Feast of the Holy Cross Pg. 606 September 15, 2019
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ST. MARON MARONITE CATHOLIC CHURCH Feast of the Holy Cross pg. 606 September 15, 2019 In the Christian liturgical calendar, there are several different feasts known as Feast of the Cross, all of which com- memorate the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus. While Good Friday is dedicated to the Passion of Christ and the Crucifixion, these days celebrate the cross itself, as the instrument of salvation. The feast commemorates the finding of the True Cross in 326 by Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine during a pilgrimage she made to Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was then built at the site of the discovery, by order of Helena and Constantine. The church was dedicated nine years later, with a portion of the cross placed inside. In 614, that portion of the cross was carried away from the church by the Persians, and remained missing until it was recaptured by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius in 628. The cross was returned to the church the following year after initially having been taken to Constantinople by Heraclius. The date used for the feast marks the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 335. This was a two-day festival: although the actual Consecration of the church was on September 13, the cross itself was brought outside the church on September 14 so that the clergy and faithful could pray before the True Cross, and all could come forward to venerate it. Spiritually, Christians honor in a special way the Cross, which God himself made and which he chose to be the altar of his redeeming sacrifice. Jesus, who speaks to us about his elevation on the Cross of Calvary, first directs our thoughts to Heaven: he associates his elevation on the cross with his elevation into Heaven. Thus, he unites, in his discourse, the day of his death and that of his Ascension into Heaven. He does not want us to separate the en- try of his soul into eternal bliss from the entry of his body into endless glory. He also does not want his voluntary humbling of himself on the Cross to be dissociated from his elevation to glory at the time of his victorious entry into Heaven. Jesus was lifted up on the Cross in order that we might obtain eternal life. Now, we who believe in Christ and who follow him are the members of his Body, as St. Paul wrote: “That is, through faith, and to the extent that we believe in Christ, we are united with Him: we are one body, of which he is the Head. So, if the Head, he who walks ahead of the others and who leads them, underwent the trial of the Cross, how could those who are the members, and who follows the Head, avoid undergoing the Cross themselves? It is impossible. We too much undergo the way of the Cross! The question we must ask ourselves is “Am I willing to do that?” Is that what we desire? Do we fully understand what was done by Jesus, who freely offered himself to undergo this infamous death? Does this not seem folly to us, the folly of the Cross of which St. Paul speaks? Certainly, all of this surpasses us, for it is a Mystery! So, the Lord asks us to simply believe that this is the way that saves, that this is the door to Heaven. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Rev. Fr. Elias Yazbeck: Administrator Emergency Only: 612-501-6383 [email protected] BAPTISM - [email protected] Call the office at least 2 months in advance. Liturgy Schedule MARRIAGE - Rev. Deacon George Khoury Daily M-F: Chapel Mr. Lattouf Lattouf, Sub deacon Call at least 8 months in advance for Pre-Cana Appt. 6:00 pm Mr. Ghazi Faddoul, Sub deacon SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday: Chapel: 5:00 pm Mr. Georges Faddoul, Sub deacon By appointment Mr. Bechara Daher, Sub deacon Sunday: Downtown SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING/SICK 9:30 am - English Chapel & Mailing Address Call the Parish Office immediately. 216.520.5081 or 11:00am - English &Arabic 7800 Brookside Road 612-501-6383 Holy Days of Obligation Check Bulletin Independence, Oh 44131 HOSPITALS DO NOT CALL US. MISSION STATEMENT Office: 216-520-5081 Fax: 216-524-2659 E-mail: [email protected] We, the people of Saint Maron Parish, form a community of disciples dedicated to a shared faith and Website: www.saintmaron-clev.org common life which exemplifies the life, works, and teaching of Jesus Christ as Facebook: SaintMaronChurch reflected in the Sacred Scriptures and the Maronite Catholic Tradition. Our Parish life and Office Hrs.: Mon-Fri. 9am-3:30pm mission are to proclaim the Gospel, to foster and strengthen the faith, and to evangelize. Our cove- Donate: http://www.saintmaron-clev.org/donate/ nant of discipleship with Jesus Christ is fulfilled through liturgy, education, and service. Amen Bishop Zaidan’s Prayer Intention for September: Sat. Sept. 14: Feast of the Holy Cross CATHOLIC EDUCATION/ CATECHESIS and CHILDREN & 5:00 pm Chapel: Mem Lit for William Patriotie (Marilyn Clarke) YOUTH: 5:00 pm Chapel: Mem Lit for the Asher & Shaia family (The Asher & Shaia family) Remember, O Lord, our children and Sun. Sept. 15: Feast of the Holy Cross youth. Hold them firmly in your hands and give them the grace to live 9:30 am: Parishioners Intentions 11:00 am: One Year Anniversary Liturgy for Joseph out their own call to holiness, Abounader (Dolly, his children & family) purity and virtue. Instill in the hearts of those who educate children and youth true faithfulness to Your teachings and the ability to Sat. Sept. 21: Second Week After the Holy Cross communicate the Faith to those 5:00 pm: Mem. Lit for Anne Maroun (Her children) entrusted to their care. Sun. Sept 22: Second Week After the Holy Cross We pray to you O Lord. 9:30 am: Parishioners Intentions 11:00 am: Parishioners Intentions Liturgy St. Charbel Monday September 23rd 7:00 pm Chapel Rosary 6:30 pm Outdoor Procession. Arabic classes on Saturday provide a great way for children of our community to get to know each other within the frame of our Maronite Middle Eastern culture and the Arabic language. Adults Arabic classes will also be offered given interest is pre- sent. Please register by filling the online forms below. Classes begin Saturday October 5th from 10-12pm DOWNTOWN. Classes are held until Saturday April 25, 2020 Adult Registration: St Maron Adult Arabic 2019-20 Registration Children's Registration St Maron Kids Arabic 2019-20 Registration عيد ارتفاع الصليب المقدّس The Exaltation of the Holy Cross رسالة القدّيس بولس إلى اهل كورنتوس From the letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, I-1:18-25 يا إخ َوتِي، ُ إِ َّن َك ِل َمةَ ال َّص ِلي ِب ِع ْندَ الـ َها ِل ِكي َن َح َما َقة، أَ َّما ِع ْندَنَا نَ ْح ُن الـ ُم َخ َّل ِصي َن َف ِه َي قُ َّوةُ هللا؛ ﻷَ َّنه ُ َم ْكتُو: » َسأبِيدُ ِح ْك َمةَ الـ ُح َك َماء، وأَ ْرذُ ُل َف ْه َم الفُ َه َماء.»! َفأَ ْي َن الـ َح ِكيم؟ وأَ ْي َن َعا ِل ُم ال َّش ِريعَة؟ وأَ ْي َن البَا ِح ُث في أُ ُمو ِر هـذَا ال َّد ْهر؟ أَ َما َجعَ َل هللاُ ِح ْك َمةَ هـذَا العَا َل ِم َح َما َقة؟ َفبِ َما أَ َّن العَا َل َم ِب ِح ْك َمتِ ِه َما َع َر َف هللاَ بِ َح َس ِب ِح ْك َم ِة هللا، َر ِض َي هللاُ أَ ْن يُ َخ ِّل َص بِ َح َما َق ِة البِ َشا َرة ِ ا َّل ِذي َن يُ ْْ ِمنُون؛ ﻷَ َّن اليَ ُهو َ َي ْلُبُو َن ايآيَا،، واليُو َنانِ ِّيي َن يَ ْلتَ ِم ُسو َن الـ ِح ْك َمة. ُ أَ َّما نَ ْح ُن َفنُنَا َِي بِ َم ِسيحٍ َم ْصلُو:، ُه َو ِعثَا ٌر ِلليَ ُهو َِ و َح َما َقةٌ ِلﻷ َمم. وأَ َّما ِلل َم ْد ُع ِّوي َن أَ ْنفُ ِس ِهم، ِم َن اليَ ُهو َِ واليُونَانِ ِّيين، َف ُه َو َم ِسي ٌح، قُ َّوةُ هللاِ َو ِح ْك َمةُ هللا؛ َف َما ي َبْ دُو أَ َّنهُ َح َما َقةٌ ِم َن هللاِ ُه َو أَ ْح َك ُم ِم َن ال َّناس، و َما يَ ْبدُو أَ َّنهُ ُض ْع ٌف ِم َن هللاِ ُه َو أَ ْق َوى ِم َن ال َّناس.. والتسبي ُح هللِ َائماً. Brothers and sisters, The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Praise be to God always! إنجيل القدّيس يوحنا From the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 12:20-32 قا َل يوحنا الرسول َكا َن بَي َن ال َّصا ِع ِدي َن ِليَ ْس ُجدُوا في ال ِعيد، َب ْع ُض اليُو َنانِ ِّيين.