I hope you are all in good health and spirits!
This Sunday, we read from the Gospel of St Matthew about Jesus choosing His twelve disciples and sending them into the world. In the choice of the twelve apostles, we notice that Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were not professionals, nor rich or powerful. They were chosen from the common people. It is through Him that they become strong. Similarly, we are all called to be the Lord’s disciples in this day and age. We should not worry about our abilities but trust that God will take what we can offer and use it for His glory. Let us always repeat ‘Lord, you have chosen me to be Your disciple. Take and use what I can offer, however meagre it may seem, for the greater glory of Your name.’
To read more about this week’s Gospel and readings, please click on the link below:
Feast of Abouna Yacoub the Capuchin- June 26
On June 26, we celebrate the feast of Blessed Abouna Yacoub the Capuchin. Blessed Yacoub was born Khalil Haddad in 1875 in Lebanon, the third of a family of 14 children. At the age of 18, he joined the Capuchin Order and chose the name Yacoub. During that period, Lebanon was going through a difficult time due to conflict and starvation. With God’s grace, he undertook numerous charity works including the construction of homes for the elderly, poor and orphans, health centers for abandoned children, hospitals and nursing homes including the Christ the King centre. He also founded the Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Cross. He spent long hours in prayer and had a true sense of hope, doing everything for the glory of God. He did his best to do charitable works and let God do the impossible. He died on June 26, 1954, at the age of 80 and was beatified in Lebanon in June 2008.
We ask for his intercession so we may become witnesses to our Christian faith and carry to the world a message of peace and charity and conserve the dignity and rights of all people, especially the poor, without any distinctions.
A short biography about Blessed Abouna Yacoub in Arabic can be found in this week’s issue of Kadishat.
I wish you a blessed week!
In God’s Love,
20th Year—Number 1014 Sunday 24/06/2012
Season of the Pentecost
5th Sunday
Readings of this Sunday: 1 Corinthians 2: 11-16 & Luke 10: 21-24
The kingdom of Heaven is close at hand
“He summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon who is known as Peter and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot who was also his betrayer. These twelve Jesus sent out instructing them as follows:
'Do not make your way to gentile territory and do not enter any Samaritan town; go instead to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go proclaim that the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. ”
Matthew 10: 1-7
Reflection of the Week
The Kingdom of heaven is at hand
In today’s Gospel Jesus directed his disciples, not only to whom to preach, but also WHAT to preach. They were to say, as he had said, and as John the Baptist had said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." These words contained a solemn warning; they signified that the opportunity of entering the kingdom was afforded, and might soon be over.
Jesus calls His twelve Apostles after recommending to them to pray to the Lord to send labourers into His harvest (Matthew 9:38). Christians' apostolic action should always, then, be preceded and accompanied by a life of constant prayer. Our Lord starts His Church by calling twelve men to be, as it were, twelve patriarchs of the new people of God, the Church. This new people are established not by physical but by spiritual generation.
The twelve
The names of those Apostles are specifically mentioned here. They were not scholarly, powerful or important people: they were average, had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages. They were ordinary people who responded faithfully to the grace of their calling --all of them, that is, except Judas Iscariot.
In the choice of the twelve apostles we see a characteristic feature of God's work: Jesus chose very ordinary people. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work through and in you for his glory?
========================================================================
Prayer for vocations
Blessed Pope John-Paul II, Prayer for vocations, 35th World Day of Voca-tions, May 3, 1998
========================================================================
Saints of the Week:
Birth of St John Baptist
Maronite Feast Day: June 24
In both the scriptures and in the Church's liturgy John the Baptizer is refered to as an angel, prophet, apostle, hermit and martyr, for these terms well describe his life and work.
John, like the angels was sent from God to be the messanger of the Lord. His message was that of the prophets who came before him: repent for the messiah of God is at hand. Like the apostles who followed him, John pointed to Jesus and proclaimed him as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." He prepares for his ministry as a hermit in the desert, living a life of prayer, fasting and continence. And, like all those who dare to proclaim the truth, he suffered a martyr's death in fidelity to the word of God.
John, in fact, closely resembles the Lord Jesus in his birth, life and death. As Jesus was perfect, so John sought out, not only personal perfection, but also the perfect One, Jesus Christ.
The birth of John was announced by the Archangel Gabriel who would also announce Christ's birth. His birth, like that of the Lord, was surrounded by improbability and wonder: for an aged couple, with no hope of offspring, the anger gives the joyful news of the birth of a son, John.
While in the womb, John was sanctified for his mission of preaching reo pentance and pointing out the messiah. Before their births Jesus and John encountered each other in the persons of their mothers. As Mary greeted Elizabeth, John (still in the womb) jumped for joy as he recognized the presence of Jesus in the womb of Mary. Thus John was born to grace before his human birth. Since he was to prepare the Lord's way, it was only proper that he should be prepared by God's grace for his prophetic work.
