St. Mark Festival: Living a Life of Joy

St. Mark Festival Theme: "You Shall Surely Rejoice"

• This year's theme is based on Deuteronomy 16:15, which encourages living a life of joy.

True Christian Joy vs. Worldly Happiness

• Worldly happiness is showy, exasperated, and temporary, affecting thoughts and emotions but not spirits.
• True Christian joy is given by the Lord Jesus and is a fruit of the Spirit.

Sources of Joy

• The Joy of Repentance:
  • Regretting our wrongdoings
  • Feeling the need for repentance
  • Going to our father the priest, confessing, and receiving absolution
• The Joy of Fellowship, Service, and Giving
• The Joy of Enduring Hardships:
  • Enduring for the sake of Christ's name
  • Example: Acts 5:41

With What Shall We Rejoice?

• Rejoice in the Lord Jesus My Savior and Redeemer:
  • Psalm 97:12
  • The Lord's love, creation, and redemption
• Rejoice in the Holy Bible:
  • John 15:11
  • The Bible is a personal divine message, providing love, rebuke, commandments, promises, and guidance
• Rejoice in the Church - The House of Joy:
  • The Coptic Orthodox Church is unique, redeemed by the Lord's blood, and received the sound faith from the apostles
• Rejoice in Being a Member of the Body of Christ:
  • Membership through the Holy Sacraments
  • Keeping membership through spiritual struggle
  • Serving in the Church and witnessing to the Lord in society

Other Sources of Joy

• Joy in Spiritual Fulfillment:
  • Praying the Psalms daily
  • The Arrow Prayers (Jesus Prayer)
  • Daily lectionary readings
  • Reading the Synaxarion daily
  • The Midnight Praises
  • Church Fasts, seasons, and feasts
  • The Eucharist
  • The Church Fathers' sayings
• Joy in Asceticism:
  • Moderate Coptic asceticism, as exemplified by St. Anthony and St. Paul
  • The importance of keeping the body healthy
  • Asceticism under the direction of the father of confession
• Joy in Martyrdom:
  • Acts 5:41
• Joy in the Eternal Life to Come:
  • Recognizing the glory of holiness in eternity
  • The eternal joy of meeting with the Lord, saints, and angels in heaven