St. Sharbel Readings

Romans 8:28-39
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 13:36-43
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

The Prayer of the Faithful, vol. III
Ramsho – Opening Prayer

Lord, Jesus,
in the richness of your grace and mercy,
grant that we may praise your rising from the tomb
with joyful hearts and clear consciences,
glorify your victory with holy words,
and proclaim your triumph with clear voices.
And we shall join with the heavenly hosts in
exalting your greatness nad mercy,
with your Father and Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.

Meditation on the Eighth Sunday of Pentecost:
This Sunday the Maronite Church remembers and seeks the intercession of Saint
Sharbel. We know so well the many miracles attributed to his intercession, the holy life
he lived, and the countless numbers of pilgrims from many Christian and non-Christians
religions, that come for peace and inspiration at his shirine in Lebanon, and wherever
his relics are exhibited.
Yet, Saint Sharbel would tell us that none of this is about him and all is about Christ.
He would remind us as St. Paul does today in the Letter to the Romans, that no matter
what we endure for the sake of our faith, that nothing will separate us from the love of
God. That we must be diligent in our prayer, continually growing in our faith through
study of Scripture, attending the Divine Liturgy, reading the Fathers of the Church, and
be attentive to the teachings of the Church. We must not fear any power, for there is no
power greater than God, and there is no advocate for us greater than Jesus and the
the Holy Spirit, the two hands of the Father as St. Ireanaeus wrote, that are always
present doing the will of the Father.
For if we remain faithful to our calling we will not be like the seeds that fell among
the weeds, but will be numbered among the sons and daughters of God, who will rejoice
forever in the splendor of his light and love.