May the prayers of John the Baptizer be with us. Amen.
Saints Peter and Paul
Maronite Feast Day: June 29.
Saints Peter and Paul are the principle pillars of the Church founded by Christ. Their contributions in the early formation of the Church complement each other. Starting with Saint Peter, the followers of Christ have a visible sign of unity and communion with the message and life of Jesus. Saint Paul ensured that the early Church, which was built on Jewish foundations, would be extended to the Gentiles worldwide. As Christ had commanded His Apostles - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...".
In the New Testament, we see Peter form a unique relationship with Jesus as the leader of the Apostles. St. Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero, in about the year 64 AD. He was buried at the hill of the Vatican; recent excavations have revealed his tomb on the very site of St. Peter's Basilica. Saint Peter’s life was nourished by his love of Jesus. From denial to death, he underwent an amazing journey of faith.
At Saint Paul’s conversion, we see the transformation take place from devoted Pharisee to one of the most powerful instruments in the new Church of Christ. Paul's central conviction was simple and absolute: Only God can save humanity; to be saved from sin, from the devil and from death, humanity must open itself completely to the saving power of Jesus.
========================================================================
The Maronites
and Lebanon (15)
After the fall of the Ummayads and the rise of the Abbassids in 750, and until the first crusade in 1098, the East suffered from chaos and instability. Syria, Lebanon and Palestine became one closed field of battle, the focus of all the intrigues, cross road of the nations, and it even became a prize for all conquerors; taken and retaken by others. The neighboring States (Byzantines, Seljuk, and Fatimids) fought over this land and exchanged control over it several times. It was for about 3 centuries a bloody battleground.
How did the Maronites survive under these circumstances?
Living in this critical situation and in the face of continual struggles, the Maronites fled to the mountains, strengthened their military force, and managed to maintain relative autonomy. The Lebanese mountain became for them a place for freedom. They tilled the land and turned the rugged terrain into a fertile one. This prosperity was also spiritual, many hermits lived in Mount Lebanon, isolated in their caves, continuously praying and glorifying God . The owners of large estates in Lebanon, desiring to become military leaders over the peasants, formed with the encouragement of the clergy, a small Maronite nation with a feudal hierarchy. This nation had a strong patriotic feeling often manifesting itself in times of distress and in support to their Patriarch.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the region became a refuge for the oppressed and persecuted Christians. This persecution engendered the Crusades in 1098.
Next Sunday:
Crusaders ...400 years before
the Crusaders(2)
What do we understand by the crusades?
========================================================================
Links:
========================================================================
Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay
Rector
St. Charbel’s College and Church
142 Highclere Avenue
PUNCHBOWL NSW 2196
========================================================================
Rector
St. Charbel’s College and Church
142 Highclere Avenue
PUNCHBOWL NSW 2196
20th Year—Number 1014 Sunday 24/06/2012
Season of the Pentecost
5th Sunday
Readings of this Sunday: 1 Corinthians 2: 11-16 & Luke 10: 21-24
The kingdom of Heaven is close at hand
“He summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon who is known as Peter and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot who was also his betrayer. These twelve Jesus sent out instructing them as follows:
'Do not make your way to gentile territory and do not enter any Samaritan town; go instead to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go proclaim that the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. ”
Matthew 10: 1-7
Reflection of the Week
The Kingdom of heaven is at hand
In today’s Gospel Jesus directed his disciples, not only to whom to preach, but also WHAT to preach. They were to say, as he had said, and as John the Baptist had said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." These words contained a solemn warning; they signified that the opportunity of entering the kingdom was afforded, and might soon be over.
Jesus calls His twelve Apostles after recommending to them to pray to the Lord to send labourers into His harvest (Matthew 9:38). Christians' apostolic action should always, then, be preceded and accompanied by a life of constant prayer. Our Lord starts His Church by calling twelve men to be, as it were, twelve patriarchs of the new people of God, the Church. This new people are established not by physical but by spiritual generation.
The names of those Apostles are specifically mentioned here. They were not scholarly, powerful or important people: they were average, had no wealth or position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages. They were ordinary people who responded faithfully to the grace of their calling --all of them, that is, except Judas Iscariot.
In the choice of the twelve apostles we see a characteristic feature of God's work: Jesus chose very ordinary people. Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work through and in you for his glory?
========================================================================
Prayer for vocations
“Jesus sent these men on mission as the Twelve”
Spirit of eternal Love, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
we thank you for all the vocations to be apostles
and saints that have made the Church fruitful.
Continue your work, we beg you.
