Abouna’s Corner

Reflections from our priest, Father Habib

Visitation of the Virgin to Elizabeth

(Luke 1:39-45)

Today we are celebrating the Sunday of the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth and will meditate about it as a blessed visitation. As a result of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth there were meetings on different levels. There was a meeting of the moms, the two expectant mothers, one old, one young. One was six months along; the other, newly pregnant. The fact that they were expecting was totally unexpected! Both were pregnant when really neither one of them should have been under normal circumstances. But these circumstances were anything but normal. Mary travelled up from Nazareth in Galilee and went to visit her older relative Elizabeth and Zechariah her husband, in the hill country of Judah. But the key to this story is not just a meeting of the two moms. It is also the first meeting of the two baby boys who were carried inside of the womb of their mothers. It is the baby boy of Mary that will make this visit for the people involved in this story and for us “A Blessed Visitation.” Those two women shouldn’t have been pregnant. For instance, Elizabeth was an older woman, well beyond her childbearing years. And what’s more, she had never been able to have children. This was a great disappointment to Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah. It was the angel Gabriel who told Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth were finally going to be able to have a child. It will be a boy, they are to name him John, and that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb; that he would be a great prophet like Elijah; and that John would go before the Lord to prepare his way. After Zechariah went home, Elizabeth fell pregnant. It was this pregnancy which prompted Mary to visit Elizabeth, after the angel told her that she is going to be with child, and that he is going to be the Son of the Most High, the son of God. A child Mary didn’t expect. Mary was a virgin, not married, and did not have any marital relationship with a man. What takes it from the unusual to the unique was that Mary became pregnant while remaining a virgin. That just does not happen. And this is the only time it ever would happen. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. True God and true man, in the one person of Christ. This baby Jesus will be the Son of God come in the flesh. He will be the great Messiah prophesied so long ago. After Mary knew from the angel Gabriel about Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Mary goes to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, she enters the house, and she greets Elizabeth. The baby John leaped with joy in the womb of his mother and was filled with the Holy Spirit! And there was a meeting between the two babies, John and Jesus, in the womb of their mothers. The presence of Christ among us brings us great joy. The gospel sound that greets us here in the church lets us know that Jesus is here, and so we rejoice. So, John leaps, and Elizabeth too is filled with the Holy Spirit and starts to get excited. She tells Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Mary, you have been given a great honor, to bear the Savior of the world. What a wonderful blessing! As with Elizabeth, we pray that the Holy Spirit has worked in your heart through the gospel, so that you trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You know that little child came as our brother, in the flesh, so that he could do the only job that would save us. He came to do the Father’s will, to keep God’s law perfectly on our behalf. He came to be our peace and our life, and to grant us blessing and joy with his Holy Spirit. Dear friends, the meeting of the moms is a meeting of two great women of faith. Also, it is the meeting of two Covenants represented by Zechariah, Elizabeth, and the baby John, and Mary and her Son Jesus. Both Mary and Elizabeth stand out as wonderful examples for us. They believe the Lord’s words, and they receive his gifts. The Holy Spirit will work such a Mary-and-Elizabeth faith in you, too. Mary and Elizabeth both believed and rejoiced in the good news of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Even little John got in on the believing-and-rejoicing act. Any time anyone is given the gift of faith and joy in the Lord that is a miracle of God. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, working through the Word, working in our hearts, creating a saving faith and a blessed joy. And the great thing is, you and I have the same good news and the same Holy Spirit at work in our hearts today. Amen.

Announcement to the Virgin Mary

Today, we are celebrating the Sunday of the announcement to Mary. This story tells us that there is no child who can be born without a mother. Mary played a very important role in the life of her son Jesus. She became the mother of Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, and the "Mother of God.". She was especially chosen for that wonderful Mission. Today I want to concentrate upon three points:

1. The Angel's announcement.

2. Mary's response.

3. Mary's faith.

The text says that God sent the angel Gabriel from heaven, which is a most glorious place to a very specific place called: Nazareth, a town in Galilee which is a place of absolute purity, beauty, and peace. God sends him from that exalted place to a small insignificant and despised town in Galilee: called Nazareth. It didn’t have a high standard in Israel. People used to ask, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" God sent his angel Gabriel from the most exalted place to a very lowly place on earth. And he does not come to some highly exalted person either. No, the Lord God sends him to a young girl who has no claim to fame. She's just an ordinary teenager. He says, "Greetings,” "Rejoice," "Be glad." Why she should rejoice for he says, "Rejoice, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." The Lord looks kindly upon her in her lowly state. In front of this greeting, Mary wonders what kind of greeting this might be. Gabriel was patient with her and after telling her not to be afraid he restates what he just told her. He tells her again that she has found favor with God. He wants her to rejoice, to be happy, for he is going to tell her something highly important. God sends Gabriel to earth with the most wonderful message that could ever be proclaimed, that out of her the Messiah would be born. What a most joyful message? And he wants Mary to share in that joy as well. But Mary in the beginning she’s troubled, she was confused, for she knows that the greeting that the angel gave her is not to be to an ordinary person. What does it mean that God favors her? She needs time to think about that. She must sort things out. She thinks about things. She ponders things in her heart before she makes up her mind. Gabriel said to her, "You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary answered, "How will this be, since I'm a virgin?" She would ask about what it would mean for Israel and for the whole world. She is trying to sort things out in her mind. She is engaged. The only way that you could undo such an engagement would be by a letter of divorce. She wonders how this is possible since she has never had any sexual relations with a man. The birth of that royal son will take place in a most miraculous way. It is going to come about through the power of God. And so, she says, "I am the Lord's servant." "I am the Lord's servant." We are put here on this earth for service, service to God and service to others. It is for that reason also that the Lord Jesus came to earth. Listen to what he says in Mark 10:45, "I have come to serve, and not to be served, and to give my life as a ransom for many." We think that if we are in charge of our own lives, that that would be better for us. We don't want others to interfere with our own plans, including God. The first question we ask is not how can we serve God and how can we serve our neighbor, but "What's in it for me?" "How is this going to help me? How will this further my cause?" It is wonderful to see the faith of Mary. And his name is going to be "Jesus". "For he will save his people from their sins." This is the fulfillment of all the sacrificial and ceremonial laws. Mary is also told that he will be given the throne of his father David. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy in 2 Samuel 7. He will reign forever. Mary knows that this is not just anybody telling her these things. No, she knows that through Gabriel God is speaking to her. She believes as a certainty that something is going to happen, and then you also must adjust your life accordingly. You must change your focus. It is your faith that determines your actions. It is your faith that determines the things that you say, and you do. That's the way it is for every believer. That's also the way it is for you and for me. When you believe in God, then he takes charge of your life. Then you allow him to rule you through his Word and Spirit. And then through your whole life you seek the will of God. You do your utmost to serve him, and him alone. For you know that he also has a wonderful plan for each one of us. He has chosen you to bring glory to his name forever and ever, in this life and the life beyond. That means that our focus is always on God, and on what he wants to do with my life and your life. Mary confessed that she is the Lord's servant. She is his slave. She says to the Lord, "Lord, you can have my life and do with it what you want." One thing she does know and that is that she must submit herself to God's will. Don't think that she can do that on her own strength. It says in the text that the angel tells her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most- High will overshadow her. We should not just think here of the Holy Spirit's involvement in the pregnancy of Mary. He will be with her all her life. She puts her trust in the Lord, even though there are all kinds of uncertainties before her, and all kinds of obstacles that she knows she will have to overcome. Nevertheless, this young woman gives herself over to the Lord God. She heard the word of the Lord, and she believed. The Lord God asks the same from you and from me. This morning the Lord God once again came to you with his Word. He reminded us that we have been created to serve, to serve God and our neighbor. Do you believe that message? Then also show that in your life. Show that today and during the festive season, and into the new year. God wants to realize his plan through you. But you also have to let him. And if you do, God will bless you. He will give you peace. He will be with you, all of your life. He will overshadow you. He will give you his Spirit. And through his Spirit, he will give you eternal blessings. He will give you eternal life. Amen.

