Today, Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Alexandria Province of the Episcopal/Anglican Church, presided over the Holy Eucharist at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Sixth of October City. During the service, he officiated a Confirmation Service for new church members, with the participation of Rev. Hany Samir, the church’s pastor.
In his sermon, Archbishop Fawzy said:
“The miracle of the raising of Lazarus in John 11 presents a profound picture of the miracle of love. It demonstrates that miracles do not necessarily lead everyone to faith, but they reveal God’s heart at work through love. The story begins with the message sent by Mary and Martha: ‘Lord, the one you love is sick,’ a statement filled with hope and surrender. Rather than directly asking for a miracle, they expressed confidence in Christ’s love.
Here we encounter the first dimension of love: the waiting of love. Christ’s love does not mean the absence of suffering or illness, but His presence with us in the midst of them. Then comes the delay of love. Jesus did not go immediately; instead, He waited two days, declaring that what was taking place was for the glory of God. The situation moved beyond the healing of a sick man to the raising of the dead, demonstrating that God’s plans are greater than our expectations.”
He continued:
“The story also reveals other dimensions of love, including the reassurance of love, when Christ comforted His disciples despite the dangers surrounding them, because perfect love casts out fear. We also see the labor of love when Jesus said that Lazarus had ‘fallen asleep,’ introducing a new understanding of death as a temporary rest before openly declaring that Lazarus had died, preparing the way for the revelation of God’s glory.
In His encounter with Martha, Jesus moved her from a faith limited by time and place to the profound declaration: ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’ He transformed her faith from belief in an idea to faith in a person. With Mary, however, He spoke a different language—the language of tears. Jesus wept, moved by her grief and brokenness, revealing that His love is not merely instruction but genuine participation in human suffering.”
The Archbishop concluded:
“At the tomb, the language of love is revealed through clear actions: ‘Take away the stone!’—a call to obedience and participation. Then comes the declaration of confidence in God’s glory, followed by a prayer of thanksgiving expressing certainty in the Father’s presence. Next comes the decisive command: ‘Lazarus, come out!’ and finally, ‘Unbind him and let him go,’ proclaiming the victory of life over death.
This miracle not only revealed Christ’s glory but also served as a preparation for the Cross. It accelerated the decision to crucify Him and ultimately led to His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is a call for us to trust in God’s love even when His intervention seems delayed, and to believe that everything He does leads us toward His glory, enabling us to live with hope and confidence in His work in our lives.”
It is worth noting that the Confirmation Service is the formal declaration of an individual’s membership in the Episcopal Church. During the service, each new member publicly commits before the bishop, pastor, and congregation to remain steadfast in the faith, grow in the study of God’s Word, maintain a disciplined life of prayer, and participate actively in the life and ministry of the Church.