St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

In this episode of Living Incense, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the teachings of the Desert Fathers on the inner spiritual life. He discusses why true spirituality naturally leads to humility rather than superiority by likening it to washing away visible and hidden sins gradually. Fr. Matthias explains the difference between humility and low self-esteem, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging one’s true self and relying on faith in God to avoid despair.He also highlights the challenge of stillness and solitude, drawing from monastic experiences to show how being alone with God fosters spiritual growth. The talk addresses spiritual hunger and the discipline required for prayer, even when it feels dry or difficult.Fr. Matthias connects loving God with loving one’s neighbor and examines Christian love as a willing self-sacrifice, not coercion or victimhood. Finally, he reflects on the call to become “dead” to both praise and criticism through self-awareness and faith, following Christ’s example.#DesertFathers #SpiritualHumility #ChristianPrayer #InnerLife #FrMatthiasShehad #MonasticWisdom#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In this sermon, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the role of temptation in the Christian spiritual journey by reflecting on the Lord Christ’s temptation in the wilderness. Fr. Matthias explains how temptation reveals the passions and desires hidden within us, showing areas of weakness and brokenness that we need to address through repentance and confession. He distinguishes between the pure nature of Christ, who desired only what is good, and human beings whose desires can lead to sin.Fr. Matthias discusses how temptations can serve a purpose by helping us identify and confront the passions that distort our vision and control us. He highlights the importance of humility in spiritual warfare, emphasizing reliance on God’s grace rather than self-effort. The sermon also touches on how understanding our own weaknesses fosters mercy toward others. Finally, Fr. Matthias reflects on transforming passions to serve righteous purposes, encouraging perseverance in spiritual struggle.#ChristianSpirituality #TemptationAndFaith #FrMatthiasShehad #SpiritualWarfare #PassionsAndSin #ChristianLiving#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In this talk, Michael Sedrak explores the Rite and contemplations of the Feast of Pentecost, highlighting its significance as one of the seven major feasts of the Lord. He explains Pentecost’s roots in Jewish tradition, connecting it to the Feast of Weeks and Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. Michael discusses the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, describing how this event marks the birth of the Church and the unification of diverse peoples through the gift of tongues.He contrasts the fear at the original Pentecost with the joyful union experienced in the New Testament and reflects on how the Holy Spirit continues to work within believers today. Michael emphasizes the call to live led by the Spirit, obey commandments out of love, and be agents of evangelism in the world. The talk closes with prayers for the Holy Spirit to empower and sanctify the Church and its members.#FeastOfPentecost #HolySpirit #CopticOrthodox #ActsChapter2 #ChristianFaith #ChurchHistory#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In this episode, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores teachings from the Desert Fathers on self-awareness and spiritual growth. Fr. Matthias discusses why worldly pursuits often fail to satisfy the heart, using King Solomon’s reflections in Ecclesiastes to illustrate the emptiness of earthly pleasures. He emphasizes the importance of keeping God at the center of all relationships and activities to maintain balance and avoid attachment to created things.Fr. Matthias explains the distinction between temptation and sin, highlighting that temptation is inevitable but falling into sin is a choice. He delves into the ongoing struggle of faith, underscoring the need for continual repentance and reliance on God’s mercy rather than personal perfection. Drawing from St. Paul’s example, he reflects on how weakness and temptation strengthen faith and guard against pride.This conversation also looks at the role of obedience, experience, and inner reflection in developing spiritual maturity and addresses the difficulty many face in embracing silence and confronting troubling thoughts.#DesertFathers #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTemptation #FaithStruggle #SelfAwareness #FrMatthiasShehad#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

In this sermon, Fr. Theophilus Mikhail explains the significance of the Holy Spirit dwelling within believers. He emphasizes that God's promises, including the presence of the Holy Spirit, never change and remain constant throughout time. Fr. Theophilus describes how the Holy Spirit convicts us gently of sin, judgment, and encourages righteousness, offering a wake-up call rather than blame. He warns against falling into despair like Judas by ignoring the Spirit’s guidance and stresses the importance of escaping temptations quickly, similar to fleeing from a snake. The Holy Spirit also inspires virtues such as love and wisdom, helping lead believers toward God’s kingdom. Fr. Theophilus encourages regular prayer asking God to fill us and our children with the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance in life.#HolySpirit #ChristianFaith #FrTheophilusMikhail #Pentecost #SpiritualGuidance #FaithInGod#StPaulHouston #Coptic #FrMatthiasSubscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhoustonFollow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhoustonFollow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhoustonVisit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org