Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Province of Alexandria of the Anglican Episcopal Church, presided over the Divine Liturgy at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Korba, where he administered the service of Confirmation for new members of the church, in the presence of Rev. Emad Basilius, the church pastor, and Deacon Raymond Damian.
In his sermon, the Archbishop said that the miracle of the ten lepers carries many deep spiritual meanings, reminding us that true faith is revealed in the midst of pain and need. The illness united the ten despite their differences in origin and ethnicity—among them were Jews and a Samaritan—but they were joined together in suffering and hope. Together, they made the wise decision to go to Christ, the Great Physician, driven by faith and the hope of receiving healing. They were not concerned with people’s opinions or the fear of rejection; instead, they came to Him with humility, asking for His mercy—a picture that reflects spiritual courage and trust in God’s love, which does not discriminate between one person and another.
He explained that Christ did not touch them with His hand, as He often did in other miracles, nor did He utter public words of healing. Instead, He simply commanded them: “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” Although the healing had not yet appeared, they obeyed His word with complete faith and walked along the path as He instructed them—and it was along the way that the miracle occurred, and all were healed as they went. Here the obedience of faith is revealed, for the blessing came on the way, not before nor after obedience. Yet only one of the ten—the Samaritan—returned to thank Christ and glorify God with all his heart, while the others became preoccupied with what they had received and forgot the One who gave them life anew.
He concluded that this miracle opens before us the door to reflect on a true life of gratitude. God grants us daily countless blessings and gifts, yet many forget to return with thanks and appreciation. Faith is not merely asking for blessings; it is a living relationship built on love and continual gratitude. Christ expects us to be like the Samaritan who returned to give thanks, for gratitude is the sign of a heart filled with faith.
It is worth mentioning that the service of Confirmation is the declaration of an individual’s membership in the Episcopal Church, during which the new member pledges—before the bishop, the pastor, and the whole congregation—to deepen their study of the Word of God and to live a life of regular prayer.