Beloved in Christ,
Grace, peace, and blessings to you in the glorious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The Holy Church, through its apostolic foundation, has been entrusted with the sacred mission of leading God’s people in faith, hope, and love. As we journey through the challenges of our time, whether personal, communal, or global,it is natural for the human mind to feel troubled. Yet, our Christian calling invites us to lift our eyes toward God’s divine purpose that works silently and powerfully through every season of life.
Throughout Scripture, we are reminded that God’s providence guides His people even when His ways are beyond our understanding. The life of Moses teaches us that the wilderness is not a place of abandonment, but a place of divine preparation. Though Moses faced rejection, isolation, and burden, God shaped him through each struggle to become the shepherd of Israel. His trials became the foundation of his calling.
Likewise, the story of Esther reveals how God positions His chosen ones at the right time for His greater glory. Though she faced peril and uncertainty, her courage—rooted in faith—became the instrument through which God delivered His people. What seemed like a moment of danger served a divine purpose that only became clear in hindsight.
In the New Testament, the life of St. Paul is a shining testimony of how God transforms suffering into strength. Imprisonments, persecutions, and hardships did not break him; rather, they deepened his conviction that “God’s grace is sufficient” and that divine power is made perfect in human weakness. His journey reminds us that trials refine our faith and draw us closer to the heart of Christ.
Our Lord Himself, through His life and ministry, showed us that suffering is not the end of the story. The Cross, once a symbol of defeat, became the gateway to resurrection. In every burden we carry, whether illness, emotional struggle, or uncertainty about the future, Christ walks with us, turning sorrow into hope and weakness into strength. When our faith is anchored in Him, no challenge can overcome us.
As members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, we are called to be witnesses of this unshakeable hope. Let us remain steadfast in prayer, compassionate in service, and firm in our trust that God’s hand is guiding our lives. Each moment of difficulty carries within it the promise of transformation, for the Lord who led our forefathers continues to lead us today.
May the Almighty strengthen your hearts, enlighten your minds, and fill your homes with peace. Let us walk in unity, uphold the traditions of our holy Church, and submit every step to the will of God.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Blessings to you in the Lord.
H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III
Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan