The Armenian Weekly. It reminds us of another giant in the Bible by the name of Goliath—the Philistine who was struck dead by the sling shot of a young boy named David. There is an interesting moment in this story, and I want you to contemplate it. When Goliath notices David challenging him with his sling, he boasts and intimidates him, saying that he will cut him into pieces and feed him to birds. David responds, saying these most inspiring words: “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts.” (1 Samuel 17:47) And after saying this he takes a stone from his bag and slings it and kills the giant, who falls on his face with all his armor and might.
Yes, dear faithful, always confront your life’s difficulties and all kinds of giants threatening your lives including coronavirus “in the name of the Lord.” Let your faith be your sling and your prayers the stone, and rest assured that the stone slung from this sling will topple any giant threatening your lives.
Therefore, once again, let us with faith join the spiritual giant of the Armenian nation, namely St. Gregory of Nareg, and glorify the Lord with these words and say:
“Blessed are you Lord, for yours is salvation, and from you is redemption, and by your right hand is restoration, and your finger is fortification. Your command is justification. Your mercy is liberation. Your countenance is illumination. Your face is exultation. Your spirit is benefaction. Your anointing oil is consolation. A dew drop of your grace is exhilaration. You give comfort. You make us forget despair. You lift away the gloom of grief. You change the sighs of our heart into laughter. To you is fitting blessing with praise in heaven and on earth from our forefathers and unto all their generations forever and ever.
Amen.” (Nareg 9:C)
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Fr. Nerses Manoogian
Caption: Gianlorenzo Bernini, David, 1623, marble, 5 feet, 7 inches high, Galleria Borghese, Rome (Photo: Mateus Campos Felipe/Unsplash)
