Saint Sharbel Maronite St. Sharbel Pray for us! Catholic Church Las Vegas 11th Sunday of Pentecost 2021 August 2021 “I received your Index Page Baptism & Spirit, Church Events 1 Body & Blood.” 11th Sunday of Pentecost 2 News from Our Holy Father 3 Letter from Our Maronite Bishops 4 350 Maronite Martyrs 5 Miracles of Saint Sharbel 6 Beautiful Faces & Places 7 Milagros de San Charbel 8 Filipino News 9 Transfiguration of Jesus 10 “Fire, wind & Festival Flyer 11 floods will not Holy Mass Intentions 12 touch me .” Pastor: Fr. Nadim Abou Zeid Our Services HOLY MASSES DAILY: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM English SATURDAY VIGIL: 4:30 PM English SUNDAY: 9:30 AM English & 11:30 AM Arabic/Aramaic/English 1st Sunday : 4:30 PM Rosario y la Misa en Español 10325 RANCHO DESTINO RD, 2nd Sunday: 4:30 PM LAS VEGAS NV 89183 PHONE: 702-616-6902 Tagalog Mass 1st SUNDAY 9:30 AM & 11:30 AM www.stsharbellasvegas.org Youth Mass August 2021 Good News for a change Page 2 The Pharisee, who represented those who take pride in their h 11 Sunday religious practices, exalted himself at the expense of others. Absorbed with his own sense of self-satisfaction and of self-congratulation he mainly prayed with himself. His prayer consisted of prideful boasts of what he did and of Pentecost disdain for those he despised. The Pharisee tried to justify himself; but only God can justify. The tax collector, who represented those despised by religious people, humbled himself before God and begged for mercy. His prayer was heard by God because he had remorse for his sins. He sought God with humility rather than with pride. This parable presents both an opportunity and a warning. Pride leads to illusion and self-deception. Humility helps us to see Scripture warns us that "God opposes the proud but gives grace ourselves as we really are and it inclines us to God's grace to the humble" (James 4:6; Prov. 3:34). Jesus paints a vivid and mercy. God dwells with the humble of heart who story of two men at prayer. What's the point or lesson he wants recognize their own sinfulness and who acknowledge God's us to learn? Luke gives us a hint: Jesus warns us about the mercy and saving grace. I dwell in the high and holy place, danger of despising others. Contempt is more than being and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit mean-minded. It springs from the assumption that one is (Isaiah 57:15). God cannot hear us if we despise others. Do qualified to sit in the seat of judgment and to ascertain who is you humbly seek God's mercy and do you show mercy to good and just. Jesus' story caused offense for those who others, especially those you find difficult to love and to regarded "tax collectors" as unworthy of God's grace and forgive? favor. How could Jesus put down a "religious leader" and raise Rev. Fr. Nadim Abou Zeid up a "public sinner"? Jesus' parable speaks about the nature of prayer and our relationship with God. It does this by READING: Ephesians 2:17-22 contrasting two very different attitudes towards prayer. GOSPEL: Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus (Greek Ζακχαῖος, which WHO IS ZACCHAEUS ,זכי Zakchaios" Hebrew" means pure and righteous one.), In Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches of Slavic according to chapter 19 of the tradition, the Gospel account of Zacchaeus is read on the gospel of Luke, was a last Sunday preceding the liturgical preparation for Great superintendent of customs; a Lent, for which reason that Sunday is known as "Zacchaeus chief tax-gatherer (Latin: Sunday." It is the very first commemoration of a new publicanus) at Jericho (Luke Paschal cycle. The account was chosen to open the Lenten 19:1-10). Tax collectors were season because of two exegetical aspects: Jesus' call to hated by many of their fellow Zacchaeus to come down from the tree (symbolizing the Jews, who saw them as traitors divine call to humility), and Zacchaeus' subsequent for working for the Roman repentance. Empire. In the Eastern churches of Greek/Byzantine tradition, Zacchaeus Sunday may fall earlier than the Sunday before Because the lucrative production and export of balsam was the Pre-Lenten season. centered in Jericho, his position would have carried both importance and wealth. In the account, he arrived before the The story of Zacchaeus is used by some to illustrate the crowd who were later to meet with Jesus, who was passing saying of Jesus: "Blessed are the pure of heart, For they through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem. Described as a short shall see God" Matthew 5:8. Zacchaeus whose name means man, then Zacchaeus climbed up a sycamore fig tree so that he pure, climbed up a tree, which represents