Announcement to Zechariah

Luke 1:1-25 – God: The Ultimate Promise Keeper One of the of the most important things in life is to keep your promise. This passage of the Gospel tells us that God is the greatest promise keeper. For sure when we were kids, every one of us heard his parents saying: “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” So many of us have learned not to make very many promises. We do not control the future, we do not control the weather, or the economy, or our health. And so many of us have learned to make few promises. It is amazing for us, when we come to the Bible, to find promises everywhere! Promises on every page. Promises about nearly every aspect of life. Promises even about what happens after this life. God is not hesitant about making promises. He loves to make promises. There are thousands and thousands of promises He has made recorded in the Word of God. Promises to Israel. Promises to kings and prophets. Promises to the church. And yes, even promises to you and to me (8,810 promises). What is amazing about those promises is that He always keeps them. God is the greatest promise keeper that ever was. God never promises something He can’t follow. He always does what He says. He always fulfills what He promises. In these verses, we learn that God keeps his promises. 1. God keeps His promises to Israel (Luke 1:5-17) So, Luke from the very beginning knew this, and so his statement here is just again a reminder of how God always keeps his promises. In Luke 1:6 we learn what is most important about Zacharias and Elizabeth We Learn that both of them were righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord they were blameless. This is quite a thing to be said about you. Both were devout Jews, obedient to the law and the Word of God, and lived blameless before God, but Luke mentioned that they were barren and had no child and very advanced in years. God can use all sorts of people, but it seems that the people he uses the most are those who are the most faithful to him. Sometimes, our sin holds God back from doing something great in our lives. It was considered a curse from God for a woman to be without child – to be barren. If a woman was not able to have a child, it was often thought that it was because God was punishing her for her hidden sin. But we see here that this was not the case. Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous people, walked blameless before God. You see, often when we are dealing with a crisis, or a sickness in our own life, it is not because God is punishing us. Remember the man born blind in John 9? There too, the disciples thought that this man had sinned, or that his parents had sinned. But Jesus said that neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that God could be glorified. This was the same reason that Elizabeth was barren – so that God could be glorified. This is always the response when someone sees an angel. But whenever I read of people encountering angels in the Bible, they always tremble with fright and fall flat on their face in fear for their lives. Luke 1:13a. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John who will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Gabriel says that Zechariah does not have to be afraid of him, and that his prayer had been heard. But what was the intention of his prayer when we know that Zacharias had long ago stopped praying for a child. Verse 18 mentioned that He had given up on God. Do you want to know why God waited so long to answer the prayer of Zacharias and Elizabeth? Because He had something better in store for them then they ever imagined! They were simply praying for a child, but God didn’t want to give them just any child. He wanted to give them John the Baptist whom Jesus said that John was the greatest person to be born of a woman up to that time. But it wasn’t because God didn’t hear their prayers. It was because God had something in store for them beyond anything they could ask or imagine. They would become the parents of John the Baptist who would prepare the way for Jesus Christ. “And who will turn the hearts of the father to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” This is a promise to the nation of Israel that God is going to send a man like Elijah to reunite Israel. So here is a promise of God to the nation of Israel. This promise to the nation of Israel was made around 450 B.C before it happened. That’s a long time to wait for a promise. And yet God is faithful, and he always keeps his Word. His promises never fail. 2. God keeps his promises to Zacharias (Luke 1:18). And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” With this Kind of question, we see that Zacharias does question God. He doubts God. Zacharias had long ago LLearning About the Saints given up on God. He had long ago stopped believing that God would answer that prayer. Doubting God is always a “dumb” thing to do. Is that where you are today? You’ve prayed and prayed and prayed – but it seemed like God never heard, or that God was ignoring you, or that God was telling you “No.” Maybe you’ve stopped praying. Maybe you’ve stopped believing. Maybe you’ve stopped hoping. Let me say with Gabriel, “God has heard your prayer.” He will answer in His time. Even if you have stopped praying, even if you have stopped believing, we read in 2 Timothy 2:13 that even when we are faithless, he remains faithful. God has something better in mind for you than you can ask or imagine, and He is simply waiting for His timing to make it happen. It may be tomorrow, it may be next week, it may be 10 years from now. You may even have to wait until you get to heaven. God always keeps his promises. He kept his promises to Israel. He kept his promises to Zacharias. And He will keep His promises to you. His greatest promise is that anyone who believes in Jesus, everyone who listens to his word and does the will of his father, everyone who eats his body and drinks his blood will have everlasting life, and he will raise him up on the last day. Amen.

