Why does God permit the devil to tempt us?

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1 PARISH DIRECTORY Bishop Francis Kalabat Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle of Detroit Fr. Sanharib Youkhanna Rector Fr. Patrick Setto Parochial Vicar Fr. Emanuel Rayes Retired in residence Linda Arabo Office Administrator Aiser Shammami Pastoral Associate Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Tel: Fax: FEBRUARY 24TH, TH OF EPIPHANY Why does God permit the devil to tempt us? God's ways are certainly not our ways. hen we are progressing in virtue, often we will be blindsided by a strong temptation. It can be difficult to avoid it and we may even fall from grace, giving in to our sinful passions. At this point we may ask God, Why do you permit such temptations? I was so close to being good! Italian priest Fr. Lorenzo Scupoli offered his explanation of why God permits temptations in his spiritual classic The Spiritual Combat. Scupoli writes, We are by nature proud, ambitious, and ever mindful to the whims of our sense appetites. Hence it is that we are apt to flatter ourselves continually, and esteem ourselves out of all proportion to our merit. Such presumption is so great an obstacle to our spiritual progress, that the slightest taint of it impedes us in the attainment of true perfection. (Continued in page 2) ONLINE GIVING Mother of God Parish offers online giving a web based electronic contribution application that is safe and secure. you can manage contributions online or continue having your offering envelopes mailed to you. To sign up for online giving please visit our website at Stay in touch with your parish on FACEBOOK Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church من من ا ال يشعر بالكآبة صالة رائعة كان بادري بيو يتلوها لمحاربة االكتئاب (aleteia.org/ar) ايليلو /رامو ابقى معي يو رب ألنني احيوج ايى اجودك فال انسوك. فأنت تعرف بأية سهوية اتخلى عنك. ابقى معي يو رب ألنني ضعلف اانو احيوج ايى قوتك فال اسقط غويبو. ابقى معي يو رب ألنك حلوتي ادانك انو دان حرارة. ابقى معي يو رب ألنك نوري ادانك انو في ايظلمة. ابقى معي يو رب ألعرف مشلئيك. ابقى معي يو رب ألسمع صوتك ااتبعك. ابقى معي يو رب ألنني ارغب بمحبيك كثلرا ابأن اكون دائمو في رفقيك. ابقى معي يو رب إن اردتني ان اكون افلو يك. ابقى معي يو رب ألنني اعلى ايرغم من فقر نفسي اريدهو ان تكون مسوحة تعزي ة يك امرتع محبة. 1 Mother of God Church Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48033

