The second day of the Armenian Lacrosse and Daily Bible Readings journey brought Coach Johnny Mouradian to one of Armenia’s most symbolic landmarks: the Mesrop Mashtots Statue outside the Matenadaran, home to one of the world’s greatest collections of ancient manuscripts.
Standing before the monument honoring the creator of the Armenian alphabet, Coach Mouradian reflected on a passage from Mark 3, where Jesus confronts a question that reaches beyond religious law and into the nature of compassion.
“Is it lawful to do a good deed on the Sabbath days or an evil deed, to save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:4)
The religious leaders remained silent.
Seeing the hardness of their hearts, Jesus called a man with a withered hand forward and simply said:
“Stretch forth your hand.”
The man obeyed, and his hand was restored.
Rather than celebrating the miracle, the Pharisees left and immediately began plotting against Jesus.
The passage reminds us that doing what is right is not always welcomed. Compassion can challenge tradition. Mercy can unsettle those more concerned with rules than with people. Jesus chose healing over appearances, showing that faith calls believers to act with love even when it is unpopular.
The setting makes that message especially meaningful.
More than sixteen centuries ago, Saint Mesrop Mashtots created the Armenian alphabet so that the Bible could be translated into Armenian and read by the people in their own language. His work transformed Armenia’s spiritual and cultural history, preserving both the Christian faith and the written heritage of a nation through centuries of hardship.
Just steps from his statue stands the Matenadaran, which safeguards thousands of ancient Armenian manuscripts, many of them biblical texts painstakingly copied and protected across generations. They stand as a testament to a people who understood that faith is sustained not only through belief, but through teaching, learning, and preserving God’s Word.
As this journey continues across Armenia, each stop offers more than a destination. It provides an opportunity to reflect on Scripture in places where faith has shaped the nation’s identity for centuries.
Coach Mouradian closed the day’s reflection with the same invitation he extends wherever he travels:
“Bring a friend. Bring a family member to church this Sunday, and every Sunday.”
Tomorrow, the journey continues at Tsitsernakaberd, where Scripture will be read at Armenia’s national memorial honoring the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
