into church membership, during which the new member publicly commits, before the bishop, pastor, and congregation, to deepening their study of God’s Word and living a life of regular prayer.