maronite readings

The apostles, those who all as one and each in particular possessed the Good News of God, went to the ends of the earth proclaiming the news of all the blessings God sends us and announcing heaven’s peace towards men (Lk 2,14). Specifically, Matthew produced a written form of the gospel for the Hebrews in their own language , while Peter and Paul evangelised Rome and founded the Church there. After their deaths, Mark, who was Peter’s disciple and interpreter (1Pt 5,13), also handed down Peter’s preaching to us in writing. Likewise Luke, Paul’s companion, set down in a book the gospel preached by the latter. And then John, the disciple of the Lord, the one who leaned back on his breast (Jn 13,25), also published the gospel during his stay at Ephesus. In his gospel Matthew relates the genealogy of Christ as man: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: now this is how the birth of Christ came about” (Mt 1,1… 18). Thus this gospel presents Christ in human form, which is why it always represents Christ as being moved by sentiments of humility and remaining a man of gentleness… The apostle Matthew knows none but one and the same God who promised Abraham that he would multiply his descendants like the stars in the sky (Gen 15,5) and who, through his Son, Jesus Christ, has called us from the worship of stones to knowledge of him (Mt 3,9) in such a way that “those who were no people have become his people, and she who was unloved has become beloved” (cf. Hos 2,25; Rom 9,25).

maronite readings – rosary,team

Andrew was the first of the apostles to acknowledge the Lord as his teacher… He abandoned John the Baptist’s teaching to attend the school of Christ… He sought the true light in the shining of the lamp (Jn 5,35). Beneath its dampened glow he prepared himself for Christ’s splendor… Teacher though he was, John the Baptist became servant and herald of the Christ who stood before him: “Behold,” he said, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (Jn 1,29). Behold him who delivers us from death; behold him who destroys sin. As for me, I was sent not as the bridegroom but as the one who accompanies him (Jn 3,29). I came as servant, not as lord.” Struck by these words, Andrew left his former teacher and hurried towards the one he was announcing… He hurried towards our Lord, his longing manifesting itself in his bearing…, drawing John the evangelist with him. Both abandon the lamp and make their way towards the Sun. Andrew is the first plant in the garden of apostles; it is he who opens the door to Christ’s teaching, the first to gather fruit in the field the prophets had tilled… He was the first to recognise him of whom Moses said: “A prophet like me will the Lord your God raise up for you; to him you shall listen” (Dt 18,15)… He recognised the one whom the prophets foretold and brought to him Peter, his brother. He showed Peter the treasure that as yet he did not know: “We have found the Christ (Jn 1,41), the one we have been longing for. We were waiting for his coming: now come and experience his presence”… Andrew leads his brother to Christ…: it was his first miracle.

maronite readings – rosary,team

For our salvation, our Lord and Master gave us this commandment: “Whoever holds out till the end will escape death.” (Mt 10:22) … The very fact that we are Christians grounds our faith and our hope. But so that hope and faith might bear fruit, patient endurance is necessary. We do not seek the glory that is here below, but the future glory. The apostle Paul warned us: “In hope we were saved. But hope is not hope if its object is seen; how is it possible for one to hope for what he sees? And hoping for what we cannot see means awaiting it with patient endurance.” (Rom 8:24-25) In another passage, Paul gave the same teaching to the righteous who work so that God’s gifts might bear fruit in order to prepare greater treasures for themselves in heaven…: “While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all… Let us not grow weary of doing good; if we do not relax our efforts, in due time we shall reap our harvest.” (Gal 6:10.9)… And when Paul talked about charity, he added perseverance and patient endurance: “Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs… Love is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries… There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.” (1 Cor 13:4-7) He thus shows that love is capable of persevering to the end, since it can bear all things. Finally, Paul said in another passage: “Bear with one another lovingly. Make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force.” (Eph 4:2-3) Thus he shows that brothers can preserve neither unity nor peace if they do not encourage one another by bearing with one another, and if they do not maintain the bond of concord by means of their patient endurance.
maronite readings – rosary,team

To many the word seems harsh; “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus”… Why do you fear then to take up the cross, the way that leads to the kingdom? In the cross you are saved, revived, protected. In the cross you are showered with sweetness from on high, your mind is strengthened, your spirit rejoiced. In the cross is virtue’s sum, and perfect holiness. In the cross alone is the hope of life eternal, the soul’s salvation. So take up your cross and follow Jesus; and you will enter eternal life… For if you die with him, you shall also likewise live with him. If you are his companion in punishment, so shall you be in glory. Everything is founded on the cross… There is no other way to life, nor to true inner peace… Walk where you will, seek what you will; you will find neither a loftier way above nor a safer way below, but only the way of the holy cross. Plan as you will, arrange as you see fit; all you will ever find is suffering you cannot help but bear; and so you will always find the cross. You will either have bodily pain or mental and spiritual affliction. Now God will leave you, again your fellow will provoke you; and what is more, you will often weigh heavy on yourself. There is neither remedy to free you nor comfort to ease you… For God will have you learn to endure affliction with total submission to himself and become more humble… You must endure with patience everywhere, if you would be at peace within, and earn the lasting crown.
maronite readings – rosary,team

“I have gone astray like a lost sheep : seek your servant” (Ps 119[118],176). Lord, it is I who am the poor sheep who became lost running after the satisfaction of its appetites and whims. But you, who are both Shepherd and Lamb, came down from heaven to save me, sacrificing yourself on the cross as a victim for the expiation of my sins: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Therefore, if I want to amend myself, what can I fear?… “God indeed is my Savior; I am confident and unafraid” (Is 12,2). You have given yourself to me: could you have given me a greater proof of your mercy to inspire confidence in me? Dear Child! How much I regret having offended against you! I have caused you to weep in the stable at Bethlehem. Yet I know you have come to seek me out. Therefore I cast myself at your feet and, in spite of the distress and humiliation in which I see you in that crib and on that straw, I recognise you to be my King an my sovereign Lord. Yes, I understand the meaning of such tender tears: they are inviting me to love you, they are taking possession of my heart. Here it is, O my Jesus. I come to your feet today to offer it to you. Change it; set it alight, since you have come down from heaven to set hearts on fire with your holy love. From the crib I hear you say to me: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Mt 23,37; Dt 6,5). And I reply: “O my Jesus, if I were not to love you, my Lord and my God, who am I to love?”
maronite readings – rosary,team