I hope you have been in good health and spirits!
I invite you to read our parish newsletter, Kadishat, which explains this week's Gospel about the Canaanite woman who displayed a truly remarkable faith (Matt 15: 21-28), the history of the Maronites during the Ottoman era, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady and the activities and events of our parish. To read the newsletter, please click on the link below:
Please click here to download the full Kadishat newsletter with ARABIC translation.
Feast of the Assumption
On the 15th of August, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady to Heaven. This is one of the most important feasts of Our Lady. We believe that when Mary's earthly life was finished, she was taken up, body and soul, into heavenly glory, where the Lord exalts her as Queen of Heaven (Catechism of the Catholic Church, # 966). On this feast day, let us thank the Lord for the gift of our Holy Mother, and let us pray to Our Lady to lead us to her Son every day.
May God bless you all through the intercession and prayers of His Mother and our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary!
In God’s Love,
Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay
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20th Year—Number 1021 Sunday 12/08/2012
Season of the Pentecost
12th SundaySunday’s Readings: Ephesians 3: 1-13 & Matthew 15: 21-28
““ Jesus left that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And suddenly out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, 'Lord, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.' But he said not a word in answer to her. And his disciples went and pleaded with him, saying, 'Give her what she wants, because she keeps shouting after us.' He said in reply, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.' But the woman had come up and was bowing low before him. 'Lord,' she said, 'help me.' He replied, 'It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to little dogs.' She retorted, 'Ah yes, Lord; but even little dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, you have great faith. Let your desire be granted.' And from that moment her daughter was well again.'” Matthew 15: 21-28
Reflection of the week
A "great" faith
In today’s Gospel we look at the story of the Canaanite woman who displayed a truly remarkable faith. A faith which Jesus ultimately commends as a "great" faith. A faith which can still serve as model for each one of us. A faith which was tested by God and a faith which Trusted in God. This woman trusted that Jesus could and would heal her daughter not because of who she was but because of who Jesus was. Let us take the test that the Lord put her through and see how she reacted.
The First test "Lord Son of David, have mercy on me" But he answered her nor a word”. What would most of us do? The chances are that we would quit the church. This woman did not let the silence of Christ turn her away. Her child’s life was more important than her feelings. How many of us would past this first test that Jesus put this woman through.
The Second Test. When Christ did not answer, his disciples said, "Send her away…” Surely this would have been enough to send her away with wounded feelings. But her need was too great to let Christ's disciples stand in her way. She would not let them rob her of blessings needed.
Is your soul more important than your feelings?
We must desire to know the truth regardless of the obstacles that seem to get in our way. We must not quit or give up We must remember that our souls are in danger, and Christ and the church are the only places where safety can be found.
The Third Test. Jesus said to her, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
What would you do if someone should say the blessings of the Lord are not for you? But this woman said:”Lord help me”.
The Fourth Test. Jesus said, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." What would we have done? What would you do if someone should call you a dog? Most of us would think this would be enough to give up. But this woman simply said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat the crumbs." That is saying, "I know how unworthy I am; I do not ask for anything but the crumbs." This woman obtained the mercy she sought." Was it worth it? It would have been so easy to let her feelings rob her and her daughter of the healing she desired and needed.
Walk by faith not by feelings
Today with the great faith of this Canaanite woman that she showed, we tell the world that we should walk by faith, not by feelings. What are you walking by? Are you a quitter because you have had your feelings hurt? Are you walking by faith, even though your feelings have been hurt?
Sensitivity
Sensitivity is a wonderful thing. We should be sensitive to the physical and spiritual needs of others. We should be sensitive to our personal needs. It is a wonderful thing to see Christians sensitive to their problems. But sensitivity shouldn’t be misdirected. There are many members of he church that are too sensitive. Many have quit the church because someone hurt their feelings. There are others who still attend, but they are no longer active in the Lord's work because someone hurt their feelings. Are you one of them or you are like this Canaanite woman?
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15 August—Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: Romans 12: 9-15 & Luke 1: 46-55
Readings: Romans 12: 9-15 & Luke 1: 46-55
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Saints Of The Week
15th of August is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
"My soul magnifies the Lord my spirit exults in God my saviour; for he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness. From now on all generations shall call me blessed, for he who is mighty has done great things for me. (Luke 1:47-49)
In this mystery, we can see Our Lady as the symbol and representative of the whole-redeemed human race. In her, we see effected what is God's desire in respect of each of us.
The whole nature, body and soul, Her desires should be perfected and welcomed into the glory of heaven. Mary's life is an example to us. Her holiness lies in her acceptance of God's will. "Thy will be done". Her life was spent with matching these words with deeds. We need to do likewise. Like Mary, we must try to utilize the gifts and graces, which God has bestowed upon us; to completely co-operate with God's will whenever we know it.
Mary's true greatness is to be found in her faith in God. She trusted in God and accepted the message given her by the angel Gabriel, and as well, all the consequences it implied. We pray to Mary, our Heavenly Mother, to intercede for us, so that we too can accept God's Will and place our complete faith and trust in Him. Through the grace of God, then we will, one day, share like Mary, in a place in His Kingdom.
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The Maronites and Lebanon (22)
The Ottomans Era (1)
The Ottomans Era (1)
During the years of difficulties, and as a result of the multiple occupations of the Lebanese land many tribes inhabited Lebanon especially the southern part of the mountain which will have enormous influence on Lebanon. some of these tribes are the Maanis and the Shahabis.
In 1516 the Ottomans defeated the Mamluks in Marj Dabiq battle in Aleppo, during this battle, the Maanis (Druze tribe moved to Lebanon around the year 1100) fought alongside with the Ottomans to defeat the Mamluks therefore they won the confidence of the Ottomans and Amir Fakhr ad Din (1516-1544) appointed as the ruler.At the beginning of their era, the Ottomans did not govern Lebanon directly, consequently, having attained a high degree of maturity, a Druze-Maronite alliance was established lasting for hundreds of years; this prosperous principality would be the base of the modern Lebanese Republic, the Maronites were ready for a new era of renewal. The difference between this period and the preceding centuries was great. It can be considered the age of renaissance of the Maronite.
The Maronites were partners in governing the new principality; often the post of Moudabbir (roughly Prime Minister) and the post of Army Commander were given to a Maronite, usually a Khazen or a Hobeich of Keserwan. During this period (1516-1840), the Maronites started returning to southern Mount Lebanon, where they had lived before they were almost exterminated by the Mamlukes in 1307. Thus, the historic Ke-serwan and all the Druze mountains were repopulated. It was this relation between the Maronites and Druze that helped establish the Lebanese identity.
In 1618 Fakhr ed Eddine II army captured Akkar and Tripoli and removed their stones so as to rebuild Dier al Qamar (Lebanon’s capital city then). Next came the turn of the pasha of Damascus, in the battle of Anjar, 4000 Lebanese (Druze and Maronites) captured the pasha and cut down 12,000 of his men. Lebanon, Syria and Palestine was now under the rule Fakhr-al-din II. Nothing was left for Fakhr, in the words of a biographer of his time, but to declare himself sultan. Fakhr-al-din II preferred the title of 'Emir of Mount Lebanon, Sidon, and Galilee'.
In maintaining their Christian identity. In 1610, the Maronite monks of the Monastery of Saint Anthony of Qozhaya imported one of the first printing presses in what is known as the Arabic-speaking world; however that press was printing in the Syriac language and not Arabic. The monasteries of Lebanon would later become key players in the Arabic Renaissance of the late 19th century as a result of developing Arabic, as well as Syriac, printable script.Next Sunday: The Ottomans era (2)
The Maronite College of Rome
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