the cross, and by might be able to see Jesus. When Jesus reached the spot he being symbolically crucified with Christ, was able to see looked up into the branches, addressed Zacchaeus by name, God (He who has seen Jesus has seen God John 14:9) The and told him to come down, for he intended to visit his house. sycamore tree, climbed by Zacchaeus, was considered The crowd was shocked that Jesus, a Jew, would sully himself "unclean" because it bore a fruit that was fed to pigs. In the by being a guest of a tax collector. culture of the time it was humiliating for Zacchaeus to climb that tree. To see Jesus, Zacchaeus' pride had to be crucified. Moved by the audacity of Jesus's undeserved love and In Romans, Paul wrote "knowing this, that our old man was acceptance, Zacchaeus publicly repented of acts of corruption crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away and vowed to make restitution for them, and held a feast at his with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." Romans 6:6 house. August 2021 Good News for a change Page 3 OUR HOLY FATHER POPE FRANCIS Grants July 25 Plenary Indulgence and Tells Catholics: Honor Your Grandparents That Day COMMENTARY: It’s highly significant that Pope Francis has established the ‘World The vocation of grandparents, he added, is linked to their vocation as Day of Grandparents and the Elderly’ to be celebrated every year on the fourth Sunday apostles. Just like the Lord “never, ever goes into retirement,” he stated, of July. “there is no retirement age from the work of proclaiming the Gospel and handing down traditions to your grandchildren.” Many countries have special days to honor grandparents. He was surprised, he said, that, at 76, he was elected the Successor of St. Some choose fixed days: Poland celebrates on Jan. 21 (grandmothers) and Peter, and in the last eight years, he hasn’t slowed down in trying to live 22 (grandfathers); the Netherlands, June 4; Brazil, Portugal and Spain on and teach the faith. Citing the biblical figures of Abraham, Moses, Tobit, July 26; Mexico on Aug. 28; Italy on Oct. 2; and Russia on Oct. 28. Eleazar, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon, Anna and Nicodemus, whose Others choose specific Sundays: The United States, together with major contributions to salvation history took place when they were Bangladesh, Estonia and the Philippines, on the second Sunday of advanced in years, he urged them to see themselves as still very important September; France, the first Sunday of March; Taiwan, the last Sunday of laborers in the Lord’s vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). Even if physically August; Japan, the third Sunday of September; the United Kingdom, the first they may not be as vigorous, he reminded them that their prayer is a “very Sunday of October; Hong Kong, Germany and Pakistan, the second Sunday precious resource,” something that can protect and help the world, of October; Australia, the last Sunday of October; South Sudan, the second perhaps even more “than the frenetic activity of many others.” Sunday of November; and Singapore, the fourth Sunday of November. While calling upon grandparents and seniors to recognize how important their mission is in the Church and society and to keep loving, like Christ, But the vast majority of the world’s 197 countries don’t have a day to honor until the end, the Pope was also encouraging grandchildren, children and our parents’ parents. The United Nations, which has 190 international days, the young to receive with gratitude the generous giving of their elders. does not have one for grandparents. That’s why it’s highly significant — “The future of the world,” he said, “depends on this covenant between not just within the Catholic Church, but within the global community — that young and old.” Normally elders long for that sacred bond, while the Pope Francis has established the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly young can be focused so much on looking ahead that they can take for to be celebrated every year on the fourth Sunday of July. With Catholics granted, often until it’s too late, the treasure being offered. The official present in almost every country, the commemoration should be a leaven, flower for Grandparents’ Day in the United States is, appropriately, the making fitting appreciation for grandparents rise across the globe. The first forget-me-not. The Holy Father is hoping by this new World Day of observance will take place July 25 this year. Grandparents to have grandparents and grandchildren renew that covenant In his message in preparation for the day, Pope Francis said he was moved and mutually strengthen each other through that bond.