Sunday, 16 September 2012

Season of the Cross - 1st Sunday

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is in Lebanon!
This is a time of great happiness and hope for our country and all the Lebanese people throughout the world. His Holiness will be celebrating mass in Beirut on Sunday 16 September. We pray that this event will bear good fruits in Lebanon and all the Middle East leading to a true spring characterised by peace and prosperity. We also pray for the Holy Father and for the Catholic Church everywhere.

Season of the Cross
As we enter into the Season of the Holy Cross, we remember what St Paul tells us, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor 1:18) All righteousness, holiness and redemption stems from God. We keep our eyes and our hearts focused on the cross, instrument of our salvation.

To read more about this week’s Gospel and other events in Kadishat, please click the link below:

Please click here to download the full Kadishat newsletter with Arabic translation.
St Charbel's Annual Dinner
I would also like to remind you that St Charbel's Annual Dinner will be held on 13 October 2012 at St Charbel's Multi-Purpose Hall. All funds raised on the night will go towards the launch of our new project, St Charbel's Nursing Home. This is a much-needed project for our community so we count on your support to see it through. Tickets are $75 per person. To get your tickets, please contact the Monastery on 9740 0998. I wish you all a safe week!

In God’s Love,
Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

==================================================================

20th Year—Number 1026 Sunday 16/09/2012
Season of the Cross
1st Sunday
Sunday’s Readings: 2 Timothy 2: 1-10 & Mark 10: 35-45

Among you this is not to happen.
“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him. 'Master,' they said to him, 'We want you to do us a favour.' He said to them, 'What is it you want me to do for you?' They said to him, 'Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.' But Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you are asking. 

Can you drink the cup that I shall drink, or be baptised with the baptism with which I shall be baptised?' They replied, 'We can.' Jesus said to them, 'The cup that I shall drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I shall be baptised you shall be baptised, but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.' 

When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John, so Jesus called them to him and said to them, 'You know that among the gentiles those they call their rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of man himself came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'.” Mark 10: 35-45
Reflection of the Week

"You don't know what you're asking."
In today’s Gospel James and John, who are brothers, ask Jesus for a big favour. They want the premium seats, the ones right beside Jesus, when he finally is enthroned as king. They have a strong desire for prestige position and power.

The other ten disciples are no better. They become angry at James and John because they also want the best seats. They also want power and all of them miss the point about the kingship of Jesus. Jesus' response is one of variously humour, surprise and compassion that they have not understood what he is doing: "You don't know what you're asking."
 
His explanation is to ask them a question about whether they are ready to drink the cup that he drinks and to be baptized with his baptism. It is the cup of suffering that Jesus is describing to James and John, and the baptism is the baptism of suffering.
 
Leadership
We often associate leadership with fame, wealth, status, and privilege. This is as true for us today as it was for Jesus at that time. No one expected the messiah to be born in a stable. Jesus, in his life and death, turns the tables and reveals that greatness grows in us through service to others; privilege is granted to those who privilege others before themselves and who are willing to serve others. We all should be ready to lose our fame, prestige and position and even our lives if we wish to keep them.
May our lives and our work be living sacrifices in the service of a God who loves and values us all, and a holy community in which human greatness is expressed through the generous sharing of our hands, the gentle embrace of our arms, and the loving touching of hearts. Amen.
 
The world today is desperate for leaders who recognize God's blessing in their own lives. The world needs leaders who are brave and have the courage to bless the people and the world around them through their humble service and sacrifice.
 
The sign of the cross
We made the Sign of the Cross before prayer which helps to fix our minds and hearts to God. After prayer we make the Sign of the Cross to keep close to God. During trials and temptations our strength and protection is the Sign of the Cross. At Baptism we are sealed with the Sign of the Cross, signifying the fullness of redemp-tion and that we belong to Christ. Let us look to the cross frequently, and realize that when we make the Sign of the Cross we give our entire self to God — mind, soul, heart, body, will, thoughts.
 