The Sunday of the Renewal of the Church

(John 10:22-42) Today we celebrate the Sunday of the renewal of the Church and the entire purpose of this passage of the Gospel is to show us the identity of Jesus. Who is Jesus? John wrote in 20:31 – “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you may have life in his name.” In this Passage of the Gospel, John 10:24 we see that the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” This was the question of the day. Who was Jesus? Was He the Messiah? Jesus in his wisdom answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. But if you don’t believe my words, believe my works.” He cites His works as evidence by saying in John 10:25 – “The work that I do in my father’s name bears witness to me.” Jesus encouraged them to look at the facts, the miracles, as evidence. “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the man who does not stumble on account of me.” The New Testament is full of evidence that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah. Jesus turned the water into wine (John 2:1-11). Jesus healed a man who was an invalid for 38 years (John 5:3-16). Jesus fed five thousand plus people (John 6). Jesus walked on water (John 6:16 21). Jesus healed a man born blind (John 9:1-7) the crippled, and cleansed the leppers… His works do not only include healing people. They were also to observe how Jesus treated people. Many had witnessed his kindness to the woman at the well. He showed compassion to the hungry before the feeding of five thousand. He was zealous for God’s glory at the temple and drove away the greedy sellers exploiting people. His miracles, demeanor, attitude, character, and words all bore witness to His identity as the Son of God. If they had eyes, they had all the evidence they needed. If someone asks you, “Why do you believe in God?” Could you answer? We are commanded to know and defend our faith. And today if you have not placed your faith in Jesus, I would invite you to seek out the evidence. Examine His works. Ask questions. Find the answers. His claims reveal that he is God’s son. Jesus claimed to have authority to forgive sin (Mark 2:10), to be the judge of the world who did not come to Judge but to save (5:22). Jesus claimed to be the Son of God (5:25), to have the power of life and death (5:25 26). Jesus claimed the title of “Son of Man” a Messianic title (5:27). Jesus claimed to have the power of eternal life (6:51, 54). Jesus claimed to be the Bread of Life (6:35), the Light of the World (8:12), and the good shepherd. Jesus also claimed his divine essence to be one with the Father- “I and the Father are one.” What did that mean? He did not mean that they were the same person. Rather, they have the same power, same purpose, same nature, and the same essence. It is a claim to divinity. As the letter of Hebrews states in 1:3 – “He is the radiance of the glory of God” and the exact imprint of his nature. His title (the Son of God) Reveals His Identity Jesus claimed the title “Son of God.” Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Who is He? Jesus is the Son of God, the Son of Man, The Bread of Life, the Light of the World, and the Good Shepherd and Door for the sheep. He is Our Lord, Our Friend. Our identity is connected to Him. We are his image to the world. It is good to know ourselves, to know that our identity is rooted in Him. A person who attempts to divorce their identity from God will miss their purpose in life and be unfulfilled. Our identity is that we are Jesus’ sheep. In John 10:27, Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Why did Jesus use the analogy of sheep? Because: • Sheep are dependent on the shepherd for survival. They cannot defend or protect themselves. They need God. Sheep are good at following. We are to follow Him. Sheep don’t exist in the wild. They don’t exist on their own. Their existence depends on the goodwill of their shepherd As sheep we don’t and cannot exist on our own without God. The Sheep are to hear the voice of their shepherd, follow Him, and live by the Word Sheep are actually very good at listening to the shepherd. As His sheep, we are called to listen to Him, to his voice. To distinguish his voice from among all voices we hear daily and act by it and follow him blindly, trusting in him. Jesus said in John 10:27-29 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” We need to know that with him we are very protected and safe. So, we need to train ourselves to listen to His voice both individually and as a family. As sheep, we should love to listen to His voice believing that he knows us. “Jesus knows us.” Jesus knows everything about us. He knows our struggles and temptations. He knows what we do when you are alone and no one else is around. He knows our dreams, hopes, fantasies, and thoughts. He knows our darkest secrets. He knows our character, our weaknesses, and our strengths. He knows all of this and does not cast you or me out. He still loves you as you are and offers forgiveness and eternal life. Amen.

Sunday of the Consecration of the Church

(Matthew 16:13-20) “Who do people say the Son of Man is? But who do you say that I am?” Today we celebrate the Sunday of the Consecration of the Church, and this passage of the Gospel offers us one of the most profound questions in all of scripture asked by Jesus to his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” This is a basic question that I believe all followers of Jesus must answer – and not just once, but at various times in our life: Who do we say that Jesus is? For us, and for our world? Every person on this planet believes something about God. Even we Christians can believe different things about the one God whom we all worship and adore. Not only that, but our understanding of God – our theology – can change over our lifetime. In fact, it should change, as we grow in our faith. But the reason this question is so very important, Is because how we answer this question directly affects how we live out our faith, and how we live out our lives. For example, if you believe that God is like a divine scorekeeper, keeping track of all your good deeds and all of your sins, then you will live your lives very carefully, won’t you? And rather fearfully – trying to do good deeds when you can, and trying to avoid sins, and hoping that you come out ahead at the end. If, on the other hand, you believe that God is all-accepting and welcoming, but rather distant and waiting patiently in Heaven for you to get there, you may not really worry about your good deeds and your sins, and whether you are pleasing God with your life. But it goes even deeper than that. Because what we believe about God affects all sorts of other things, like how we pray. If we believe that God is distant, and simply watching events unfold in our world with little participation or influence, then we won’t spend a lot of time asking God to change the circumstances in which we find ourselves What we believe about God matters. If we think of God as a stern judge, we might also avoid prayer, but for a different reason – because we won’t dare to ask God for favors. Then again, if we think of God as a loving parent, we will turn to God when we need help or advice. If we think of God as a friend, we will spend time in conversation with God just talking about our day. How we pray, in other words, depends very much on what we believe about God. But what we believe about God affects not only our prayer-life. It also affects how we face trials in our life. What we believe about God affects how we navigate our way through this evil world that is full of war, of pain, of sickness, of hatred and enmity. Do we blame God for it? Do we believe that God has sent it here to test our faith? God is allowing it to help us grow in our faith. Do we believe that God can bring good out of it? What we believe about God affects how we approach every aspect of our life. So, what we believe about God matters, more than anything else in life. And that’s why Jesus initiated the conversation in today’s gospel reading. Because Jesus knew that what the disciples thought of him would affect how they would live their lives going forward. Their theology – their understanding of God – mattered. It mattered then. And it matters now. He first asked them an easy question, “Who do people say that I am?” Well, some say John the Baptist, they answered, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. It’s an easy question, because they are just sharing what they hear, rather than what they believe. But then Jesus asked his disciples the more important question: “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. We all know that. But Jesus wants more, I believe, Jesus wants us to answer this question with our head, but with our hearts too, and with our soul and with our life. Who do you say that Jesus is? If Jesus himself were to ask you that question, how would you answer it? And does your life reflect that answer? What do you believe about God, really? What do you believe about Jesus? But there is one more piece of this question. This question demands an answer not just in a classroom. But in a hospital room. Not just in our homes. But in funeral homes. Not just on Sunday morning. But during those nights when we struggle to sleep. This question demands an answer not just when life is going well. But when life is falling apart. That’s when it really matters. That’s when what we truly believe about God matters. That’s when our faith is tested. And when the answer is not just words. But when it is life. But there is one last piece of this whole question that is vitally important. After Peter answered that question, Jesus blessed him and told him that he would build his church on Peter, on the rock, and that the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. This is the very first time that Jesus uses the word “church” in the gospels. Don’t you think that is significant? Peter’s answer becomes the foundation of the church. Jesus promises to build his church on the rock foundation of Peter’s faith. Jesus connects Peter’s answer, about who he believes Jesus is, to his promise to build his church. Jesus is trying to remind us that we will never get our theology right outside of the church community. We need the community of faith that Jesus founded. But more generally, Jesus knows that we won’t be able to confess our faith in him, correctly and consistently, if we are not active in a church. We need each other. We need our fellow believers. And Jesus knows it. Which is why he spends so much of his ministry building community. And why he founded the church. The church may not be perfect. No congregation is perfect. But it is Jesus’ plan for the world. He began the church, to share the gospel with all the world. And to bring healing, hope, peace, justice, and love, in his name, to the ends of the earth. And he promises that as we do this, nothing will prevail against his church. The gates of Hades will not prevail against his church. And neither will the wars, the hatred. Nothing will separate us from the love of God in Jesus, and nothing will prevail against the church that Jesus founded. So, what we believe in God matters, not only in the church on Sunday but in every sphere of live. Amen.