2 THE GOOD NEWS Continued from page (1) When God recognizes such pride, Scupoli explains, he permits a temptation to humble us and remind us of our need to rely on God. Scupoli gives the examples of Sts. Peter and Paul. Did He not once rescue the erring Peter when He permitted that Apostle to deny Him, and forswear any knowledge of his Lord? Did He not grant to Peter self-knowledge and strength to cast aside his dangerous presumption? Did He not similarly deal with St. Paul when, in order to preserve him from this insidious vice and prevent him from making an improper use of the sublime revelations entrusted to him, He permitted a troublesome temptation to constantly remind the Apostle of his weakness? In the end, God permits such temptations for our ultimate good. This does not mean that we should embrace the temptation, but that we should resist it with all of our strength, seeing it as a test of our faith in God. His ways are often mysterious and are certainly not our ways. God is able to bring a great amount of good from evil, the prime example being the crucifixion. The key is to always remain humble in the sight of God, recognizing our own weaknesses and trusting firmly in God s heavenly graces. God should be our rock and our strength in times of trial and while he may permit a strong temptation from the devil, he does so that we may progress along the path of perfection. By: Philip Kosloski صالة لتحرير العائلة من كل مصيبة روحي ة وزمني ة وتحمي أوالدكم صالة للقديسة مارتا من أجل حماية العائلة مورتو هي اخت ايلعوزار اهو ايرجل ايذي اقومه يسوع من ايموت. ال نعرف ايكثلر عنهو بل فقط مو يذكره انجلل ي يوقو ايوحنو. ايراي انجلل يوقو كلف خدمت مورتو بمحبة يسوع عندمو زار منزيهو. كونت مورتو تحضر ايطعوم يلسوع اتالملذه امنهمكة في اييحضلر. اعيبرت ان ايمهمة كونت ييكون اسهل يو تسوعدهو شقلقيهو يكنهو الحظت بأنهو جويسة بصمت عند اقدام يسوع تصغي إيله. طلبت من يسوع ان يأمر اخيهو بويمسوعدة. كون يسوع راض جدا بويخدمة اييي تقدمهو يه مورتو يكنه اراد ان تدرك ان كلمة للا اايصالة اهم بعد. فقول يهو يسوع: مورتو مورتو تهيملن بأمور كثلرة اايمطلوب ااحد. ال يعني ذيك ان ايخدمة يلست مهمة إال انه عللنو ان نسيجلب ااال يدعوة ايرب ااإلصغوء يكالمه. إليكم صالة األمهات وربات المنازل الى القديسة مارتا يو اييهو ايقديسة مورتو يو من تشرفت مرات عديدة افرحت بوسيقبول يسوع في منزيك اخدميه شخصلو ااسيميعت انت ااخوك ايلعوزار ااخيك مريم ايمجديل ة بنقوش سمواي معه صلي من اجلي امن اجل عوئليي يكي نعلش من خاليه ايسالم اايحب ايميبودل ايطلع كل افراد ايعوئلة كلمة للا فلملك للا احده على منزينو ال ايعويم اا ايخطلئة. حرري عوئليي من كل مصلبة راحل ة ازمنل ة اسوعديني على االهيموم بأاالدي ااعطني ان اراهم دامو ميحدين بمراي من اآلب ايسمواي على األرض ألراهم بعدهو ميحدين ايضو في ايملكوت. آملن. بيلدوراا دو يي/أليتيا 2

3 PARISH SCHEDULE AND WEEKLY INFORMATION BAPTISM: We celebrate Baptism at 2:00 pm on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Please call the parish office at least two weeks in advance to see if a date is available. ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Please call the parish office to make arrangements for Anointing or to receive the Eucharist. MARRIAGE: Please schedule at least six months before you plan to be married and before you make arrangements for the reception, please call the parish office to make an appointment with the priest to begin the necessary preparations. LITURGICAL SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil Mass 4:00 PM English Sunday Masses 8:30 AM عربي/ Arabic 01:11AM English 11:30 AM Morning Prayer 12:00 PM سورث/ Chaldean 7:00 PM English Weekday Masses 8:00 AM English at ECRC 9:30 AM Morning Prayer 10:00 AM سورث/ Chaldean NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASSES First and third Wednesday of every even month from 7:30-9:30 pm. MARRIAGE CLASSES First four Thursdays of every even month from 7:00-10:00 pm For more information please visit: Wednesday 5:00 PM Adoration 6:00 PM English Mass Confession 5-6 pm Wednesday 6-7 pm Sunday (or by appointment) FINANCIAL STATUS Sunday Goal: $7,000 Sunday Collection (February 17): $6,491 Over/(Under): $(509) YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR CHALDEAN PARISHES SUNDAY HOMILIES BY DOWNLOADING PODCASTS APP ON YOUR PHONES AND SUBSCRIBING TO ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN DIOCESE Monthly Online Donation Goal: $4,000 Monthly Online Collection (Jan): $3,255 Over/(Under): $(745) *Sign up for online donation at 3

