Season of the Epiphany - Just and Righteous Sunday

A message from Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay:

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

This Sunday is the 'Sunday of the Righteous and the Just' in our Maronite Church. We read the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats from the Gospel of St Matthew. Jesus’ words about His second coming after His last public teaching in the Temple are a clear warning of the Final Judgment, pictured as the divine separation of the righteous sheep from the unrighteous goats. As Catholics, we firmly believe that we are not saved by faith alone but also by our works. The Corporal Works of Mercy are practices of charity towards our neighbor and they compliment our faith.
May we always be prepared so that, when the time comes, we may be counted amongst the sheep on God's right hand and we may inherit his kingdom.

To read this week's Kadishat, please click on the link below:
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Australia Day
Today, we celebrate Australia Day. We thank God for the beauty of this country and for the better life it has offered to thousands of immigrants. As citizens or residents of Australia, we vow to work together with all our differences to safeguard its values and make our contribution to make it a greater nation. We respect the Indigenous people and all the cultures that exist in this beautiful country. Once again, we thank God today and reflect on the blessings we have received.

I wish you all a blessed week!
In God’s Love,
Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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21st Year—Number 1045 Sunday 27/01/2013
Season of the Epiphany 
Just and Righteous SundaySunday’s Readings: Hebrew 12: 18-24 & Matthew 25: 31-46

Lord, when did we see you?
“'When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me."

Then the upright will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you? When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?"

And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me." Then he will say to those on his left hand, "Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink, I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me." Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?" Then he will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me." And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.' ”

Matthew 25: 31-46

Reflection Of The Week

A warning sign
In the Gospel of today, Jesus is telling his disciples about the last days. This teaching of Jesus is very different from all his other teaching in the Gospel of Matthew. For in the previous chapters, Jesus is telling parables. But in this text, Jesus is looking into the future, explaining in graphic detail, what
sort of judgment day awaits every one of us. It is truth, coming right out of the mouth of Jesus. It tells us that God does, in fact, watch the way we live our lives, and the way we live matters and at judgement day the people will be separated as sheep are separated from goats. The division will be
according to our actions and the actions are based on a conviction that as we have done them to the people in our lives and in our world, we have done them to Jesus: "As you have done it to the least of these," Jesus says, "you have done it to me!"”

Today's Gospel is a warning sign: it directs us to be aware of the reality that we humans have both goat and sheep potential. This Gospel teaches us that our salvation lies in
our willingness to show compassion for each other.

What does our lifestyle say about us?
Goats and sheep have different eating habits. Goats browse on leaves, shrubs, twigs and vines. Sheep graze on grass and clover. Goats are curious and independent in nature, while sheep prefer to stay put with the flock. This is what goats and sheep like to do every day.

What do you do every day?
We are not judged by our ability to accomplish great and noble deeds of faith. We are judged by the one who said that we would be evaluated on our efforts for the “least of these,” those whose greatest needs are for the small things that most of us, in our privileged status, take for granted—small things like a cup of clean, clear water, a visit to those who are down and out, a small show of concern. It’s the small things that we do on a day to day basis that shows concern and compassion for the least of these is what Christ asks of us.

True love
Responding to Jesus is not like a job. Responding to people in this world is not like a job. We respond to the needs of those in the world out of true love.

True love is the love that Jesus showed as he died for us on the cross. True love is the love that gives freely and unconditionally. To love someone else, to have compassion, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit those in prison is the result of acknowledging that Jesus is present in all people. We may not like them. We may not like what they do, but we love them as Christ loves us. And the most important aspect of true love is giving without waiting for a reward.

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When did we see you, Lord?
Was it during the hours we spent in front of the TV or out shopping just for fun? Was it getting the house all perfect to impress our friends? Or was it those extra hours we put in at work, hoping to impress our boss’s favour and get that promotion?
There’s nothing wrong with such pursuits, but if we allow them to crowd out Christian service, we just may be taking our place among the goats.

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Prayer
Oh Lord, give us guidance, more self-denial, more likeness to you. Teach us to sacrifice our comforts to others and our likings for the sake of doing good. Make us kindly in thought, gentle in word,  generous in deed. Teach us that it is better to give than to get, better to forget ourselves than to put ourselves forward, better to care for than to be cared for. And to You, the God of love, be all glory and praise, now and forever.

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 Saint Of The Week

28 January
St Ephrem the Syriani
Doctor of the Church

Ephrem was born in Nisibis at the beginning of the fourth century. He was educated at Edessa. As a disciple of Bishop James of Nisibis, he was ordained to the diaconate and was a lecturer in the newly established school at Nisibis. After the fall of Nisibis, Ephrem departed from the city and began to teach in Edessa, where he lived as a "solitary" in a cell on a rocky hill. After a life of good works, preaching, religious writings and ascetical exercises, he died in 373.