The Three Massabki Brothers

Coming from a wealthy Maronite family in Damascus, the three Massabki brothers were actually four: Francis, Abde-el-Mooti, Rouphaël, and Abdallah. The latter, a priest, was not with them at the time of their martyrdom. The first three were very devout laymen who regularly attended the Franciscan convent and were involved in the spiritual and charitable life of their community. Francis Massabki, a father of eight children and a prosperous merchant, was known for his generosity and great devotion to the Rosary. He even represented the Maronite Patriarch in matters in Syria. On the night of his martyrdom, he took refuge in the church to pray before the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows and was filled with supernatural hope. After midnight, a group of armed Muslim rioters stormed the monastery. Terrified, the Christians tried to flee or hide. The assassins who found Francis told him: “The Governor, Sheikh Abdallah, sent us to save you, your brothers, your families, and all who depend on you, provided you renounce your faith and convert to Islam.” Francis courageously replied: “Sheikh Abdallah can take the money I lent him; he can also take my life, but no one can make me renounce my faith. I am a Maronite Christian, and I will die in the faith of Christ. As our Lord Jesus commanded, we do not fear those who can kill the body.” Abde-el-Mooti Massabki, married and a man of cultivated faith, was known for his good morals and respect for all, both great and small. He taught at the Franciscan school, regularly visited the Blessed Sacrament, and was faithful to the liturgical rhythm. He never missed his prayers, fasts, and penances, and encouraged his students to remain true to their faith. A few hours before his death, he gathered them and explained the importance of the grace of martyrdom, urging them to bear witness to their faith without fear of death. He was executed minutes after his older brother, also refusing to renounce Christ. Rouphaël Massabki, the youngest and single, was the simplehearted child of the family. In his purity, he held a deep and filial love for the Virgin Mary. In his simplicity, he joyfully imitated his older brothers and faithfully served the church as a sacristan. Later that night, the rioters found him, and unaware that his brothers had refused to renounce their faith, he inadvertently joined them in martyrdom, gently and simply testifying to Christ before being killed. The Spirituality of the Massabki Brothers The spirituality of the Massabki brothers was characterized by a simple faith, deeply rooted in their daily lives. They were neither priests nor religious, but laymen deeply devoted to their family, work, and God. Their piety was like that of the Holy Family: a humble, discreet life, yet marked by intense faith. Their dedication to prayer, the sacraments, and charity toward the poor reflects a spirituality accessible to all Christians, based on a living and active faith. They fully embraced their Christian vocation, bearing witness to Christ in their daily lives and sealing their testimony with martyrdom. Their fidelity to Christ echoes the Church's call to holiness for all its members, as highlighted in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium from Vatican II: "All are called to holiness." They are powerful examples of faithfulness to Jesus Christ unto the ultimate sacrifice. Their testimony reminds us that even in the most difficult moments, Christian faith can triumph over fear and death.

Prayer for the Intercession of the Holy Massabki Martyrs

Lord Jesus, Son of the living God, with Your holy martyrs Francis, Abde-el-Mooti, and Rouphaël Massabki, we wish to love and adore You at this moment. Look upon us with mercy and grant us, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, the courage to love You as they did, the gentleness to witness Your name as they freely bore witness to their faith, and the will to forgive as they forgave those who took their lives. May their example inspire and guide us on the path of faith, for the glory of Your Holy Name, forever and ever. Amen

The Feast of the Holy Cross - The Secret to Life – John 12:20-33

Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Holy Cross, and I am going to speak to you about the secret to life. You probably already know what I am going to tell you, though you may not have thought of it as the secret to life. It’s something you’ve seen and experienced over and over. It’s one of those secrets hidden in plain sight. It’s also one of those secrets that can trouble the soul, so we often turn away from it or close our eyes to it. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). So, there you have it. Now you know. That’s the secret to life. It’s the pattern of loss and renewal that runs throughout our lives and our world. Even if you’ve never thought of this as the secret to life, you’ve lived and experienced it, sometimes by choice and other times by chance. Either way it’s there. Look at the way this pattern is present in your life. Have you ever fallen in love and committed your life to another? If so, you had to let parts of your old life go and something of your single life died so that you could be with that other person. How about parenting? If you are a parent, you know that there are sacrifices of yourself and your life to be made for the new life of your child to emerge and grow. We give up parts of ourselves for others. Parents are continually letting go of their child so she or he can grow up. Have you ever been the caretaker of another? If so, you could name the parts of your life that died so that another might live with dignity, compassion, and love. What are the costs, the losses, you paid for an education or a career? You chose certain losses and let go of some things so that other things could arise. For every choice we make, every yes we say, there is at least one no and probably many. This same pattern is in nature. You can see it in the changing of the seasons, falling leaves and new blooms, and the setting and rising of the sun. Think about the scriptural stories of loss and renewal. Innocence in Adam and Eve died so that consciousness might be born. Abram left his country and kindred so that he might be made a great nation, renamed Abraham, and be a blessing to all the families of the earth. Jacob lost his old identity and was wounded so that he could become a new man, Israel, with a new life. James and John left their father, boats, and nets to become disciples of Jesus and fishers of people. Jesus taught his disciples, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again” (Mark 9:31). The secret is out. It’s everywhere. It is a pattern of loss and renewal, dying and rising, letting go and getting back, leaving and returning. It’s at the core of our baptism, and it’s what we declare every Sunday in the eucharist. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. What in your life do you need to let go of today? What might you need to leave behind? What needs to die so that something new can arise? I don’t think it’s a coincidence that today’s gospel (John 12:20- 33) is set in the context of the Passover feast. Remember what that’s about? The Passover is the celebration of the Israelites’ liberation from bondage in Egypt. It’s about freedom and a new life. It’s about letting go, leaving behind, and moving into a new life. There is something about this pattern that is the lens through which we see Jesus. Some Greeks come to Philip and say, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” I don’t know why they want to see Jesus, but I have a few guesses. Jesus turned water into wine. He cleansed the temple. He healed the son of the royal official. He healed the paralytic. He fed 5,000 with a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. He walked on water. He gave sight to the man born blind. He raised Lazarus from the dead. “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Me too. That’s the Jesus I want to see. Don’t you? Philip tells Andrew about the Greeks and their request. Philip and Andrew tell Jesus. And Jesus says to them, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” That’s his response to those who want to see him; to the Greeks, to you, to me. And you’ve got to know that dying is about more than our physical death. Yes, it is that but it’s also more than that. We die a thousand deaths throughout our lifetime. The loss of a loved one, a relationship, health, opportunities, a dream; all deaths we didn’t want or ask for. Other times we choose our losses and deaths. We give up parts of ourselves for another. We change our beliefs and values so that we can be more authentic. Sometimes there are things we need to let go of, things we cling to that deny us the fullness of life we want, and God offers: fear, anger or resentment, regret and disappointment, guilt, the need to be right, approval. Seeing Jesus isn’t a spectator sport. It is a way to be followed, a truth to be embodied, a life to be lived. It’s being a grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies so that it might bear much fruit. That’s where we see him. It’s the letting go, the emptying, the leaving behind, and the dying that makes space for new life to arise. You’ve probably had at least one time in your life that when you look back on it you say, “I never want to go through that again. But I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.” What is that time for you? What happened? As difficult or painful as that experience was, it bore much fruit. You were changed and your life was renewed. It was one of those times when you were the grain of wheat that fell into the earth and died. And I’ll bet it was one of those times when you knew you had seen Jesus, when you experienced the holy, when you were absolutely convinced that God was present and working in your life. I’ve had those times too. But like you, I’ve also had those other kind of losses. The greatest loss in my life so far has been the death of our son. God knows I’ve learned a lot about myself and life as a result of that, and my life has been reshaped and reformed in some very good and positive ways because of that. I know I’ve seen Jesus. But I would trade it all to have Brandon back. And that’s what I need to let go of. That’s my grain of wheat that needs to fall into the earth and die. That doesn’t mean I don’t want him back or that I would not undo what has happened if I could. It just means that I want to trust Jesus’ promise of new life more than my wishful thinking. And sometimes that’s really hard. You know that as well as I. Letting go, however, does not mean rejection or walking away. And it does not mean choosing absence over presence. Instead, letting go is what allows us to be more authentically present to ourselves and another. It makes room for new life and new ways of being present to arise. Our letting go gives God something with which to work. Why then would we continue to cling, to live as an isolated, self-enclosed, single grain wheat? This is the soul-troubling secret to life. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” So, what is the grain of wheat in your life today that needs to fall into the earth and die? What are the things that if you lost them, you are sure you would just die? Maybe those are the very places waiting to bear much fruit in your life. Maybe that’s where you’ll see Jesus. This secret, this pattern of loss and renewal, will be unveiled everyday throughout Holy Week. I think that’s why we hear this text today, a week before Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week. It’s our preparation for Holy Week. And you know where Holy Week ends, right? At Easter, the empty tomb, the dawn of a new day, and the renewal of life. The single grain has become the Bread of Life. But you also know that you don’t plant a seed and go back in ten minutes or the next day and see a new sprout. Growth can be slow, and the fruit of new life takes time, usually longer than we want it to. Yet, even when unseen, unbelieved, or unrecognized, the power and life of God are present and at work in the depths of our life, in the dark and hidden places. That’s the mystery of life. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Amen