Remember the moment when, on Pentecost,
you came down on the apostles united in prayer together with Mary,
the mother of Jesus, and look at your Church,
which today has a special need for holy priests,
for faithful and authorized witnesses of your grace,
which needs consecrated men and women who
radiate the joy of those who live only for the Father,
of those who make their own the mission and offering of Christ,
of those who build the new world in love.
Holy Spirit, eternal Source of joy and peace,
you open our hearts and minds to the divine call;
you make effective every surge to-wards the good,
towards truth, towards love.
Your inexpressible groanings rise up to the Father from
the heart of the Church that is suffering and struggling for the Gospel.
Open the hearts and minds of young men and women,
so that a new flowering of holy vocations might show forth the fidelity of your love,
and that all might know Christ,
the true light who came into the world to give
every human being the assured hope of eternal life.
Amen.
========================================================================
Saints of the Week:
Birth of St John Baptist
Maronite Feast Day: June 24
In both the scriptures and in the Church's liturgy John the Baptizer is refered to as an angel, prophet, apostle, hermit and martyr, for these terms well describe his life and work. John, like the angels was sent from God to be the messanger of the Lord. His message was that of the prophets who came before him: repent for the messiah of God is at hand. Like the apostles who followed him, John pointed to Jesus and proclaimed him as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." He prepares for his ministry as a hermit in the desert, living a life of prayer, fasting and continence. And, like all those who dare to proclaim the truth, he suffered a martyr's death in fidelity to the word of God.
John, in fact, closely resembles the Lord Jesus in his birth, life and death. As Jesus was perfect, so John sought out, not only personal perfection, but also the perfect One, Jesus Christ.
The birth of John was announced by the Archangel Gabriel who would also announce Christ's birth. His birth, like that of the Lord, was surrounded by improbability and wonder: for an aged couple, with no hope of offspring, the anger gives the joyful news of the birth of a son, John.
While in the womb, John was sanctified for his mission of preaching reo pentance and pointing out the messiah. Before their births Jesus and John encountered each other in the persons of their mothers. As Mary greeted Elizabeth, John (still in the womb) jumped for joy as he recognized the presence of Jesus in the womb of Mary. Thus John was born to grace before his human birth. Since he was to prepare the Lord's way, it was only proper that he should be prepared by God's grace for his prophetic work.
May the prayers of John the Baptizer be with us. Amen.
Saints Peter and Paul
Maronite Feast Day: June 29.
Saints Peter and Paul are the principle pillars of the Church founded by Christ. Their contributions in the early formation of the Church complement each other. Starting with Saint Peter, the followers of Christ have a visible sign of unity and communion with the message and life of Jesus. Saint Paul ensured that the early Church, which was built on Jewish foundations, would be extended to the Gentiles worldwide. As Christ had commanded His Apostles - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...".
In the New Testament, we see Peter form a unique relationship with Jesus as the leader of the Apostles. St. Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero, in about the year 64 AD. He was buried at the hill of the Vatican; recent excavations have revealed his tomb on the very site of St. Peter's Basilica. Saint Peter’s life was nourished by his love of Jesus. From denial to death, he underwent an amazing journey of faith.
At Saint Paul’s conversion, we see the transformation take place from devoted Pharisee to one of the most powerful instruments in the new Church of Christ. Paul's central conviction was simple and absolute: Only God can save humanity; to be saved from sin, from the devil and from death, humanity must open itself completely to the saving power of Jesus.
========================================================================
The Maronites
and Lebanon (15)
Crusaders... 400 years
before the Crusaders
How did the Maronites survive under these circumstances?
Living in this critical situation and in the face of continual struggles, the Maronites fled to the mountains, strengthened their military force, and managed to maintain relative autonomy. The Lebanese mountain became for them a place for freedom. They tilled the land and turned the rugged terrain into a fertile one. This prosperity was also spiritual, many hermits lived in Mount Lebanon, isolated in their caves, continuously praying and glorifying God . The owners of large estates in Lebanon, desiring to become military leaders over the peasants, formed with the encouragement of the clergy, a small Maronite nation with a feudal hierarchy. This nation had a strong patriotic feeling often manifesting itself in times of distress and in support to their Patriarch.It is worthwhile to mention here that the region became a refuge for the oppressed and persecuted Christians. This persecution engendered the Crusades in 1098.
Next Sunday:
Crusaders ...400 years before
the Crusaders(2)
What do we understand by the crusades?
========================================================================
Links:
Join us on facebook to get notified about the next post:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Charbels-Maronite-Catholic-Church-Sydney/365277440154672
http://www.stcharbel.org.au/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Charbels-Maronite-Catholic-Church-Sydney/365277440154672
http://www.stcharbel.org.au/
========================================================================