Ephrem was a prolific writer and left the Church an abundance of sermons, commentaries and hymns. Because of this enormous amount of material, he was given the titles "Pillar of the Church" and "Harp of the Holy Spirit." The body of his writing comprises a central part of the liturgical prayer life of the Antiochene Churches.

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COMMUNION AND WITNESS
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION for the MIDDLE EAST (15)

PART TWO (5)

The laity
55. Through Baptism, the lay faithful are fully incorporated into the Body of Christ and associated with the mission of the universal Church.[52] Their participation in the life and internal activities of the Church is the perennial spiritual source enabling them to reach beyond the confines of ecclesial structures. As apostles in the world, they translate the Gospel, the doctrine and social teaching of the Church into concrete actions.*53+ Indeed, “Christians as fully-fledged citizens can and must do their part with the spirit of the Beatitudes, becoming builders of peace and apostles of reconciliation to the benefit of all society.”*54+

56. Dear lay faithful, since temporal affairs are your proper domain,[55] I encourage you to strengthen the bonds of fraternity and cooperation that unite you with all people of good will in pursuing the common good, sound administration of public funds, freedom of religion and respect for the dignity of each person. Even when the Church’s mission encounters obstacles in environments where the explicit proclamation of the Gospel is hindered or not possible, “maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that ... they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Pet 2:12).

Be concerned to give an account of your faith (cf. 1 Pet 3:15) by the consistency of your daily life and your activity.[56] To make your witness truly bear fruit (cf. Mt 7:16, 20), I urge you to overcome divisions and all subjective interpretations of the Christian life. Take care not to separate that life – with its values and its demands – from the life of your family or from life in society, the workplace, the political and cultural spheres, since all the many areas of the lay person’s life fall under God’s plan.*57+ I invite you to be bold for the sake of Christ, in the confidence that neither tribulation, nor anguish, nor persecution can separate you from him (cf. Rom 8:35).

57. In the Middle East, lay people have long had fraternal and lasting relationships with the Catholic faithful of the various patriarchal or Latin Churches, and are used to attending one another’s places of worship, especially when there is need. To this impressive reality, which demonstrates an authentic experience of communion, one must add the fact that within a single territory various ecclesial jurisdictions overlap in a beneficial way. In this particular area, the Church in the Middle East sets an example for other local Churches in the rest of the world. The Middle East is thus, in a certain sense, a laboratory where the future of the Church is already being developed. Exemplary as it is, this experience also needs to be constantly improved and purified, as does the experience acquired locally in the field of ecumenism.

Next Sunday: The family

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Season of the Epiphany - Priests Sunday

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

At this time, the Maronite Church continues to celebrate the Epiphany in which we reflect on the manifestation of Our Lord as Son of God and our Saviour. Another feast is celebrated in the Maronite Church at this time (17 January) and that is the Feast of St Anthony the Great, also known as St Anthony of the Desert.

St Anthony was born in Egypt in 251 to wealthy parents. In 285, at the age of 34, he was touched by the words of Jesus to the rich man "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Matthew 19:21). St Anthony felt that this message was meant for him directly so he gave away some of his property and sold the remaining property, donated the money to the poor and went to live a poor and ascetic life in the desert. St Anthony is regarded as the founder of  Monastic life in the Oriental Church.
 
We kindly ask you to keep the monks of St Charbel’s and all the monks of the Lebanese congregations (Lebanese Maronite Order, Antonine Maronite Order and Mariamite Maronite Order) in your prayers as they renew their vows on St Anthony’s feast day.

On this occasion, I would also like to wish all those who bear the name of St Anthony (or its derivatives) a Happy and Blessed Feast Day!

The latest Kadishat newsletter can be accessed by clicking the link below:
Please click here to view/download the full Kadishat newsletter.

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

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21st Year—Number 1044 Sunday 20/01/2013
Season of the Epiphany
Priests Sunday
Sunday’s Readings: 1 Timothy 4: 6-16 & Luke 12: 42-48

On a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know.
“The Lord replied 'Who then is the wise and trustworthy steward whom the master will place over his house-hold to give them at the proper time their allowance of food? Blessed that servant if his master's arrival finds him doing exactly that. I tell you truly he will put him in charge of everything that he owns.

But if the servant says to himself ،"My master is taking his time coming " and sets about beating the menservants and the servant-girls and eating and drinking and getting drunk his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.

'The servant who knows what his master wants but has got nothing ready and done nothing in accord with those wishes will be given a great many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know but has acted in such a way that he deserves a beating will be given fewer strokes. When someone is given a great deal, a great deal will be demanded of that person; when someone is entrusted with a great deal of that person even more will be expected.” Luke 12: 42-48

Reflection of the week

Wise and trustworthy
The journey to Jerusalem provides a training site for Christ and the apostles. Their conversations unfold like the story of our lives. All passages in life - school, grief, work - require faithfulness to the goal and watchfulness along the way. We need to concentrate on living the life of a servant rather than being concerned with the timing of the final revelation of Jesus.

As disciples we will be judged on our service to others. If we follow Jesus in a life of service, we will enjoy the intimacy of the Messianic Banquet with Jesus and experience Jesus Himself ministering to our needs. It is something offered to everyone who follows Jesus faithfully.

Reflection
We are all called, as baptized Christians, to share at different levels in the priestly mission entrusted to us by Jesus, thus it is funda-mental that we offer the sacrifice of our own lives in the service of others.

There are some among us however, who have a special calling to be ordained priests. They have a special obligation to carry out their ministry of service in a manner taught by Jesus. Leadership for Jesus is a matter of self-sacrificing service.

The only priesthood is that of Christ and it is entrusted into the hands of the priest who has a fundamental role in the sacrifice of the Eucharist, as well as teaching the Word of God and being a shep-herd helping the people of God on their pilgrimage through the difficulties of modern living.

Through ordination the priest receives authority and dignity and a heavy responsibility. Christ gives the help needed to carry this responsibility. Through faith, trust and hope, may priests be inspired throughout their lives to love and serve the people of God.

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To Know Christ

A dialogue between a recent convert and an unbelieving friend.
“So you have been converted to Christ?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must know a great deal about him. Tell me: what country was he born in?”
“I don’t know.”
“What age was he when he died?”
“I don’t know.”
“You certainly know very little for a man who claims to be converted to Christ!”

“You are right. I am ashamed at how little I know about him. But this much I know: Three years ago I was a drunkard. I was in debt. My family was falling apart. My wife and children would dread my coming home each day. Now I have given up drink: we are out of debt: ours is a happy home. All this Christ has done. This much I know of him!”
 

To really know. That is, to be transformed by what one knows.

(By Fr. Anthony de Mello S. J.)

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Reading 1 Timothy 4:6-16

Paul speaks of his expectations regarding the ministry of Timothy. God desires salvation especially, but not only, for those who believe. The saving power of God is experienced by those who believe and who experience now the life of Christ and look forward in hope to being with him forever in glory. God also has ways of drawing to salvation those who have never heard of Christ. This mystery is left to the unrevealed ways of God's mercy. Through the laying on of hands, the power of the Holy Spirit works to assist in the priestly mission of those who have been called in a special way to serve and bear witness to Christ.

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 Saint Of The Week

25 January
Conversion of St Paul

«Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation.» 

One would not have expected these words to be spoken so profoundly to the heart of St. Paul. For he, then known as Saul, had spent such time and with such vigor had persecuted the followers of Christ. Why does the Lord shine His light all about him? Why does He speak to him and reveal Himself to him? Why is it this man who is picked to bring the Name of Jesus to all the nations?

Perhaps it was his very vigor in persecuting His followers Jesus admired. Perhaps his sincerity and commitment to this cause in the name of God He knew He could use for the cause of justice and right. Perhaps he is a sign to us all that none is beyond the redemption the Lord offers. We know only that he who was persecuting the Church now works to build it up. We know only the story of this great Apostle to the world.
 

«Recover your sight,» 

Ananias says to this Saul, and so Paul, once blinded by the light of the Lord, now has his eyes open to see. So he who once went about with scales on his eyes, he whose vision was once so prevented from realizing the truth of the Jesus in his midst... he who was once so like his brother Pharisees, now sees. And what he sees is not simply Ananias standing before him. What he sees standing before him in this faithful disciple of Jesus, is Christ Himself. And he realizes whom he has been persecuting, and repents. And so he is baptized. And so his mission, one wrought in the suffering of Christ, begins.

«Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify Him, all you peoples!» 

are the words of our psalmist, but they could as easily be the exhor-tation of the Apostle Paul. Having himself believed in the Good News proclaimed to all creation and accepted Baptism into its way, he himself now brings so many others to walk along the same path. Great signs accompany him, and his words to our ears are as those of Jesus to him, for now he is such a strong part of the Body of Christ, persecuted by this world and calling it to salvation. On this day all our hearts should turn to the Lord, that we might join Paul and profess our faith in His Name.

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Devotions to Honour Our Lady of Lourdes

The next mass and blessing of the sick will take place on Sunday 10 February 2013 at 

Our Lady of Lourdes, Earlwood. 

His Eminence Cardinal Pell will be the Principal Celebrant. 