A letter from Abouna regarding the 2024 Festival:

The Feast of St. Sharbel

Romans 8:28-39

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Charbel and the 10th Sunday of Pentecost. The letter of Saint Paul teaches us that we were made to be more like Jesus. This is the purpose of our life. A life without a purpose is not a life worth living. In all there are five basic purposes that God has made us for, and Saint Charbel lived them all during his earthly life and through them he reached the fullness of Christ.

The first purpose of Saint Charbel and your life is to know God, to love Him, and to worship Him.

The second purpose of Saint Charbel and your life is to learn to love your spiritual family, your community, and your church.

The third purpose God made us for is to “become like His Son Jesus, to become Christlike in everything.” St. Paul says: “For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the first born among many brothers.” Romans 8:29 That is a clue to your third purpose, which is, you were made to be more like Jesus. God has given you the purpose of becoming more like his Son Jesus Christ. God wants you to be involved in a process that will last for your whole life in which you are slowly but surely developing into Jesus’ perspective, passions, priorities, and personality. In short, God wants to develop in you a Christlike character! He wants you to become a Godly man or Godly woman! The Bible says, “God wants us to grow up… like Christ in everything.” In wisdom, in knowledge, in height, and in the grace of God before God and men.” Ephesians 4:15.

You do not become like Christ overnight; it is a process that takes your entire life. That is what God wants from us spiritually, he wants us to grow up and learn how to do some stuff for ourselves and for others. Also, like growing up physically, spiritual growth doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time. That is why God will use your entire life to grow you up spiritually into a fully devoted follower of Jesus. This process of growing up spiritually is called “Discipleship.” Automatically here we need a few things to grow up spiritually. First, the Holy Bible. God gave us the Bible as our ultimate standard for living and changing us. Also, the Teaching of the Holy Catholic Church that tells us what is good and Holy and perfect in the sight of God. God also puts in front of us other Christians to help grow up spiritually, especially those whom we call the Fathers of the Church who were spiritual directors and the teachers of faith and doctrine. There is a lot that can be learned from each other. The Bible says, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

There are three unexpected things that God uses to develop our character.

First, the Trouble. God often uses times of trouble, of pain and sorrow to teach us to trust Him more. Many times, people are closest to God when they are going through some kind of trial because it forces us to trust completely in God. The Bible says, “Trouble produces patience, and patience produces character, and character produces hope.” Romans 5:3 – 4 God never wants to hurt us, and he never uses trouble just to make us miserable people. God uses this kind of bad situation to make us trust in Him more. God may use the breakup of a relationship or some financial difficulties or even some people that comes along and annoy us to make us trust Him more. Remember that trouble is there to help make you more like Jesus - better instead of bitter. And here God uses two keys. The first key is to surround yourself with Godly friends who will encourage you and pray for you. We all need people to cheer us on when it seems like the world is crushing on top of us. In fact, this is what Jesus did when he was about to be crucified. He got his closest friends to go with him to pray and encourage him. The best place I can think of to find these kinds of friends is right here on Sunday Mass.

The second key to going through trouble and becoming better instead of bitter is to remember the reward! Troubles are achieving for us eternal glory. God will reward you one day for trusting him in the middle of your trouble. God will reward you for your character development! BUT if you place your complete trust in him in the middle of your trouble, he will reward you with eternal glory in heaven, that makes you like Christlike in everything.

The fifth purpose is that of temptations that teach us how to obey God. Satan tries to tempt you with all kinds of things each day: sexual immorality, drugs, road rage, lying, cheating, and even things like laziness… But if you will remember that verse from Romans “All things God works for the good,” and that would include temptation. God does not tempt us, but God uses something that is intended for harm and makes it a help for us to become more like Jesus. Temptation is an opportunity to obey God. Being tempted is a sign that Satan is scared!!! Everyone goes through temptations, and all of us have similar temptations such as lusting over girls and boys. Temptations are not a sign of weakness but a sign of holiness if we know how to overcome them. Temptation begins in our minds, in our thoughts, and that is where the battle will be won or lost. The Bible says, “Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right.” Philippians 4:8 The other key to overcoming temptation is teamwork. You will need a partner, a teammate to fully overcome temptation. You will need a Christian friend, a committed believer who can come along beside you and help keep you accountable. The Bible says, “You’re better off to have a friend than to be all alone… If you fall, your friend can help you up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one for many things, and temptation is one of them! Temptations are a chance to become more like Jesus and to learn to obey God if we depend on him to pull us through by fixing our thoughts on good things and getting a teammate.

The final unexpected thing God uses to make us more like Christ is trespasses. God uses trespasses to teach us to forgive. A trespass is when someone violates your space by hurting you, when someone causes you pain and suffering either physically or emotionally! We all have been hurt before, we all have been made fun of, beaten up, let down, verbally attacked, and abused in some fashion. Once again God uses all things for the good and to be more like Jesus. The feeling of revenge does not lead to greater Christlikeness. God wants to teach us how to forgive through these hurts. The Bible says, “Forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.” Ephesians 4:32 Jesus was the expert on forgiveness! From his Cross he said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” The Bible says, “Do not let wrong things win a victory over you. But win a victory over wrong things by the good things you do.” Romans 12:21. Amen.