4 SAINT OF THE WEEK Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows Born in Italy into a large family and baptized Francis, Saint Gabriel lost his mother when he was only four years old. He was educated by the Jesuits and, having been cured twice of serious illnesses, came to believe that God was calling him to the religious life. Young Francis wished to join the Jesuits but was turned down, probably because of his age, not yet 17. Following the death of a sister to cholera, his resolve to enter religious life became even stronger and he was accepted by the Passionists. Upon entering the novitiate he was given the name Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. Ever popular and cheerful, Gabriel quickly was successful in his effort to be faithful in little things. His spirit of prayer, love for the poor, consideration of the feelings of others, exact observance of the Passionist Rule as well as his bodily penances always subject to the will of his wise superiors made a deep impression on everyone. His superiors had great expectations of Gabriel as he prepared for the priesthood, but after only four years of religious life symptoms of tuberculosis appeared. Ever obedient, he patiently bore the painful effects of the disease and the restrictions it required, seeking no special notice. He died peacefully on February 27, 1862, at age 24, having been an example to both young and old. Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was canonized in Reflection When we think of achieving great holiness by doing little things with love and grace, Therese of Lisieux comes first to mind. Like her, Gabriel died painfully from tuberculosis. Together they urge us to tend to the small details of daily life, to be considerate of others feelings every day. Our path to sanctity, like theirs, probably lies not in heroic doings but in performing small acts of kindness every day. Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows is the Patron Saint of: Clergy Students Young People 4

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7 THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY SECTION ONE THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY CHAPTER TWO THE SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION OF THE PASCHAL MYSTERY Article 1 CELEBRATING THE CHURCH'S LITURGY II. How is the Liturgy Celebrated? 1156 "The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. the main reason for this preeminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy." 20 The composition and singing of inspired psalms, often accompanied by musical instruments, were already closely linked to the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant. the Church continues and develops this tradition: "Address... one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." "He who sings prays twice." Song and music fulfill their function as signs in a manner all the more significant when they are "more closely connected... with the liturgical action," 22 according to three principal criteria: beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and the solemn character of the celebration. In this way they participate in the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful: 23 How I wept, deeply moved by your hymns, songs, and the voices that echoed through your Church! What emotion I experienced in them! Those sounds flowed into my ears distilling the truth in my heart. A feeling of devotion surged within me, and tears streamed down my face - tears that did me good The harmony of signs (song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who celebrate. 25 Hence "religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services," in conformity with the Church's norms, "the voices of the faithful may be heard." But "the texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources." 26 Holy images 1159 The sacred image, the liturgical icon, principally represents Christ. It cannot represent the invisible and incomprehensible God, but the incarnation of the Son of God has ushered in a new "economy" of images: Previously God, who has neither a body nor a face, absolutely could not be represented by an image. But now that he has made himself visible in the flesh and has lived with men, I can make an image of what I have seen of God... and contemplate the glory of the Lord, his face unveiled Christian iconography expresses in images the same Gospel message that Scripture communicates by words. Image and word illuminate each other: We declare that we preserve intact all the written and unwritten traditions of the Church which have been entrusted to us. One of these traditions consists in the production of representational artwork, which accords with the history of the preaching of the Gospel. For it confirms that the incarnation of the Word of God was real and not imaginary, and to our benefit as well, for realities that illustrate each other undoubtedly reflect each other's meaning. 28 7

8 ANNOUNCEMENTS Both First Communion and Catechism Classes will resume this week. First Communion classes will resume on Tuesday, February 26, and Catechism classes will resume on Saturday, March 2nd. Throughout Lent, beginning on March 4 th, Mother of God Church will have The Stations of the Cross on Fridays. In Chaldean and Arabic at 5pm followed by Mass at 6pm, and at 7pm in English, directly followed by reflections with Bishop Francis. The Burning Hearts: Lives of the Saints program presented by Father Patrick Setto, will be returning at the beginning of Lent! We encourage all parishioners to join us th every Wednesday, starting March 6, at 7pm in the church hall. Registration for Vacation Bible Study will open on Monday, March 4th at 10:00am. VBS is a summer Bible study for children kindergarten-fifth grade. There will be three weeks available at St. Thomas July 8-12, July 15-19, and July 22-29, and one week available at Mother of God from July 29-August 2. Please note each week is a repeat of the last, and no individual week will build on material from any previous week. The cost is $50 per child, for registration please visit the ECRC website. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce Proverbs 3:9 Easy * Fast * Secure 8

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