Devotions will begin with the rosary at 2.30pm and followed by mass at 3.00pm then the blessing of the sick. Parking is available. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Church. 

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 COMMUNION AND WITNESS
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION for the MIDDLE EAST (14)

PART TWO (4)

The consecrated life

51. Monasticism in its different forms was born in the Middle East and gave rise to several of the Churches in the region.[47] Monks and nuns have devoted their lives to prayer, sanctifying the day and night hours and bringing to their prayers the concerns and needs of the Church and all mankind. May they be a constant reminder to everyone of how important prayer is for the life of the Church and of each member of the faithful. May monasteries also be places where the faithful can find guidance in learning to pray!

52. The consecrated life, whether contemplative or apostolic, is a deepening of the consecration received in Baptism. Men and women religious seek to follow Christ more radically through the profession of the evangelical counsels of obedience, chastity and poverty.[48] Their unreserved gift of self to the Lord and their disinterested love for every individual are a form of witness to God and a real sign of his love for the world. Lived as a precious gift of the Holy Spirit, the consecrated life is an indispensable support for the Church’s life and pastoral activity.[49] Religious communities will be prophetic signs of communion in their Churches and throughout the world if they are truly grounded in the word of God, fraternal communion and the witness of service (cf. Acts 2:42). In the coenobitic life, each community or monastery is meant to be a privileged setting for union with God and communion with one’s neighbour. It is a place where consecrated persons learn each day to start afresh from Christ[50] in order to be faithful to their mission in prayer and recollection, and to be for all the faithful a sign of the eternal life which has already begun here below (cf. 1 Pet 4:7).

53. I invite all of you who are called in the Middle East to follow Christ in the religious life: let yourselves be seduced by the word of God, as was the prophet Jeremiah, and hold that word in your heart like a consuming fire (cf. Jer 20:7-9). It is the reason for existing, the foundation and the ultimate and objective reference point of your consecration. The word of God is truth. By obeying this word, you purify your souls so as to love one another sincerely as brothers and sisters (cf. 1 Pet 1:22).

Whatever the canonical status of your religious institute, always be open to cooperate, in a spirit of communion with the Bishop, in pastoral and missionary activities. The religious life is one of personal devotion to Christ, the Head of the Body (cf. Col 1:18; Eph 4:15) and it reflects the indissoluble bond between Christ and his Church. Since this is so, support families in their Christian vocation and encourage parishes to be open to the various priestly and religious callings. This will serve to consolidate the life of communion for the sake of witness within the local Church.[51] Never grow tired of responding to the appeals of the men and women of our time, pointing out the right path and the profound meaning of human life.

54. I would like to add a further consideration directed not only to consecrated persons alone, but to all the members of Eastern Catholic Churches. It concerns the evangelical counsels, which are particularly characteristic of the monastic life, a form of religious life which played a decisive role in the origins of numerous Churches sui iuris and continues to do so in their life today. It seems to me that we ought to meditate long and hard on the evangelical counsels: obedience, chastity and poverty, in order to discover anew their beauty, the power of their witness and their pastoral dimension. There can only be inner rebirth of the faithful, the believing community and the whole Church, if each person, according to his or her vocation, makes a determined and unequivocal return to the search for God (quaerere Deum) which helps us to define and live authentically our relationship to God, neighbour and self. This certainly concerns the Churches sui iuris, and the Latin Church as well.

Next Sunday: The laity

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Season of the Epiphany - First Sunday after Epiphany

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,


Welcome to this week's edition of Kadishat for the First Sunday after the Epiphany!

In this week's gospel, St John the Evangelist tells us about John the Baptist's proclamation about Jesus. He tells us that Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. In  His death Jesus was the sacrificial lamb who paid the penalty for our sins. Do we, like John the Baptist, present Jesus to the world through our actions and words?

To read more about this week's gospel, please click on the link below:
Please click here to download the full Kadishat newsletter.

St Anthony's Feast Day
This Thursday 17 January, we celebrate the feast day of St Anthony the Great, founder of the Monastic life.

On the occasion of this feast, the Monks of the Lebanese Maronite Order renew their vows. We invite you to join us for a solemn mass on Thursday 17 January at 6pm. The novena will be prayed every night at 6pm until the feast day.
I wish you all a blessed week and a Happy Feast Day to all those who bear the name of Anthony!
 
In God’s Love,
Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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21st Year—Number 1043 Sunday 13/01/2013
Season of the Epiphany
First Sunday after Epiphany
Sunday’s Readings: 2 Corinthians 10: 1-11 & John 1: 29-34

I myself have seen and have testified
“The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, "After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me." I myself did not know him; but I came baptising with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit." And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1: 29-34

Reflection of the week

The Lamb of God
This Gospel conveys three key aspects of Jesus' identity. He is the apocalyptic lamb who destroys evil. He is the Suffering Servant willing to give his life for the redemption of his people. He is the paschal lamb who takes away our sins and leads us from bondage to liberation. Jesus is the Lamb of God. He shed his blood so that we could be forgiven of our sins.

