maronite readings

« My bridegroom to me is a cluster of grapes from Cyprus, in the vineyard of Engedi » (Sg 1,14)… This divine cluster is covered with flowers before the Passion and pours out its wine in the Passion… He is like a cluster of grapes hanging on a vine, which does not always look the same but changes its appearance with the season as blossom turns to fully formed fruit and then to the ripe fruit which eventually is made into wine. Its fruit gives promise to the vine even before that fruit is ripe enough for wine, and while still awaiting harvest time it does not lack the capacity to please. Its scent gives pleasure if its taste does not, for scent holds the expectation of future enjoyment. The breath of hope delights the senses of the soul, since the certainty of enjoying what is hoped for gives pleasure! those who patiently await that enjoyment. This then is what the grapes of Cyprus stand for, which even before becoming wine hold the promise of wine, and by their blossom, since blossom is hope, give assurance of future enjoyment… Anyone whose will is in harmony with the law of God and who “meditates on it day and night is like an tree planted by running water, which yields its fruit in due season and whose leaves will never wither” (Ps 1,1-3). So it was that the vine of the bridegroom in Engedi, rooted in fertile ground, that is to say, in profound meditation nourished by the divine teachings, produced this flowering and ripening bunch of grapes in which it beholds its own vinedresser. Blessed that husbandry whose fruit takes on the appearance of the bridegroom! Since he… is true light, true life, true righteousness and every similar perfection, when anyone by his deeds becomes what he is, that person, beholding the cluster of grapes which is his own conscience sees therein the bridegroom himself, for in his own radiantly pure life he sees as in a mirror the light of truth. Hence this fruitful vine says: “My vines are in bloom, the buds have opened” (cf. Sg 7,13). The bridegroom is this true cluster of grapes in person, showing himself attached to the wood and whose blood becomes a saving drink for those who rejoice in their salvation.

maronite readings – rosary,team

“Your will be done!” (Mt 6,10). This was the content of the Savior’s life. He came into the world to fulfill the Father’s will, not only to atone for the sin of disobedience through his obedience (Rom 5,19), but also to lead people back to their destiny by the way of obedience. The created will is not destined to be free to exalt itself. It is called to come into unison with the divine will. If it freely submits itself to this unison, then it is permitted in freedom to participate in the perfection of creation. If a free creature declines this unison, it lapses into bondage. The human will continues to retain the possibility of choice, but it is constrained by creatures that pull and pres­sure it in directions straying from the development of the nature desired by God, and so away from the goal toward which it itself was directed by its original freedom. With the loss of this original freedom, it also loses security in making decisions. It becomes unsteady and wavering, buf­feted by doubt and scruples or obdurate in its error. There is no other remedy for this than the following of Christ, the Son of Man, who not only promptly obeyed his heavenly Father, but also subjected himself to people who imposed the Father’s will on him. The obedience enjoined by God releases the enslaved will from the bonds of creatures and leads it back to freedom. Thus, it is also the way to purity of heart.

maronite readings – rosary,team

Moses wrote in the Law that: “God created man in his image and likeness” (Gn 1,26). I would ask you to reflect on the importance of this saying. God, who is almighty, invisible, incomprehensible and without compare, when he fashioned man of clay, ennobled him by the image of his own greatness. What is there in common between man and God, clay and spirit? For “God is spirit” (Jn 4,24). Therefore is represents a great sign of his esteem for man that God should have rewarded him with the image of his eternity and the likeness of his own life. The greatness of man lies in his likeness to God, so long as he preserves it… So long as a soul makes good use of the virtues sown in it, it remains like God. All the virtues God placed in us at our creation he has taught us to repay to him. In the first place he requires us to love God with all our heart (Dt 6,5) since, from the beginning, even before we existed, “he loved us first” (1Jn 4,10). To love God, then, is to restore his image within us. Now, he loves God who keeps his commandments… Therefore it is for us to reflect to our God, to our Father, the unsullied image of his own holiness since he is holy and has said: “Be holy as I am holy” (Lv 11,45); with love since he is love and John has said: “God is love” (1Jn 4,8); with kindness and in truth since God is good and true. Let us not become depicters of a false image… And lest we insinuate the image of pride within ourselves let us allow Christ to paint his image within us.

maronite readings – rosary,team

Every night before you go to bed you must make an examination of conscience (because you don’t know if you will be alive in the morning!). Whatever is troubling you, or whatever wrong you may have done, you need to repair it. For example, if you have stolen something, then try to give it back. If you have hurt somebody, try to make up to that person; do it directly. If you cannot make up like that, at least then make up with God by saying, “I’m very sorry.” This is important because just as we have acts of love, we also must have acts of contrition. You could say, “Lord, I’m sorry for having offended you and I promise you I will try not to offend you again,” something like this. It feels good to be free of burdens, to have a clean heart. Remember that God is merciful, He is the merciful father to us all. We are His children and He will forgive and forget if we remember to do so. Examine your heart first, though, to see if there is any lack of forgiveness of others still inside, because how can we ask God for forgiveness if we cannot forgive others? Remember, if you truly repent, if you really mean it with a clean heart, you will be absolved in God’s eyes.He will forgive you if you truly confess to Him. So pray to be able to forgive those who have hurt you or whom you don’t like, and forgive as you have been forgiven.

maronite readings – rosary,team