maronite readings

“Return to me with all your heart” and prove that your repentance is genuine “by fasting and weeping and lamentation”. Fast now and you will feast hereafter; weep now and you will laugh hereafter. Present mourning brings future joy… Well, I say it is not your garments you must rend but your sinful hearts which, like the wine-skin, will burst unless you tear them. When you have done this you can return to the Lord your God from whom you have been estranged by your former sins. Do not allow the greatness of your sin make you despair of his pardon. The greater the sin, the more striking is the power of God’s mercy. “The Lord is gracious and merciful”, preferring the repentance of the sinner to his death, “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love”, not being impatient, as we are, but waiting a whole lifetime for our return to him. (Biblical references: Jl 2:12-13 Vg; Lk 6:21; Mt 5:5; Ez 33:11)

maronite readings – rosary,team

This, beloved brethren, Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, did not teach by words only but he also fulfilled by his deeds… In the very hour of his passion and cross… what violent abuses he listened to with patience, and what shameful insults he endured! He was even covered with the spittle of his revilers when, but a short time before, with his own spittle he had cured the eyes of the blind man(Jn 9,6)… He who now crowns the martyrs with eternal garlands was himself crowned with thorns; he who now gives true palms to the victors was beaten in the face with hostile palms; he who clothes all others with the garment of immortality was stripped of his earthly garments; he who has given us the food of heaven was fed with gall; he who has offered us the cup of salvation was given vinegar to drink. He the innocent, the just, nay rather, Innocence itself and Justice itself, is counted among criminals, and Truth is concealed by false testimonies. He who is to judge is judged, and the Word of God, silent, is led to the cross. And although the stars are confounded at the crucifixion of the Lord, the elements are disturbed and the earth trembles… yet he does not speak, nor is he moved, nor does he proclaim his majesty, even during the suffering itself. He endures all things even to the end with constant perseverance so that in Christ a full and perfect patience may find its realization. And after such sufferings, he even still receives his murderers if they are converted and come to him, and with a patience instrumental in saving man, this kind Master closes his Church to no one. Those adversaries, those blasphemers, those persistent enemies of His name, provided they do penance for their offense, provided they acknowledge the crime committed, he not only receives and pardons, but admits to the reward of the kingdom of heaven. What can be called more patient, what more kind? Even he who shed the blood of Christ is given life by the blood of Christ. Such is the wonderful patience of Christ. And unless it were so wonderful, the Church would not have Paul the great Apostle.
maronite readings – rosary,team

“The hour has come for the Son of the Man to be glorified” (Jn 12:23)… When he had made known his amazing glorification, incompatible with his Passion as it seemed, Jesus added: “Amen, amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (v.24). “Therefore, do not let my death trouble you. The grain of wheat is alone before it falls to the earth but, once it has fallen and died, it springs up for abundant glory and bears a double quantity of fruit, it displays its abundance before all and shows off its stunning beauty. Imagine it to be the same with me. For now I am alone and without glory, unknown amongst the featureless crowd of others. But when I have undergone the sufferings of the cross I shall rise up with great glory. Then I will bear much fruit”… After these predictions about himself Jesus exhorts his disciples to imitate him: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life” (v.25). “Therefore, not only must my Passion not scandalize you…, but you must be ready to undergo the same sufferings, too, so as to bear the same fruit.” Then he says very simply: “Whoever serves me must follow me.” “Whoever wishes to be my servant, let him show by his deeds that he wants to follow me.” “Where I am there also will my servant be. If anyone serves me my Father will honor him” (v.26). “Whoever shares in my suffering will share equally in my glory; he will remain with me eternally in the world to come and will share my joy in the heavenly Kingdom. That is how my Father will honor those who have served me faithfully.”
maronite readings – rosary,team

It is now fitting we should consider the time of our Lord’s coming. He came, as you know, not in the beginning, nor in the midst of time, but in the end of it. This was no unsuitable choice but a truly wise dispensation of infinite Wisdom who, aware that the sons of Adam are inclined to ingratitude, ordained that she would not come to their help until they were in the greatest need. Truly, “it was evening and the day was far spent”, and the “Sun of justice” had almost set (Lk 24,29; Mal 3,20); only a faint ray of its light and heat remained on earth. The light of divine knowledge was very small, and as iniquity abounded so the fervor of charity grew cold (Mt 24,12). No angel appeared; no prophet spoke. The angelic vision and the prophetic spirit alike had passed away, both hopelessly baffled by the obduracy and obstinacy of humankind. Then it was the Son of God said: “Behold, I come” (Ps 40[39},8; Heb 10,7). And “while all things were in quiet silence and the night was in the midst of her swift course, your almighty Word leaped down from heaven, from your royal throne” (Wis 18,14-15). As the apostle Paul says: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son” (Gal 4,4).
maronite readings – rosary,team