Believe in the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
John the Baptist says that Jesus is the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world. In His death Jesus was the sacri-ficial Lamb who paid the penalty for our sins.

The first step in becoming a Christian is to repent of sins and believe in the Lord as Saviour. He will forgive us, take away our sins, and help us live an abundant life.

Accept God's call and work with a whole heart in His kingdom.
John the Baptist knew that He was not the Christ; he simply was the forerunner of Christ. His role was to prepare the people for the Messiah. He did this with great zest as he preached repentance and salvation.

Each of us has a role in the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:7) enables everyone to have a part in the work of God. We should recognize the gift or gifts that God has given us, accept our role, and fulfil that role with all our hearts and minds.
Be baptized by Jesus in the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist tells us that he baptized people in water "so that He [Christ] might be manifested to Israel." Then, he tells us that Christ will baptize us in the Holy Spirit. Jesus poured out the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to empower the disciples to witness to the world.

Thus, the Baptist baptized in water to make Christ known to Israel; Jesus baptizes in the Spirit to enable us to make Christ known to the world. It should be the desire of our hearts to be empowered by the Spirit for this task.
 
Present the Lamb of God to the world.
Christ, the Lamb of God, takes away our sins and makes it possible for us to work in the kingdom of God. The Spirit came upon Him, and He baptizes us in the Spirit. Our task is to present the Lamb of God to the world.

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 Lambs

Lambs were commonly used by Jews in ritual sacrifice and, when a lamb was specified, it was to be a "lamb…without blemish." Sometimes a single lamb would be sacrificed; at other times, it could be as many as twelve or more.

As Christians, we don't practice ritual sacrifice. In part, this goes along with what Jesus taught his disciples when he said,
 

"But you go and learn what this means:
'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,'
for I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:13)

More to the point, we don't offer sacrifices in the church today because we believe that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice in dying, once and for all, for the forgiveness of sins. He died for us that we might live for others. When we make an offering today, it's in response to the freedom and forgiveness we've already received.

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 Saint of the Week

St Anthony the Great,
17 JanuaryOur venerable and God-bearing Father Saint Anthony the Great was born in to a wealthy family in up-per Egypt about 254 AD. Also known as Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, and Anthony the Anchorite, he was a leader among the Desert Fathers, who were Christian monks in the Egyptian desert in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.
 
One day after a teaching on Jesus saying to the people, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven; and come, follow Me" (Matthew 19:21), St. Anthony sold everything he owned, gave the proceeds to the poor, and left the city behind to live in the desert.

 
Although he held no titles or position, his holiness marked him as one whose wisdom commanded respect. When the Synod of Nicea was convened, he was invited to participate. His eloquent defence of the doctrine concerning the person of Jesus Christ was instrumental in weakening the position of Arianism. His witness led to the eventual and complete elimination of Arianism.

He instructed his followers to bury his body in an unmarked, secret grave, lest his body become an object of veneration. The monastic rules of Saint Anthony, the "patriarch" of monastic life, have

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 Jesus Prays for All Believers (John 17:20-23)

 
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

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 COMMUNION AND WITNESS

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION for the MIDDLE EAST (13)

PART TWO (3):
 

Priests, deacons and seminarians

45. By his ordination the priest is configured to Christ and becomes a close collaborator of the Patriarch and Bishop in whose threefold munus he shares.[42] This itself makes him a servant of communion; the fulfilment of this role demands that he remain closely united to Christ and be zealous in charity and works of mercy towards all. Thus he will be able to radiate that holiness to which all the baptised are called. He will teach and encourage the People of God to build up the civilisation of evangelical love and unity. To this end he should renew and confirm his flock in the life of faith by wisely passing on God’s word and the Church’s Tradition and teaching, and by celebrating the sacraments.[43] The Eastern traditions are marked by great insight into the practice of spiritual direction. May priests, deacons and consecrated persons avail themselves of this practice and thereby open to the faithful pathways to eternity.

46. Bearing witness to communion also requires a solid theological and spiritual formation which in turn calls for ongoing intellectual and spiritual renewal. Bishops should provide priests and deacons with the means necessary to enable them to deepen their life of faith and thus benefit the faithful, giving them “food in due season” (Ps 145[144]:15). The faithful also rightly expect of them an example of unblemished conduct (cf. Phil 2:14-16).
 
