Fr. Abraam Sleman's Blog

  The story of Jonah is more than an ancient account of a prophet swallowed by a great fish. It is a  mirror of the human heart —our struggles with God’s will, our pride, our resistance to mercy, and our need for transformation.   This is not a literal confession from Jonah but a  reflection on his journey , imagining how he might have spoken if he were to look back and share the lessons God taught him. What if Jonah, after the events recorded in Scripture, came to a deeper understanding of God’s mercy and justice? What if he saw in his own experience a  foreshadowing of the Messiah to come—Jesus Christ, who would suffer, die, and rise again on the third day?   If Jonah were to confess, here is what he might say.   1. Running from God’s Call   “I knew what God had commanded me: ‘Go to Nineveh and call them to repentance.’ But I did not want to go. I despised Nineveh. They were a wicked, violent people—enemies of Israel. I saw them as undes...

The story of Nineveh in the Book of Jonah serves as a powerful foreshadowing of God's redemption through Jesus Christ. Through Nineveh’s sin, judgment, repentance, and salvation, we see God’s mercy and universal grace, which are fully realized in Christ. Below are key ways that Nineveh serves as a type of God’s redemption in Christ. 1. Nineveh’s Sin and the Universality of Sin Nineveh was a wicked city, known for its violence, idolatry, and oppression: 📖 Nahum 3:1-4 – “Woe to the city of bloodshed [Nineveh], completely full of deception and pillage… Many slain, a mass of corpses… All because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the charming one, the mistress of sorceries.” 📖 Jonah 1:2 – “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before Me.” 📖 Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Just as Nineveh’s sin was exposed before God, so is the sin of all humanity. Nineveh’s judgment and call to repentan...

  Watching President Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2025, I begin my humble reflections by thanking God for this historic occasion. It was a blessing to witness the peaceful transition of leadership and to see prayers and invocations included in such a significant event. I am grateful for the opportunity to come together as a nation under God’s providence, seeking His guidance and wisdom for the days ahead. I also extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to President Trump. May his presidency be marked by wisdom, compassion, and a deep commitment to the values that uphold human dignity and justice. I pray that God will grant him strength and discernment to lead the nation toward unity, prosperity, and peace. Reflecting further, I was touched by the content of the prayers offered during the ceremony but felt a sense of disappointment at the absence of Orthodox Christian representation. Orthodoxy, with its profound theological richness, often feels lik...

The Father’s declaration, “This is My beloved Son,” resounds throughout the New Testament, revealing the unique relationship between the Father and the Son. It emphasizes Jesus’ divine identity, eternal Sonship, and the mission He fulfilled on earth. Moreover, it invites believers not only to partake in this divine love but also to respond with lives of gratitude, obedience, and love for God and others, particularly through Christ and the Eucharist. The Father’s Declaration of the Son’s Identity The phrase “This is My beloved Son” affirms the Lord Jesus’ divine Sonship and the Father’s approval of Him. At Jesus’ baptism, the Father declares, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17), marking the beginning of His public ministry. This moment reveals Jesus as the Messiah and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Similarly, at the Transfiguration, the Father again proclaims, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!...

The recent wildfires that swept through Los Angeles, occurring shortly after a controversial incident at the Golden Globe Awards, have sparked conversations about the consequences of mocking God and dismissing His authority. While natural disasters cannot always be attributed to divine judgment, the Bible teaches that such moments call for reflection, repentance, and reverence.  Insights on God’s Judgment and Human Response  When devastating events occur, such as the wildfires that recently swept through Los Angeles, they often lead to reflection. Yet, as a society, we tend to avoid attributing such events to divine judgment or the consequences of sin. We loosen the message of God’s justice, often reducing these moments to mere natural disasters or random occurrences. While it is not our place to declare every calamity as a direct judgment from God, the Bible teaches that such events should serve as a wake-up call for repentance and reverence.  Consider Jesus’ words...

  The story of salvation weaves through the pages of Scripture, uniting diverse peoples and cultures under the redeeming love of Yahweh. The visit of the Holy Family to Egypt is a significant event that showcases God’s universal salvation plan. This event, along with the many biblical passages pointing to the inclusivity of salvation, affirm the truth that Yahweh’s redemption extends to all nations. 1. Salvation Revealed in Yahweh’s Universal Plan The foundation of Yahweh’s universal plan of salvation begins in the Old Testament, where His purpose for all nations is revealed. When the angel instructed Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus (Matthew 2:13), this act echoed the ancient prophecies of Yahweh’s salvation reaching the Gentiles. Egypt, representing the Gentile world, became a sanctuary for the Savior, symbolizing the extension of God’s grace beyond Israel. Psalm 98:2-3 declares, “Yahweh has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the eyes of the...