St. Sharbel Maaklouf

Feast Day July 23

The Feast of Saint Peter and Paul

Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Saints Peter and Paul, two towering figures in Christian history, played instrumental roles in the spread of the Gospel and the establishment of the early Church. Their lives, marked by unwavering faith, steadfast commitment, and ultimate sacrifice, continue to inspire believers around the world. Both were human, covered with human weaknesses, yet they have been called by Christ to preach the Gospel. Peter, originally named Simon, was a fisherman from Galilee whom Jesus called to be one of His apostles, and to leave everything behind and be a fisher for men bringing them into the net of Christ, calling them to repent for their own salvation. Despite his initial weaknesses and failures, and denial to Jesus, Peter became the rock upon which Christ built His Church. After Pentecost, Peter emerged as a fearless preacher and leader, boldly proclaiming the Gospel message and shepherding the early Christian community. In his first speech after Pentecost, he was not afraid to tell his listeners, mainly Jews; ‘you have crucified the Lord Jesus, repent and believe in the Gospel.” Paul, formerly known as Saul, was a zealous persecutor of Christians until his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, when Jesus appeared to him in the sky, calling him by name; “Saul Saul why are you persecuting me?’ From that moment, Paul transformed by his encounter with the risen Christ, then after, Paul dedicated his life to spreading the Good News to the Gentiles. (Wow to me if I don’t preach). His missionary journeys took him across the Roman Empire, where he established numerous Christian communities and wrote many of the epistles that comprise the New Testament. Both Peter and Paul faced immense challenges and hardships in their ministries. Peter grappled with persecution and internal strife within the early Church, while Paul endured imprisonment, shipwrecks, and opposition from both Jews and Gentiles, hunger and thirst. As a servant for Christ, Paul was boasting of all his weaknesses. He wrote that he has been flogged more severely and been exposed to death. “ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep… Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians (11: 21-30). Yet, their unwavering faith and trust in God sustained them through every trial and tribulation. Ultimately, Peter and Paul sealed their commitment to Christ with their blood. Tradition holds that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome, while Paul was beheaded. Their martyrdoms bear witness to their unshakeable faith and their willingness to lay down their lives for the sake of the Gospel. Two lessons we are going to take from the lifestyle of Peter and Paul: Lesson 1: Faithfulness in Ministry: The lives of Saints Peter and Paul teach us the importance of faithfulness and perseverance in our service to God and His Church. Despite facing numerous obstacles and hardships, they remained steadfast in their commitment to spreading the Gospel and building up the Body of Christ. Lesson 2: Unity in Diversity: Peter and Paul, despite their differences in background and personality, worked together in harmony for the sake of the Gospel. Their partnership demonstrates the importance of unity in diversity within the Church, as they complemented each other’s strengths and weaknesses for the greater glory of God. Prayer O Saints Peter and Paul, pillars of the Church and witnesses to faith, pray for us, that we may imitate your courage, fidelity, and zeal in spreading the Gospel. Help us to remain steadfast in our commitment to Christ and His Church, and to work towards unity and harmony among all believers. Through your intercession, may the Church continue to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Amen.

Saints Peter and Paul

Feast Day June 29

The Feast of Pentecost

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Today we are celebrating the Feast of Pentecost- Pentecost is the Feast of fiftieth, the feast of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in the Upper Room and in the hearts of Jesus’ believers in every sacrament we receive. With this descent, I want to mention that the Holy Spirit has appeared three times in the history of salvation, and after every time there was something new coming up- new life, new creature, and new mission takes place.

In the beginning of creation when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland and darkness covered the abyss. A mighty wind swept over the waters while the spirit of God was hovering over the water, to give God’s creature life, meaning, and perfection. And then God started creating his materiel creatures, let there be light- let there be a dome in the middle of the waters- let there be earth, sea, vegetation, animals-and so on.

In the fullness of time, God has sent his angel Gabriel to a virgin in Nazareth called Mary; after his greeting, the angel told her; “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High. How can this happen since I have no relations with man? The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called Holy, the son of God.” With Jesus God started to create the spiritual creature that based on the new life with Christ and his truth.

In addition to the gift of the Holy Spirit that we’ve received from Christ, Jesus also wants to pass along some earthly gifts through the Holy Spirit. He gives you the Spirit of truth, “I will ask the Father to send you the other Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you (14:16-17).” He gives you, through that Spirit, a spirit of love. “If you love me, you will keep my commandment. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me (14:15, 21a).” Finally, He gives you Himself. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you…. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to Him (14:18-20, 21b).”

Who is the Spirit of truth? This is none other than the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity. The catechism of the Catholic Church said that the Holy Spirit is the one whom we adore, love, and glorify with the Father and the Son. The term Spirit is translated from the Hebrew word, “Ruah,” which means air or wind. Jesus used this image of the Wind with Nicodemus to tell us that the Holy Spirit is the breath of life- the giver of life. Saint Paul gave him a few titles such as the Spirit of Adoption, of Christ, Of the Lord, and Saint Peter called him the Spirit of Glory. Here Jesus calls Him the Counselor, which means, the Encourager, Helper, or Comforter. The Son asks the Father to give this Spirit to you, this Spirit who reveals Christ, who creates faith in God, love towards God and our neighbor, who allows you to say, “Jesus is Lord,” who reminds you of Jesus and everything He said. This Spirit who brings you to faith in the first place, is also the Spirit who speaks to the Father on your behalf when you run out of or can’t think of words, as Paul says, “We do not know what to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26).” This Spirit Jesus says “You know Him for He lives with you and will be in you.”

The Holy Spirit doesn’t come, create faith, and then jet off to some other exotic locale. Once He’s with you, He’s with you. He’s not going anywhere. Paul says that He has made your body His temple. In Romans, Paul says that this Spirit now controls you and gives life to your mortal body, “By this Spirit’s power, you are able to put to death the misdeeds of the body all the ugly things (Romans 8:13).” Until the Last Day, the Holy Spirit abides with the holy congregation. Through this congregation, He brings us to Christ and He teaches and preaches to us the Word. By the Word, He works and promotes sanctification, causing this congregation daily to grow and to become strong in the faith and its fruit, which He produces. What is intimately connected with the dwelling of the Spirit in you is faith and Love. Love for God and love for neighbors. It was said that the righteous are saved by faith alone, but faith is never alone. It is always followed by love, good deeds, and actions. “If you love me, you will obey what I command…. Whoever has my commands and obeys them… (14:15, 20).” Where the Spirit is, there deeds are, because that’s just what happens. As Paul says, “The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).” Likewise, James said, “You see that a man is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” This is what you now have and are in Christ. This is the gift of a new life. Scripture says so repeatedly: We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Offer your bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:2). A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35). The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6). This is how to have love for God: is to obey His commands (1 John 5:3).

If you love Jesus, your life will reflect that. If your life does not reflect that by your obedience to God’s Word and will, then it’s left in question whether you actually love Jesus or not. It is beneficial for the Christian to examine his life to see if he still lives in accordance with God’s will, to see who is in control – the Spirit or the sinful nature.

Amen.

The Feast of Easter

Who will roll back the stone from the entrance of the tomb?

There is a saying that we share in every culture when we feel down, upset, angry, sad, or unhappy that we have a big stone laying down on our chest. When you are not faithful to your choice and you do something wrong, you feel that there is a stone on your chest. When you live a sinful life by cheating, lying, stealing, and committing adultery, you feel that on your chest there is a big stone. When they buried Jesus, they also put a big stone on the face of the tomb which was impossible for those two ladies to roll back by themselves. Today the angel of the Lord is telling us to “roll back the stone and to move on to a new life.” To roll back the stone from Jesus’ tomb can only be a divine work, the work of God and not us humans.