47. Dear priests, I invite you to rediscover each day the ontological dimension of Holy Orders, which inspires you to live the priesthood as a source of sanctification for the baptised and for the betterment of every man and woman. “Tend the flock of God that is your charge … not for shameful gain, but eagerly” (1 Pet 5:2). Hold in high esteem the practice of living and working together, when possible, as a ministerial team, whatever difficulties this may entail (1 Pet 4:8-10); this will help you to esteem and experience more fully priestly and pas-toral communion at the local and universal levels. Dear deacons, in communion with your Bishop and the priests, serve the people of God in exercising your ministry in the specific responsibilities entrusted to you.
 
48. Priestly celibacy is a priceless gift of God to his Church, one which ought to be received with appreciation in East and West alike, for it represents an ever timely prophetic sign. Mention must also be made of the ministry of married priests, who are an ancient part of the East-ern tradition. I would like to encourage those priests who, along with their families, are called to holiness in the faithful exercise of their ministry and in sometimes difficult living conditions. To all I repeat that the excellence of your priestly life[44] will doubtless raise up new vocations which you are called to cultivate.
 
49. The calling of the young Samuel (cf. 1 Sam 3:1-19) teaches us that we need competent guides to assist us in discerning the will of the Lord and in responding generously to his call. Hence the flowering of vocations must be supported by a specific pastoral plan. It has to be sustained by prayer in families, parishes, ecclesial movements and educational institutions. Those who answer the Lord’s call need to experience growth in specific centres of formation and be guided by suitable and exemplary formators, who will train them in prayer, communion, witness and missionary awareness. There should be appropriate programmes to deal with the spiritual, intellectual and pastoral aspects of human life, while taking prudent account of differing social contexts, origins and cultural and ecclesial backgrounds.[45]
 
50. Dear seminarians, a reed cannot grow where there is no water (cf. Job 8:11); nor can you be true builders of communion and authentic witnesses of faith without being deeply rooted in Christ, without constant conversion to his word, without love of his Church and self-less love of neighbour. Even today you are being called to live and build communion for the sake of a courageous and blameless witness. The strengthening of God’s People in faith will depend on the quality of your own witness. I ask you to grow in openness to the cultural diversity of your Churches by coming to know other languages and cultures with a view to your future mission. Be open likewise to diversity in the Church and among all Christians, and to interreligious dialogue. A careful reading of my Letter to Seminarians should be of help in this regard.[46]
 
Next Sunday: The consecrated life

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Season of the Epiphany - Epiphany Day

Dear parishioners and friends,

In our first edition of Kadishat for 2013, I would like to renew my wishes to you and your families for a prosperous year full of graces and blessings. May we always see God’s love in every new day and in everything around us.

Feast of the Epiphany
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany (6 January).

The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of His public life. Jesus goes to John to receive baptism. Epiphany is a revelation of God to man. As Jesus rises from the water, John proclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God,” the skies are opened, the voice of God is heard saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” and the Holy Spirit in the form of a white dove descends upon Jesus. The Sacrament of Baptism is instituted.

In His own baptism, Jesus is calling us to follow Him. It is a personal invitation to all of us. When He reveals Himself to us, He gives us the basis of our faith and the hope of our own salvation. He is showing us how much He loves us by coming personally into our lives. Our baptism is our initiation into our faith. In our baptism, God reveals Himself to us and personally invites us to follow Him.

Do we accept the invitation of God to follow Him, which begins at our baptism and continues each day of our life?

We pray that each day we recall our baptism and are filled with the Holy Spirit and
renew our faith in God.

To read our Kadishat newsletter for this week, please click on the link below:

Please click here to download the full Kadishat newsletter.

I wish you a Happy Feast of the Epiphany!
In God's Love,
Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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21st Year—Number 1042 Sunday 06/01/2013
Season of the Epiphany
Epiphany DaySunday’s Readings: Titus 2: 11– 3: 7 & Luke 3: 15-22

You are my Son, the Beloved
“As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptise you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and be-cause of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison. Now when all the people were baptised, and when Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Be-loved; with you I am well pleased.’ ” Luke 3: 15-22

Reflection of the Week

The Mission
In today’s Gospel Jesus came with all the other people who were receiving baptism from John. He came as an ordinary man - one of us. This moment; the epiphany, in which Jesus truly demonstrates his divinity and humanity, emphasises the importance of His baptism, in order to save all of human kind. Jesus’ mission was to reopen heaven, so that we can rejoice in eternal happiness. In His love, He created a way to open heaven that satisfies both His love and His justice. God sent His only begotten Son into this World on a mission to open heaven to all people. The Son of God began the mission to this world when He entered the womb of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, but He publicly revealed His mission at His baptism.

