Catholic Maronite Readings

Why did our Lord change water into wine as his first sign? It was to show how God, who transforms nature into something else, also works his transformation in the womb of the Virgin. In the same way, as the crown of his miraculous deeds, Jesus opened a tomb to make known his freedom with regard to the death that is hungry to swallow up everything. To both authenticate and confirm the twofold reversal of nature brought by his birth and his resurrection, Jesus changed water into wine without in any way altering the stone water-jars. This was the symbol of his own body, miraculously conceived and wonderfully created in a virgin without the working of a man… Contrary to their normal use, the jars… brought new wine into the world without ever repeating the same miracle again. In the same way the Virgin conceived and brought Emmanuel into the world (Is 7,14) without afterwards conceiving again. The miracle of the stone water-jars was that what was small became great, sparseness was changed into superabundance, plain water into sweet wine… In Mary, on the other hand, the greatness and glory of the godhead changed its appearance to take on the aspect of weakness and humiliation. Those jars were used for the Jewish purifications; into them our Lord poured his teaching: he demonstrated that he came according to the Law and the prophets but with the purpose of changing them all through his teaching as the water became wine… “The Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn 1,17). The bridegroom who lived in Cana invited the Bridegroom from heaven, and the Lord, who was ready for that wedding, answered his invitation. Those seated at table invited him who sets worlds in his Kingdom, and he sent them a wedding gift able to delight them… They had no wine even of an ordinary sort; he poured a little from his own abundance for them. In return for their invitation he himself invited them to his own wedding.
maronite readings – rosary,team

Do violence to yourself (cf Mt 11:12), strive to copy Christ’s humility so that the fire he has cast into you may burn ever brighter: the fire with which all this-worldly compulsions, which destroy the new man and defile the dwellings of our holy and mighty Lord, are consumed. For I affirm, along with Saint Paul, that “we are the temple of God” (2Cor 6:16). So let us purify his temple “as he himself is pure” (1Jn 3:3) so that he may have a desire to dwell there; let us make it holy as he himself is holy (1Pt 1:16) and adorn it with every good and worthy deed. Let us fill the temple of the dwelling place of his will as with incense: by pure prayer, the heartfelt prayer that is impossible to obtain if we give ourselves up to the constant compulsions of this world. Then will the cloud of his glory overshadow your soul and the light of his greatness shine in your hearts (cf 1Kgs 8:10). All who dwell in God’s house will be filled with joy and rejoice. But the insolent and ignoble will shrivel under the Holy Spirit’s flame.

maronite readings – rosary,team

The blessed Laurence carried out the office of deacon in the Church of Rome. In that office he administered Christ’s sacred blood to the faithful; and for Christ’s sake he shed his own blood. The blessed apostle John clearly expounded the mystery of the Lord’s Supper when he said: “Just as Christ laid down his life for us, so should we lay down our lives for our brothers” (1Jn 3,16). Saint Laurence understood this and acted accordingly. His self-sacrifice was similar in kind to that which he received at the altar. He loved Christ in his life and imitated him in death. Brethren, let us imitate Laurence if we truly love Christ. We cannot show a better proof of our love than by imitating him. “Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that we might follow his footsteps” (1Pt 2,21)… Indeed the garden of the Lord contains not only the roses of martyrdom but also the lilies of virginity, the ivy of marriage, and the violets of widowhood. So no one, my dear brethren, need despair of his vocation. Christ suffered for all… Therefore we must try to understand how the Christian ought to imitate Christ other than by shedding his blood or enduring martyrdom. The apostle Paul says of our Lord Jesus Christ: “His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God.” What majesty was his! Paul adds: “He emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave and became as men are” (Phil 2,6f.). What humility he showed! Christ humbled himself; the Christian has his example to imitate. “Christ became obedient” (v.8). Why then should a Christian be proud? It was after enduring this humility and defeating death that Christ ascended into heaven; let us follow him.

maronite readings – rosary,team

It seems to me you ought to resolve to carry out peacefully what you can. Don’t worry about all the rest but entrust to divine Providence what you are unable to accomplish on your own. What is pleasing to God is the reasonable care and attention we give to accomplishing well whatever business we must undertake through duty. What is not pleasing to God is anxiety and disquiet of mind. The Lord wants our limitations and weaknesses to find their support in his strength; he wants us to hope that his goodness will make up for the imperfectness of our means. Those who take on numerous responsibilities, even with an upright intention, must resolve to do simply what lies within their power… If it is necessary to set certain things aside, arm yourselves with patience and don’t think that God expects of us what we are unable to do. He doesn’t want a man to distress himself on account of his limitations…; there is no need to tire ourselves out excessively. More, if we have tried hard to do our best, we can abandon all the rest to Him who has the power to accomplish what he will. May the divine goodness always be pleased to communicate the light of wisdom to us so that we may clearly see and firmly accomplish his good pleasure, for ourselves and for others… so that we may accept from his hand whatever he sends us, taking due note of what is the most important: patience, humility, obedience and charity.

maronite readings – rosary,team

«Take heed, watch : for you do not know when the time will come» (Mk 13,33)… Let us then consider this most serious question, which concerns every one of us so nearly;—What it is to watch for Christ. He says, “Watch ye therefore, for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh; at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch!” (v.35f)… Many men indeed are open revilers of religion, or at least openly disobey its laws; but let us consider those who are of a more sober and conscientious cast of mind. They have a number of good qualities, and are in a certain sense and up to a certain point religious; but they do not watch… They do not understand that they are called to be strangers and pilgrims upon the earth (Heb 11,13), and that their worldly lot and worldly goods are a sort of accident of their existence, and that they really have no property… Now, it cannot surely be doubted that multitudes in the Church are such as I have been describing, and that they would not, could not, at once welcome our Lord on His coming… It is a most affecting and solemn thought, that he has actually called our attention to this very danger… He warns his disciples of the danger of having their minds drawn off from the thought of him, by whatever cause; he warns them against all excitements, all allurements of this world; he solemnly warns them that the world will not be prepared for his coming, and tenderly intreats of them not to take their portion with the world. He warns them by the instance of the rich man whose soul was required, of the servant who ate and drank (Lk 12,45), and of the foolish virgins (Mt 25,2)… The bridal train is sweeping by,—Angels are there,—the just made perfect are there,—little children, and holy teachers, and white-robed saints, and martyrs washed in blood… : his Bride hath made herself ready (Rv 19,7). She has already attired herself, while we have been sleeping.
maronite readings – rosary,team