Saint Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians; “The Holy Spirit arose the body of Christ from the tomb, and he will raise your mortal bodies too.” When Mary of Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb, they were discussing with each other on the way: “Who will roll back the stone for us?” because they knew that the stone was huge, so big that they were unable to do this work. “And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, and rolled back the stone and sat on it.” When the stone is so heavy, no one can roll it back from us, no one can release us from these burdens, so we need to look to God. There is something within us that no one can remove, uproot, and heal us from except God. The stone that was placed on the tomb of Jesus was so heavy, it represents the entire human condition of unfairness and injustice, all the act of Crucifixion, all the hatred of the world, every kind of betrayal and of unfaithfulness, every kind of hurt and insult, every kind of sadness and sorrow, every kind of mocking and insulting.

That stone represented human anger, resentment, bad intentions, and bad spirit. The spirit when you don’t wish good to your fellow man, the wrong judgement and jealousy, “see the whole world has left us and followed him.” No man can remove these stones from our hearts except the risen Lord. And no one can release us from our problems except our Savior. No one can heal us physically and spiritually except Jesus. No one can restore us and forgive us our sins except Jesus our high priest. It is not only words, but it is a matter of faith. Only a good life, a pure one, can bring joy to our hearts and take every kind of sadness away. But when you feel God’s role and works in your life, be grateful to him and know that you have a role to play which is to go and tell others. Especially the closest members of your family and friends.

On this Holy occasion I wish you, your family members, and friends a very happy and blessed Easter.

Jesus is risen - He is truly risen. Amen

HOSANNA SUNDAY (John 12:12-22)

Today we are celebrating the Hosanna Sunday- which is called in Lebanese “Ahad achaaneen.” Hosanna or chaaneen is a Hebrew word that means “save us now,” and the word precisely means: “God save the King.” These words are in the psalms of David from the part called the Hallel psalm (113-118) which means; “Praise be to God.” On the sound of Hosanna, the Jews used to welcome their victorious kings who had overcome their enemies. It was the way that they welcomed Simon Maccabaeus after he had conquered Acra and freed it from Syrian domination more than a hundred years before. What kind of victory had Jesus done to be welcomed as a king while he never had any war? - He spoke about the kingdom of God with authority. - He healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, cleansed the lepers, and made the cripple walk. - He expelled demons. - He raised the dead - especially Lazarus. - He healed men from their sins and spiritual hurts.

Brothers and sisters, when it comes to dealing with sin in our lives, prevention is the smarter strategy. Keeping the seeds of sin from being planted in our hearts is a far better use of our resources than having to call on Jesus to always get us out of our messes. Please don’t get me wrong. We all need Jesus to rescue us and get us out of our sin messes. But, once He has pulled us out of the mess of sin, He sets us on the rock of His word and commands us to surrender to Him as Lord. Jesus enters Jerusalem 5 days before Passover so that He can be our Savior and our Lord, rescuer, and preventer. I stand before you today to urge you to place yourself under His Lordship, be obedient to His leadership, and let Him chart your path. The cost may seem too high to obey His commands, but I assure you that it will be far less than the cost that foolishness and sin will exact from your life. There is no doubt that when the people sang this psalm, they were looking at Jesus as God’s anointed one, the Messiah, the deliverer, the savior, the one who was to come. And there was no doubt that they were looking at him as a conqueror, as their eternal king. Jesus accepted their chants and praise, accepted that he is a king, a Messianic king.

That’s why he rode on the back of a donkey, an ass, to fulfill the prophesy Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion, shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem, see your king shall come to you; triumphant and victorious, savior is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass.” By riding on an ass Jesus was telling us that he is our Messianic King, full of humility and gentleness, because the victorious Jewish kings used to ride upon a horse when they went to war; Jesus came riding upon an ass because He was coming in peace. This action of Jesus is a sign that He was not the warrior figure, but the Prince of Peace. Jesus also chose this animal as the fulfilment of the prophesy that, He, the long-awaited Messiah, would make His entrance riding on a young donkey. Further, by riding a donkey and not a white horse, Jesus was visibly declaring Himself as a different kind of leader. Jesus was a new kind of king who led with humble authority. His kingdom would be established in the lives of those who would place their trust in Him. His throne would be the hearts of all men and women who truly believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. As we watch Jesus make His entrance into Jerusalem, we see both the powerful divine Son of God and the humble Messenger of God. John crafts his version of Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem by letting us see the reactions to His entrance by five distinct groups of people. Those groups are the great crowd, Christ’s disciples, the Bethany crowd, the Pharisees, and some Greeks.

1. The Great Crowd: The Misguided. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting. We see the great crowd as the foremost group that had caused the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin so much concern. These people had witnessed the miraculous powers of Jesus and concluded that He was invincible. Surely, He will fulfil all our expectations of what we are looking for in a leader, particularly regarding our political goals. But we must conclude that this great crowd was misguided by their ambitions. They saw Jesus as a savior, not from their sins but from an oppressive government.

2. His Disciples: The Committed but Confused. Who At first did not understand all this. John helps us see that there is hope for the disciples. They will soon understand. Their confusion will end when they meet the resurrected Jesus.

3. The Bethany Crowd: The Committed. Those who had witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus went out to meet Him. Though they may not have been able to explain all that was going on, there was no doubt in their minds and hearts that Jesus was for real, that He was telling the truth, and that He really was the Son of God. He was not only worthy of being followed, but His story also needed to be spread around.

4. The Pharisees: The Opposition. The jealous people who said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!” These religious leaders had lost sight of their calling. Leadership was now all about them. So, when Jesus came on the scene, all they could see was competition. As more people went over to Jesus, their jealousy and frustration and anger increased. But that’s how jealousy, envy, and self-centeredness work. They turn us into toys for the evil one to use in his wicked games. If only they could see that their sin was making them partners with the destroyer of life, goodness, and joy they might repent.

5. Some Greeks: The Curious. They went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” All of this to say that Jesus had caught the attention of these Greeks, these curious outsiders, and they wanted to connect with Jesus. We’re not told of their motives. These Greeks share something in common with the people that the Bethany crowd had been witnessing to. As a result of the testimonies of the Bethany crowd, many people wanted to meet Jesus. So, here we have five groups of people who were impacted by Christ’s life and entrance into Jerusalem.

Just as Jesus’ life was coming to a decisive moment, His presence in these people’s lives was also calling for a decision: Are you going to move closer to Jesus or are you going to resist Him? Are we among those who want Jesus to fit around our agenda? Are we among those who are now unnecessarily in the fog about what Christ wants to do through our lives? Are we among the committed who have found great joy in following Jesus? Are we among the opposition, or are we among the seeking curious? Wherever you are, Jesus gave His life for you, and He rose again that you might have eternal life. As Jesus went through the crowd, He saw each face, He knew each story. Jesus knows your story. Will you welcome Him as your Savior and Lord today? Amen.

Our Lenten Journey

Someone was telling a story, he said: “When I was in high school, I had an English teacher by the name of Mrs. Comberiatti. She was a quiet, tiny little woman, very young, but very strict. I spent most of the 10th grade being terrified of her. But all that changed one day when she came into class wearing a big button on her lapel.

He adds: “I don’t remember much of what she taught us about, but I do remember that button. It said: “Please be patient. God isn’t finished with me yet.” Whether we realize it or not, today we proclaim that same message. We won’t do it with a button on a lapel…but with ashes on our brow.

The ashes we wear announce to the world this plain fact: we are sinners. They tell all who see us that we are beginning 40 days of prayer, and repentance, and sacrifice — that we are Catholic Christians seeking somehow to reconcile ourselves with God.