Christ’s baptism opens heaven to us
Jesus' baptism was a complete contrast to our baptism. We enter the waters of baptism covered in sin and leave those waters covered in God's Righteousness. Jesus entered the water covered in righteousness and left the water carrying our sin. Jesus began to carry the burden of our sin at His baptism. Jesus began His mission to redeem all creation. Jesus began his mission to open heaven. Jesus’ entire life was devoted to our salvation. It is remarkable to fathom, that an ordinary man could carry such a great weight on His shoulders. The weight of human kind. This weight began at Jesus’s baptism for us, and ended at His crucifixion for us.

The opening of heaven at Jesus’ baptism means that it will forever be open to all people through the sacrifice of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. For we see how God in heaven pours out His grace through His Son's baptism. Christ's baptism opens heaven which was closed before His baptism. There is no longer a barrier between us and God. The Father lets us hear His voice, the Son sanctifies baptism with His body, and the Holy Spirit descends as a dove, symbolising the nature of the divine Trini-ty. “You are my Son the beloved, with you I am well pleased.” The epiphany was the first true sign of the nature of our Lord.

Fire-the symbol of God’s presence
Fire is often used as a symbol of God. Exodus 13:21, God is like a pillar of fire by night. Exodus 24:17, the glory of God was like a devouring fire, and in Hebrews 12:29, God is a consuming fire. Jeremiah 23:29, says that the Word of God is like fire. Acts 2:3, there appeared cloven tongues like as fire, as in a "Baptism of fire”.

Fire represents, dying to self, purification, a change from the unholy to the holy. When we are saved, God takes us out of the world. When we receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, He takes the world out of us. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire gives a different presence to your being and you have a closer contact in your walk with God. The power in your life will be seen in your working relationships with God, and with people.

God's presence as fire represented both judgment and purification. To be in God's presence is to be in the presence of absolute holiness where no sin or unrighteousness can stand. To be in the presence of God is to have the overwhelming sense of one's uncleanness and the overwhelming desire to be clean. God is able to judge and destroy the sin and purify the repentant sinner.
 

What does it mean to be baptised in the Holy Spirit?
To be given the Holy Spirit is to be joined to Christ intimately, just as the body is joined to its head, for the Spirit is the vital power which unites and animates the members of the Body. It is to be regenerated, brought from spiritual death to life. It is to begin the process of sanctification, being brought into conformity with the very character of Christ. It is to be sealed for salvation, protected by the power of God. It is to enter into a commun-ion with God the Father through the Son that is potentially as intimate as anything that can be imagined, for the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us, to live inside of us as the very personal agent and representative of Christ himself. It is to be granted an inheritance with all the saints, to be made a partaker of eternal life. All these things Christ will give to those who are His when he "baptizes" them with the Holy Spirit. In other words, He gives them to us when we become Christians, when we receive Him as Lord and Saviour by faith. Once we truly receive the Holy Spirit, we will have an eternal connection with God, and worldly obstacles and challenges appear meaningless. God will become our life, as was intended.

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Saint of the Week

Saint Paul, First Hermit (+343)
Maronite Feast Day: January 5St Paul the Hermit should not be confused with St Paul the Apostle. He was named Saint Paul of Thebes, commonly known as St Paul the First Hermit or Paul the Anchorite. St Paul the Hermit is traditionally considered as the first saint living the solitary life. He was born around the year 228 in Alexandria, Egypt, of wealthy and noble parents. During the persecution of the Christians by Caesar Decius in 250, young Paul fled to the Desert in Thebes by the Red Sea and learned to en-joy his solitary life "alone with God alone" so much, that he remained there for the rest of his life. He lived nearly ninety years in prayerful solitude, constant penance, and contemplation of God. Before he died he was discovered by St Anthony the Abbot, who spread the news about his holiness.

It is believed that St Paul was kept alive by the fruit of a palm tree and by a raven which daily brought him a piece of bread. From the palm tree he would also make his clothes. He died at the age of 113. At the time of his death, two lions dug a grave for him.

This story is captured in the coat-of-arms of the Order, showing the palm tree, two lions and a raven. The Pauline Order chose St Paul the First Hermit as its Pa-tron and Patriarch and thus took the name "Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit".

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 COMMUNION AND WITNESS
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION for the MIDDLE EAST (12) 

PART TWO (2):
 
Patriarchs
39. As Fathers and Heads of Churches sui iuris, the Patriarchs are visible points of reference and watchful guardians of communion. By nature and mission, they are men of communion, charged with tending the flock of God (cf. 1 Pet 5:1-4), and servants of ecclesial unity. They exercise a ministry which works through charity lived authentically at all levels: between the Patriarchs themselves and between each Patriarch and the Bishops, priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful under his jurisdiction.

