Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church April 6-7, 2019 AN ACCEPTANCE OF SUFFERING By Bert Ghezzi We are tempted to believe that just by being good Christians we can make suffering go away. We imagine that God s promise of blessing means that he will spare us all pain. But it doesn t work that way. Jesus made suffering a normal part of the Christian life. He promised his disciples multiple blessings, but tacked onto the end of the good things he said they could expect was a promise of suffering: There is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times as much, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land and persecutions too now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life (Mark 10:29-30). So suffering is not an option for Christians. It s a guarantee. At root, the word suffering means enduring pain or distress, sustaining loss or damage, being subject to disability or sickness, and ultimately submitting to death. It comes in all shapes. Daily nuisances frustrate us. Repeated failures discourage us. Bills we cannot pay pressure us. A disintegrating relationship racks us. Depression defeats us. Violence wounds us or harms a loved one. Illness ravages us or overtakes a family member. Suffering afflicts everybody. Jesus not only promised suffering; he also made bearing personal crosses a daily requirement for all of his followers (see Luke 9:23, NIV). Making the sign of the cross proclaims our yes to this condition of discipleship. When we sign ourselves we are taking up our cross and accepting whatever suffering comes our way. With that ancient gesture we are saying that we welcome suffering on God s terms. And we are subordinating our will that would rather not endure pain to God, just as Jesus subordinated his will to his Father when he gave himself to the cross. So tracing Christ s cross over our body has serious consequences. Safety in the Shadow of His Wings Christians attempt to comfort sufferers by touting the benefits of suffering. Suffering builds character, we say. I don t want character, says the sufferer. I want relief. Then come the inevitable questions: Why does God let bad things happen? and Where is God when it hurts? The care that parents give their children suggests answers to both questions. For example, suppose a seven-year-old girl is taking her first ride on a bicycle. Her father, running alongside her, sees that she is about to hit a rough spot on the road but restrains his impulse to reach out and steady the bike. The dad wants his little girl to learn how to ride with confidence, so he does not prevent her fall. When the bike bounces off the bump, the girl panics, tumbles to the pavement, and scrapes her elbow and knee. The dad scoops her up into his arms and comforts her. Then he carries her into the house, cleans and dresses her QUOTE OF THE WEEK If God sends you many sufferings, it is a sign that He has great plans for you and certainly wants to make you a saint. St. Ignatius Loyola Fr. Vincent Farhat, Pastor Fr. David Fisher, Weekend Assistant Fr. Richard Cannuli, Weekend Assistant Mrs. Zeina Topalian, Religious Education Director Address: 1013 Ellsworth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 Office: 215-389-2000 Hall Reservations: 215-334-1884 Evening Emergency Number: 215-952-0712 or 561-371-5316 Website: www.saintmaron.org Church Office: saintmaronphiladelphia@hotmail.com Instagram Page: @saintmaronphiladelphia Facebook Page: Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church of Philadelphia OFFICE HOURS: The Church office will be open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.
scratches, holds her on his lap, and tells her a favorite story. God is like that dad. He lets us navigate our way, but he stays alongside us. He does not prevent bad things from happening because he wants us to learn to deal confidently with hardship. But when we suffer, God scoops us up and stays with us. He shares our pain, sustains us, and consoles us. That s the message of the cross, and signing ourselves opens us to hearing it. God s only Son became a man in Christ. In his human nature, God himself suffered rejection, humiliation, ridicule, abandonment, buffetings, scourging, crucifixion, and death. He embraced suffering as a man so that he could comfort us in our suffering. When we make the sign of the cross we invite the Lord to join us in our suffering. We touch our forehead and move down to our breast, telling the Lord with this gesture that we want him to bend down to us. Then we cross our shoulders in a movement that asks him to support us to shoulder us in our suffering. In many psalms, David sings of taking refuge beneath the Lord s wings, which the Church Fathers understood as a prophecy of our finding safety in the shadow of his crucified arms (see Psalms 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7). The Lord s outstretched arms pledge that he understands our suffering and shares it with us. Just as the psalms anticipate the grace of Christ s crucifixion, the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy provided another foreshadowing of the cross as a place of refuge. It reported Moses farewell address, in which he seemed to describe the silhouette of the cross in the far distance. He assured Israel that the arms of the Lord would uphold them through all their troubles: The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27, RSV). Today we see the cross clearly as a sign of God s mercy and consolation. I take advantage of the grace and support the Lord offers me with his outstretched arms. When trouble strikes, I sign myself often, saying, Lord, scoop me up in your everlasting arms, carry me through this trial, and comfort me. Strengthened by his response to that simple gesture and prayer, I find the hardship endurable. https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholicfaith/prayer/personal-prayerlife/experiencing-prayerful-moments/anacceptance-of-suffering NO DAILY LITURGIES ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS Due to out of town meetings, there will be no daily liturgies on April 8-11. This is only for the daily liturgies. I will be here for Stations of the Cross as well as weekend liturgies. WITH DEEPEST SYMPATHY I was informed that Charles Matter, the brother of Ann Matter passed away Thursday evening. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Ann and her entire family. May Almighty God welcome Charles into His kingdom and may his soul rest in peace. CONFESSION Please know that confession is available before liturgies. You may also call to set up an appointment. MYO PALM SUNDAY BAKE SALE The MYO will be selling mamoul, kaak, and other baked goods on Palm Sunday. Their annual bake sale helps the MYO children to attend the National MYO Retreat. Please support them by purchasing the delicious home-cooked pastries on Palm Sunday immediately following Divine Liturgy. Thank you for your support. BIBLE STUDY Fr. David will be having bible study on Thursday, May 2, at 7:00 PM in the Church hall. Hope to see you all there. DABKE SIGN UP Dabke sign-up sheets will be at the coffee station in the Church hall immediately following Divine Liturgy. There is one for the MYO and one for the other children. Please sign your children up as they will begin practice the week after Easter. Fadia Salloum will be teaching the younger and Claudine El Hajal will be teaching the MYO. Thank you for your assistance. PALM SUNDAY BRUNCH Palm Sunday brunch will be on April 14, immediately following Divine Liturgy. This year our brunch will offer two menus. We will have our traditional brunch that we normally have consisting of eggs, sausage, ham, potatoes, fruit salad, and danishes, as well as foul, hushwee and eggs, lebanee, olives, minooshee, and cucumbers and tomatoes. I am sure the variety of the menu will be well received by all members. Tickets will be on sale beginning today, March 31. Adults are $15.00 and children 12 and under are $10.00. There will be a visitor coming to see the children once again. Hope to see you all there. UPCOMING EVENTS Stations of the Cross, Friday, April 5 at 7:00 PM. Palm Sunday Brunch, Sunday, April 14, following Divine Liturgy. Good Friday Service and Lenten Meal, Friday, April 19, 2019. Ladies Day of Recollection, Saturday, April 27, 9:30-4:00 PM at St. John Paul II Maronite Church, 199 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY, 10591. $25.00 Donation.
DIVINE LITURGIES Saturday, April 6, @ 6:00 PM, Sunday, April 7, @ 11:00 AM, liturgy is offered for the souls of Akram Ajina and deceased members of the Ajina Family requested by Philip and Vivian Rai and family. May their souls rest in peace. Liturgy is being offered as a 40 day memorial for the soul of Albert Anderson, Sr., requested by his family. May his soul rest in peace. Monday, April 8, @ 11:00 AM, Tuesday, April 9, @ 11:00 AM, Wednesday, April 10, @ 6:00 PM, Thursday, April 11, @ 11:00 AM, Friday, April 12, @ 7:00 PM, Benediction of the Cross and Stations of the Cross Saturday, March 13, @ 6:00 PM, (Feast of St. John Climacus) liturgy is being offered for the soul of Frank Condo and the deceased members of the DeVito family requested by Chucky Simon. May their souls rest in peace. Sunday, March 14, @ 11:00 AM, liturgy is being offered for the deceased members of the Saliba and Kouri families requested by their family. May their souls rest in peace. BENEFIT FOR JANIE I would like to congratulate the CCD children who held a benefit for Janie. They exceeded their goal with your help and raised $222.00. This money will be used for food cards so that she will be able to sustain herself. Thank you to these beautiful children who took it upon themselves in showing mercy and compassion for those in need. God bless all of you. GOOD FRIDAY LENTEN DINNER Members of the Ladie s Club will be going around asking for food items for Good Friday Lenten Dinner. As you know, this day is very special and has grown in numbers over the past several years. We are asking everyone s help in bringing a dish to pass and/or soda s and bottle water. Thank you in advance for your help. IN OUR PRAYERS Please keep in your prayers Denise Flurey, George Khalil Sholy, Chucky Simon, Michael Winter, Kevin McCrea, Margaret Heesemann, Fran LoCastro, Kevin Khoury, Mirta Ruiz, Tina Grassi, Rita Impo, Lisa and Henry Schaffer, Jade Kellam, Marion Thomas Branca, Francesca Impo, Raja Kaldany, Lucy DiLuce, Cat Niven Glaze, Laurent Chidiac, Tom Hart, John Hart, Fadi Jaber, Joseph Realdine, Emily Stone, Roseann Anthony, Elaine Nader, Amelia Habib, Lisa Alestra, John Nader, Aminee Skaf, Yasmine Myers, Joey Gdowick, Francis Joseph Kerns, Samer Chokeir, Kathy Newman, Rita Arrigale, Helen Freedenberg, Maryann Bratton, Renee Sahar, Sister Nahida Al Sawa, Rose De Jesse, James Cordisio, Stacey Fuentes, Debbie Freedenberg, Noel Andjuhar, Angel Salerno, Dennis McGiney, and Bonnie Sabatini. We ask Almighty God to bless them with good health so that they may join us in the Church and give glory and thanksgiving to God. Schedule For Passion Week HOUSE FOR SALE House for sale, 2 bedrooms, hardwood floors, carpet and tiles, modern update in the area of 10 th and Ellsworth Street, $275,000. Please call 215-806-5050.
