Lectio Divina for 14 July 2024
1. Lectio
Read the passage slowly and attentively, paying close attention to each word and detail.
Passage: “And he said also to his disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward: and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods. And he called him and said to him: How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship: for now thou canst be steward no longer. And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed. I know what I will do, that when I shall be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. Therefore, calling together every one of his lord’s debtors, he said to the first: How much dost thou owe my lord? But he said: An hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take thy bill and sit down quickly and write fifty. Then he said to another: And how much dost thou owe? Who said: An hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill and write eighty. And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity: that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.” (Saint Luke 16:1-9) (more…)
Lectio Divina for 12 July 2024
Lectio
Read the passage slowly and attentively, paying close attention to each word and detail.
Passage: “At that time Jesus saith to His disciples: You have heard that it hath been said: Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thy enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Saint Matthew 5:43-48.) (more…)
Antisemitism and Violence
The topic antisemitism and the need for Christians of all denominations to heed the Biblical command to comfort Israel (Isaiah 40:1) is in need of being discussed within all the Patriarchates all the way down to the parish level. We gravely condemn both so-called “Christian” and Muslim violence of any form. We do not believe that there is any difference between an anti-Semitic person calling themselves a “Christian” and a Muslim who terrorizes Israel, the United States or any other country. There is no difference!
Muslim violence is a major threat to world peace in any land and it has to be eliminated by those governments in power to do so. A harsh reality to face is the fact that the Christian church as a whole has not done its part in educating their own people about coming to an understanding of various cultures, other denominations, races, or other religions.
Unfortunately antisemitism is being bred right from the very pulpits that preach that Messiah came to save all peoples. Arrogance, hatred, and any type of unfounded intolerance of other races, minorities or whole nations has absolutely no place in the Body of Messiah and when evidences of such activities or even certain terms and phrases are seen or heard within any denomination or body it absolutely must be removed immediately.
What we are witnessing in Iraq and other areas ravaged by the likes of al-Qaeda and other similar terrorist groups is very similar to what was witnessed in the early 1900’s during the “Great War” where our beloved +Mar Shimun was assassinated senselessly and where our Assyrian Christian brothers and sisters suffered appalling holocausts. Such activities bring back painful memories for our Semitic and Assyrian brothers and sisters in the faith.
I seriously urge all Bishoprics within the canonical territory of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem to set stricter guiding principles on dealing with antisemitism and intolerance of other cultures. Special committees need to be established to combat intolerance, racism, and antisemitism not only from within the Assembly but also in the parish neighborhoods as well. Education and social action can assist in making our society tolerable for all human beings and our actions can serve as a demonstration of our Holy Faith based on the Scriptures.
27 April 2004