40. Patriarchs, whose indefectible union with the Bishop of Rome is rooted in the ecclesiastica communio which they request from the Pope following their canonical election, show by this special bond the Church’s universality and unity.[34] Their care extends to all the disciples of Jesus Christ living in the patriarchal territory. As a sign of communion in the service of witness, they should strive to strengthen union and solidarity within the Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the Middle East and the various patriarchal Synods, and recognize the need to consult one another in matters of great importance for the Church prior to taking a unified collegial action. For the credibility of their witness, Patriarchs should seek righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness and gentleness (cf. 1 Tim 6:11), and adopt a sober manner of life in imitation of Christ, who became poor so that by his poverty we might become rich (cf. 2 Cor 8:9).

They should also take care to promote concrete solidarity among the ecclesiastical jurisdictions through careful man-agement of personnel and the Church’s resources. This is part of their duties.[35] Following the example of Jesus, who passed through towns and villages in the fulfilment of his mission (cf. Mk 9:35), Patriarchs are to be zealous in making the required pastoral visitations.[36] They ought to do so not only as a means of exercising their right and duty of vigilance, but also as a practical sign of fraternal and paternal charity towards the Bishops, priests and lay faithful, and especially to-wards the poor, the sick and the outcast, and those who suffer spiritually.
Bishops

41. By virtue of his ordination, a Bishop becomes both a member of the College of Bishops and the pastor of a local community through his ministry of teaching, preaching and governance. With the Patriarchs, Bishops are visible signs of the unity in diversity which is proper to the Church as the Body whose Head is Christ (cf. Eph 4:12-15). They were the first to be freely chosen and sent forth to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that the risen Lord command-ed (cf. Mt 28:19-20).[37] Hence it is of vital importance that they themselves hear God’s word and treasure it in their hearts. They must proclaim it with courage, defending firmly the integrity and unity of the faith amid the difficult situations which, sadly, are all too common in the Middle East.

42. To promote the life of communion and diakonia, it is important for Bishops to strive constant-ly for their own personal renewal. This interior vigilance demands “above all a life of prayer, self-denial, sacrifice and listening to others; it also demands an exemplary life as apostles and pastors based on simplicity, poverty and humility; finally it includes a constant concern to defend truth, justice, sound morals and to protect the weak”.[38] The greatly-desired renewal of communities demands that Bishops show pastoral concern for all the baptized, and in a particular way for their closest co-workers, the priests.[39]

43. Communion within each local Church is the primary basis of communion between the Church-es, which is constantly nourished by the word of God and the sacraments, and by other forms of prayer. I encourage Bishops to show concern for all the faithful present in their jurisdiction, re-gardless of their social condition, nationality or Church of origin. They should shepherd the flock entrusted to them and watch over them, “not domineering over those in [their] charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet 5:3).

They should show particular concern for those who do not regularly practise their faith and those who for various reasons no longer practise the faith at all.[40] They should also strive to be Christ’s loving presence among those who do not profess the Christian faith. By so doing, they will promote unity among Christians themselves and solidarity between all men and women created in the image of God (cf. Gen 1:27), the Father from whom all things come and for whom we exist (cf. 1 Cor 8:6).

44. It is the duty of the Bishops to ensure that the temporal goods of the Church are managed wisely, honestly and transparently in accordance with the Code of Canons of the Eastern Church-es or the Code of Canon Law of the Latin Church. The Synod Fathers called for a serious audit of finances and holdings in order to avoid any possible confusion between personal and Church property.[41] The Apostle Paul calls the servant of God a steward of the mysteries of God: “and it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy” (1 Cor 4:2).

A steward administers property that is not his and which, according to the Apostle, is destined to a higher use, that of the mysteries of God (cf. Mt 19:28-30; 1 Pet 4:10). Such scrupulous and impartial management, called for by the monastic founders – the true pillars of many of the Eastern Churches – should be di-rected primarily to evangelization and charity. Bishops should see to it that priests, who are their first co-workers, receive a just remuneration so that they will not be distracted by temporal con-cerns but may devote themselves with dignity to the things of God and to their pastoral mission. Those who help the poor obtain heaven! Saint James insists on the respect due to the poor, their importance and their true place in the community (cf. 1:9-11; 2:1-9).

The administration of the Church’s goods must therefore become a clear way of proclaiming Jesus’ message of liberation: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk 4:18-19). The faithful steward is the one who has understood that the Lord alone is the pearl of great price (cf. Mt 13:45-46); he alone is our true treasure (Mt 6:19-21; 13:44). May every Bishop be a clear ex-ample of this to his priests, seminarians and faithful! Moreover, the alienation of Church goods should adhere strictly to the relevant canonical norms and current papal legislation.

Next Sunday: Priests, deacons and seminarians

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