Ref: catholicculture.org

==================================================================

Thought of the Week

All are called to make of their lives a living sacrifice in collaboration with God in building the holy community, or kingdom of God, on earth. This passage seems to suggest, however, that only a few are prepared and equipped to give up their lives in that service, as Jesus did.

==================================================================
 
“Under the sign of peace”

“My apostolic visit to Lebanon, and by extension to the Middle East as a whole, 
is placed under the sign of peace”

On the eve of his departure, Pope Benedict XVI has clearly stated the aim of this his 24th foreign visit:
 
“Dear pilgrims, those of you here, or who are taking part in the Angelus through radio or television; in the coming days, I will make an apostolic visit to Lebanon to sign the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, fruit of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, held in October 2010. I will have the happy opportunity to meet with the Lebanese people and authorities, and the Christians of that beloved country and those from neighboring countries. I am aware of the often dramatic situation experienced by the people of this region, too long torn apart by incessant conflicts. I understand the anguish of many Middle Eastern people immersed in daily sufferings of all kinds, which sadly, and at times mortally, plague their personal and family life. My concerned thoughts go out to those who, in search of a place of peace, leave their family and professional life, and experience the precariousness of being exiles. Even though the search for solutions to the various problems affecting the region seems difficult, we can not resign ourselves to the violence and exasperation of tensions. A commitment to dialogue and reconciliation must be a priority for all parties involved, and must be supported by the international community, increasingly aware of the importance of a stable and lasting peace in the region for the whole world. My apostolic visit to Lebanon, and by extension in the Middle East as a whole, is placed under the sign of peace, referring to the words of Christ: "My peace I give to you" (John 14:27). 
 
 

May God bless Lebanon and the Middle East! May God bless you all!


==================================================================

The Maronites and Lebanon (28)
The independence

The Allies were victorious in WWI, the Ottoman Empire abolished, and France was entrusted with the Mandate over Lebanon and Syria.
 
The Birth of Today's LebanonEvery one of the Maronite Patriarchs knew his mission as an Apostle of peace. His presence could be felt everywhere, supporting every effort for the public good and opposing injustice. All the Lebanese would trust him, for they knew he could be relied on as working for national unity and independence. 

In 1919, patriarch Elias HOAYEK was delegated by the Lebanese people to go to the Peace Conference at Versailles, and to demand independence on their behalf. The Patriarch went to Versailles explained the problems of Lebanon, negotiated effectively, and accomplished his mission. He thus put the future of Lebanon on a firm footing and obtained satisfaction for the national aspirations.
 
In the first half of 1920, Lebanese territory was claimed as part of the Arab Kingdom of Syria, but shortly the Franco-Syrian War resulted in Arab defeat and capitulation of the Hashemites.

On 1 September 1920, France re-established Greater Lebanon after the Moutasarrifiya rule removed several regions belonging to the Principality of Lebanon and gave them to Syria,. the proclamation happened in Beirut, which included Mount Lebanon, the Beka'a, Wadi el-Taym, Jabal Amel, Sur, Saida, Beirut and Tripoli
 
Lebanon was a largely Christian (mainly Maronite territory with some Greek Orthodox enclaves), Starting in 1922, the Lebanese elected a local Representative Council, which drew up the Lebanese Constitution under French supervision. 

On 1 September 1926, France formed the Lebanese Republic. the constitution was adopted on 25 May 1926 establishing a democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government.
 
After the fighting ended in Lebanon between the UK plus free France forces and Vichy government in WWII, General Charles de Gaulle visited the area. Under political pressure from both inside and outside Lebanon, de Gaulle recognized the independence of Lebanon. 

Elections were held in 1943 and on 8 November 1943 the new Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the mandate. The French reacted by throwing the new government into prison. In the face of international pressure, the French released the government officials on 22 November 1943 and recognized the independence of Lebanon.
 
Maronite villagers building a church in Mount Lebanon, 1920

Next Sunday:
The Maronite spirituality

==================================================================

  Links:
 
Join us on facebook to get notified about the next post:



==================================================================

Posted by at
Labels: , , , ,