CCD REGISTRATION In preparation for the 2019-2020 CCD classes, Zeina Tapolian will be having early registration beginning Sunday, March 17. Forms will also be emailed to the parish. Please feel free to print these out and return the completed forms to Zeina or the Church office. Your early cooperation will be greatly appreciated. WEEKLY COLLECTION FOR March 30-31, 2019 Collection $ 1,465.00 Bishop s Appeal $ 400.00 M.Y.O Falafel San. $ 795.78 Fundraiser for Janie $ 222.00 Coffee Hour $ 21.00 Total: $ 2,903.78 PLEASE REMEMBER TO SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES AND BEEPERS WHEN YOU ENTER THE CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church First Reading 2 Corinthians 10:1-7 April 6-7, 2019 A reading from the Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians. Your blessing father Brothers and Sisters: I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold towards you when I am away! I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards. Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards; for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete. Look at what is before your eyes. If you are confident that you belong to Christ, remind yourself of this, that just as you belong to Christ, so also do we. Praise be to God always. فصل من رسالة القد يس بولس الثانية إلى أهل قورنتس ح ل م ه أ ن ا الم ت واض ع ب ي ن ك م ع ن د م ا أ ك ون ح اض ر ا يا إخو ت ي أ ن ا ب ول س ن ف سي أ ن اش د ك م ب و د اع ة الم س يح و والج ريء ع ل ي ك م ع ن د ما أ كون غ ائ ب ا. وأ ر ج و أ ال أ ج ب ر ع ن د ح ض ور ي أ ن أ ك ون ج ريئ ا ب الث ق ة ال تي لي ب ك م ن س ل ك ك أ ن اس ج س د ي ين. أ ج ل إ ن نا ن ح ي ا في الج س د ولك ن نا وال تي أ ن و ي أ ن أ ج ر ؤ ب ه ا ع لى ال ذين ي ح س ب ون أ ن نا الح ص و ن ال ن ح ار ب ك أ ن اس ج س د ي ين ق اد ر ة ب ٱهلل ع لى ه د م أ س ل ح ة ج ه اد نا ل ي س ت ج س د ي ة ب ل هي أل ن الم ن يع ة فإ ن نا ن ه د م األ ف ك ار الخ اط ئ ة وك ل ش م وخ ي ر ت ف ع ض د م ع ر ف ة ٱهلل ون أ س ر ك ل ف ك ر ل ط اع ة الم س يح. ون ح ن م س ت ع د ون أ ن ن ع اق ب ك ل ع ص ي ان م تى ك م ل ت ط اع ت ك م. إ ن ك م ت ح ك م ون ع لى الم ظ اه ر! إ ن ك ان أ ح د و اث ق ا ب ن ف س ه أ ن ه ل لم سيح ف ل ي ف ك ر في ن ف س ه أ ن ه ك م ا هو ل لم سيح ك ذل ك ن ح ن أ ي ض ا. والتسبيح هلل دائما.
Gospel Reading Saint Mark 10:46-52 The Apostle Writes: They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus stood still and said, Call him here. And they called the blind man, saying to him, Take heart; get up, he is calling you. So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, What do you want me to do for you? The blind man said to him, My teacher, let me see again. Jesus said to him, Go; your faith has made you well. Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. This is the truth. Peace be with you. م ن إ ن جي ل الق د ي س مرقس ب ي ن م ا ي س وع خ ار ج م ن أ ر يحا ه و وت الم يذ ه وج م ع غ ف ير ك ان ب ر ط يم ا أ ي ٱب ن ط يم ا وه و ش ح اذ أ ع م ى ي ص ر خ وي ق ول:»ي ا ي س وع ٱب ن د او د ٱر ح م ن ي!«. ج ال س ا ع ل ى ج ان ب الط ريق.فل م ا س م ع أ ن ه ي س وع الن اص ر ي ب د أ ف ٱن ت ه ر ه أ ن اس ك ث ير ون ل ي س ك ت إ ال أ ن ه ك ان ي ز د اد ص ر اخ ا:»ي ا ٱب ن د او د ٱر ح م ن ي!«. فو ق ف ي س وع وق ال:»أ د ع وه!«. ف د ع وا األ ع م ى ق ائ ل ين ل ه :»ث ق وٱن ه ض! إ ن ه ي د ع وك«. فط ر ح األ ع م ى ر د اء ه وو ث ب وج اء إ لى ي س وع.فق ال ل ه ي س وع: «م اذ ا ت ر يد أ ن أ ص ن ع ل ك «. قال ل ه األ ع م ى:»ر اب ون ي أ ن أ ب ص ر!«. فق ال ل ه ي س وع: ول ل وق ت ع اد ي ب ص ر. ور اح ي ت ب ع ي س وع في الط ر يق. «إ ذ ه ب! إ ي م ان ك خ ل ص ك «. حق ا واألمان لجميعكم.