These ashes say that we belong to Christ, that we are his ambassadors, and that our works on earth are in progress. They say: “Please be patient. God isn’t finished with me yet.” He isn’t finished with any of us. That is the great wonder and consolation of Lent.

As we enter this holy season, we should approach it with sobriety and seriousness. But we shouldn’t mistake that seriousness for solemnity. The gospel today reminds us: “Do not look gloomy…anoint your head and wash your face.” I’d take that one step further: add to this season of penance and prayer a sense of possibility. Make it an occasion for hope, and yes, even joy.

Two years ago in Rome, Cardinal Timothy Dolan delivered a beautiful address to the pope and the College of Cardinals. He quoted the writer Leon Bloy who said, “Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.” If we want to be – as St. Paul put it in his letter for today – “ambassadors for Christ,” if we want to bring others into the presence of God, we need to be missionaries of joy. Even during Lent. Especially during Lent.

Another story told by Cardinal Dolan was of a man dying of AIDS at a hospice in Washington that was run by the Missionaries of Charity. The man wanted to be baptized. When the priest asked for some expression of faith, the dying man whispered, “All I know is that I’m unhappy, and these sisters are very happy, even when I curse them and spit on them. Yesterday, I finally asked them why they were so happy. They replied ‘Jesus.’” Then the man explained: “I want this Jesus so I can finally be happy.”

Those sisters gave that dying man something immeasurable. Even amid suffering and hardship in that hospice, could anyone deny that they were ambassadors for Christ? How many of us would hope and pray to affect the lives of others the way they touched the life of that one man?

We think of Lent as a time for giving up. I say this every year, but it is true: “Giving up” begins with “giving.” Give something of yourself to someone else. Begin by giving joy.

If you truly want to give up something, don’t just settle for chocolate or hamburgers or cheesecake or meat or fish or chicken – though right about now, I think, we’d all like to lose that weight we gained over Christmas and over the year. Go further. Go deeper. Try giving up something really hard.

Give up cynicism, anger, jealousy. Give up gossip. Give up regrets for choices you never made or paths you never took. Give up fighting God’s will for you. Give up always forgetting that the most famous prayer in the world doesn’t include the phrase “My will be done,” but “Your will be done.”

If you need help, try this: give up whatever fear or anxiety is keeping you from going to confession and just go. Give up being too busy to pray or being too worried to hope. There is no better time to do that than now. As the scripture tells us today: “Now is an acceptable time.”

The point of all this isn’t just to make others feel better – or make us feel holy. It’s to draw us closer to The One who makes everything, including our redemption, possible. And we do it now for good reason. Lent forces us to admit something we prefer to ignore - we don’t have forever. So, throughout the day, look in the mirror. You’ll see reflected back this inconvenient truth: we are dust. We have been marked. The clock is ticking, and there is work to do.

It begins here and now. It will take the rest of our lives to do but nothing is more important. It is the great work of our salvation. The journey of Lent is one more leg on our journey back to the Father — a journey of struggle and sacrifice, but a journey full of joy. As you “remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return,” remember that, too.

And as we embark on that journey and begin this 40-day adventure, remember one more thing. Be patient with yourselves and with everyone else. Amen.

Remembering our Patron, Saint Maroun

On February 9, every year, the Maronite Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Maroun. Who is this saint and what do we know about him? Saint Maroun was a Syriac priest who left the world for a life of asceticism on the top of Mount Korus. He was born in the middle of the 4th century around 350 AD in the city of Korus, 70 kilometers away form Aleppo. He died between 405-423 AD after he lived a life of total consecration to God.

The sweet smell of his holiness spread from the top of the Korus mountain to every city and village nearby, and he is now known in every country of the world where we have Maronites. He spent his days and nights in prayer, fasting and meditation upon the word of God, and very often he was in a state of standing during his prayer. God gave him gifts that throughout his prayer, he was able to read the inside of every soul, and to heal everyone from every kind of sickness, pain and disease, and even from evil spirits who would disappear because of the blessing of his prayer. In addition to that, he was able to heal people from their soul’s sickness and bad habits, such as from greed, anger, selfishness, and bias. There is one aspect of the life of Saint Maroun, as priest and hermit, which has left a permanent impression on me; it is his unique asceticism.

According to Theodore of Cyr, “Maroun was an open-air hermit.” He was completely accessible to God and available to people. He had no roof over his head, no place or pillow to rest his head, no place to call home. In this way of life, Saint Maroun imitated Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior, The Son of God and Man who had no place to lay down his head. This is a powerful testimony to the primacy of God, and to the goodness of man. My dear Maronite brothers and sisters in Christ, we too share Saint Maroun in this same ascetic way of life. We share every time we make room for the primacy of God in our life, every time we strengthen our relationship with the living Lord and God, every time we isolate ourselves to pray, to meditate, to be in a special connection and relationship with God, every time we pray the Divine Office, attend the Holy Mass, recite the Rosary, meditate upon the Word of Jesus and the plan of God in our life and the life of the world and universe, and every time we give to those whom we serve the time and the respect they truly deserve. It is when we change our plans to accommodate them or welcome them at a time not convenient to us, to the time of our prayer, or to the time of our siesta, or to go out of our way, of our comfort zone to reach out to someone in need.

This kind of generous prayer and gracious hospitality was obvious in Saint Marouns’ life and actions, and that should also be true and obvious in our life and actions. We are his new disciples and his sons and daughters, especially when we care for those who are less fortunate, who need words of consolation, encouragement, prayer and pastoral care, love, kindness, and help. This is not to say that we should not take time for ourselves, Saint Maroun took time for himself in solitude and prayer. People used to call the Maronite Church the monastic church, because we too (priests and faithful) are “open air hermits” whenever we take time to pray and be ready to take care of others in need. Not only for materiel need, but for listening, praying for one another, for counselling and practicing the gift of healing that Jesus gave to His church. Maroun was a priest who consecrated his life totally to Jesus. He was that grain of wheat who was buried on the top of Mount Korus to bear much fruit.

The Maronite community is spreading now on the four corners of the universe. It is because of the smell of his holiness. Maroun lived a life of isolation- a life of consecration- a life of glorification.

1- As a priest, he isolated himself from the noise of the world by living as a hermit on the top of Mount Korus in prayer and meditation. As a priest, Maroun is a builder. He builds a bridge between Jesus and his followers, between God and man, and he transformed an old pagan temple and made it a church. As a priest, he blessed the sick and prayed over those who suffered from the presence of the evil spirits and throughout the blessing of his prayer, God gave them healing. As a priest, he imitated his master Jesus by fasting and praying and mortification, because food was not as important to him as the food of the eternal life that is based on the body and blood of Christ and on his Word.

2- Maroun consecrated his life to God- he left the world and went to the top of Mount Korus, separated himself from the material world, from every human bound, from every evil to be for and with God, alone.

3- Maroun was a true disciple of Christ Jesus in the world. He glorified God by his prayer and good deeds, by his words and actions and his body. He glorified God by his life and death. Maroun was a voice from God calling us to turn to God, telling us that the true life is the life with Christ. The true life is the life that is full of hardship, difficulty and sacrifice for the sake of His kingdom.

Saint Maroun, pray for us! Amen.