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The Epiphany of Our Lord

6 Jan – The Baptism of Jesus

7 Jan – Praises to John the Baptist

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Saint Rafqa’s final resting place in Lebanon. #StRafqa #Maronite On 23 March we remember St Rafqa, a remarkable woman, who lived a humble life. Although she suffered, she never complained and continued to give thanks for the opportunity to share in Christ’s passion. We ask for the intercession of Saint Rafqa for all those who are suffering, may the Lord comfort them. Like St Rafqa may we be able to join our suffering with Jesus’ suffering on the cross. Read more about St Rafqa at livingmaronite.com Link in our bio on Stations of the Cross developed by us for contemplation. We have included the Maronite hymns and some Psalms, but it is not necessary to use them. They are designed for use at home for families. We hope your Lenten experience is proving rewarding. On the third Sunday of lent we hear about the healing of two women. While on his way to heal the daughter of the synagogue official, Jairus, Jesus stops and heals the haemorrhaging woman. Jacob of Serugh in his homily on the Gospel expands on the narrative to explain the meaning of the Gospel. He explains that the women has confided in her women friends, spent all her money on doctors and is in despair. Jacob narrates her addressing her illness, chiding it for not going away. She hears reports of Jesus’ healing miracle, which is for free. She is determined to reach him. However, she is in a state of ritual uncleanness, and will not be able to get to Jesus (see Leviticus 150). Addressing herself, she says: ”If my illness has not kept the law of nature and gone away, I for my part will not go along with the Law of Moses which holds me to be unclean. Here is someone who cleanses the unclean, so I will disclose my state to the Lord of Moses in an unobtrusive way and steal up to touch the edge of his garment”. She presses forward, hiding her face and prays in secret. Christ hears her prayer and slows down so that she can catch him. When she is close he discretely holds out the end of his garment for her to touch. The flow of blood disappears and she is healed. Jacob focuses on the significance of Jesus’ question ”Who touched me”. Of course Jesus knew who touched him. The question forces the woman out and allows Christ to publicly acknowledge that it is the woman’s faith that has led to her healing Jacob closes the homily by comparing the history of the woman to that of humanity. Like her flow of blood which refused to heal despite the efforts of many doctors, humanity persisted in sin, refusing to listen to the succession of prophets. Jesus has brought about atonement for the world. Jairus also trusted in the Lord and his dead daughter was bought to life. This is symbolic of the fact that Christ came to heal the living and the dead. We also must have faith and put our trust in the Lord. We should ask ourselves. What is in me that needs healing? What it is that has been draining me of energy? How my condition has made me feel unclean, isolated, and alone? After midnight last night I received an open letter from a Muslim friend. Over the past couple of years, she stopped writing and speaking openly in Australian media because she was subjected to an anti-Muslim hate campaign. She could no longer take the violence and hate that would be aimed at her young family and at her whenever she wrote something. I ask you to read my friends own words of how she is feeling. For all those who have ever had a view about how evil Islam is or how evil Muslims are, either on social media or in the secrecy of the walls of your own home, this is a reminder that your views and words have wider consequences. Today as individuals and as a nation we must take a collective responsibility for our words, for every time we have vilified the 'other', for every time we have failed to speak up for those who have been silenced and for all those times, we have remained silent in the face of wrong. To my friend, today I will lament with you and out of this grief, brokenness and hurt there is hope. Today, I will share your voice with the world, because I know you can't. Read the article and her letter at livingmaronite.com. - Theresa Simon #Christchurch #Unity A message from Bishop Antoine Charbel Tarabay. As I receive news and updates of the horrific attack on our brothers from the Muslim community in New Zealand, I raise prayers for all the victims and their families. This attack is against all human values and humanity itself, not just against one religion. May God grant rest to all the deceased and comfort to their families.

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