Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria, presided over the Divine Liturgy at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Alexandria, where he officiated the service of confirmation for new members of the church, in the presence of The Very Reverend David Aziz, Dean and pastor of the cathedral.
In his sermon, the Archbishop said:
“On the night of Maundy Thursday, as the Lord Jesus approached the Garden of Gethsemane to begin His final struggle before the cross, He sat with His disciples to teach them deep truths about eternal life, about true fruitfulness, and about the challenges awaiting them after His departure. He knew that fear had filled their hearts and confusion had overtaken them, so they asked: How will we live without You? How can we reach heaven? How can we impact the world when we lack peace or joy?”
He continued:
“In the midst of their questions and unrest, He gave them a heavenly promise: ‘I will go, but I will send you the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who will guide you into all truth.’ The Holy Spirit is not merely a spiritual concept, but the living person of God, working within us, present with us — the Comforter in times of pain and the Guide in times of confusion.”
He added:
“The Holy Spirit, as Jesus taught, does not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He declares to us. He takes what is Christ’s and reveals it to us. He is the one who unveils the depths of God’s heart and leads us into full truth. The natural person may confuse truth with falsehood and believe they are on the right path, but without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they wander and lose their way.”
He emphasized:
“The guidance of the Holy Spirit does not always come as an audible voice. Often, it is a thought God places in the mind, or a deep understanding of His Word, or an unexplainable peace that fills the heart in the midst of tough decisions. He is the one who always glorifies Christ, helps us see the beauty of His love and forgiveness, and kindles in us the desire to share with others what He has done for us.”
He concluded with a prayer:
“O Spirit of God, pour out upon us. Open our eyes to see the truth. Ignite in us the fire of Your love, so that we may live for Christ’s glory and testify of Him with power and joy. Amen.”