'He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.' But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
"Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.' And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost.'" (Luke 19:1-10).
In his homily, the Jesuit scholar Fr. Henri Boulad referred to Zacchaeus the tax collector considered a thief and said in French "My friends, let us not go to Jesus dressed up in the best wardrobe but as we are . He loves me as I am" (here in French: Aller vers Lui tel que nous sommes ...). He continued "To the Prodigal Son, his father rushed to meet him and embraced him as he was coming back. He did not wait for this son to change himself or wear better clothes nor did he refuse this dirty son." It reminded me by the homily given by Fr. Georges Farah, MSP on the Parable of the Prodigal Son (here). He said "The above Parable may well be named after the Generous Father. He is our Father whose heaven has come down to us since the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ and his promise to the disciples (with his mother; the Mother of God) that they would receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Every time, we receive the Eucharist in the state of grace, we are enriched by the Real Presence of Christ; His body and soul united to his Divinity by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Again, the Generous Father pictured in the Parable is real... He let his younger son take his portion of the property and travel to a far country where he wasted his fortune in pleasures. When a famine struck him, he had no choice but to survive by eating from the farm of a man and feeding pigs - a sign of uncleanness in Jewish tradition/symbolism. He would have enjoyed the husks that the swine ate but none was ready to give them to him. His state of hunger was taking a toll on his life so he asked himself the existential question: How can I survive? I will go back to my father's home and ask him to make me one of his servants! The old man was looking out everyday for his younger son - He missed his younger son .When the old man saw his younger son, he ran to meet him and did not bother with the dignity of the old persons. His force to run came back to him. He threw himself upon his son, and embraced him not waiting for his lost son to complete his apology. He immediately called his servants and said to them "Bring out the best robe, and clothe him in it; put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.23 Then bring out the calf that has been fattened, and kill it; let us eat, and make merry; 24 for my son here was dead, and has come to life again, was lost, and is found." The rest of the story is also a good lesson for us when we are jealous of others whom we think do not deserve the Lord's care - But the Lord himself said that he came to call sinners and the outcast to repent, and to heal the sick!".
On Friday November 8, I received a link to part of the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in France (in French here) from a friend of Fr. Boulad in France.
Another great homily was said by Fr. Cedric Pisegna, C.P. in the October 7 Mass provided by EWTN here.
As we pray for persecuted Christians and Christian missionaries, we must do more for them - My readers may therefore wish to listen to the charismatic Catholic Venerable Fulton Sheen here titled: Revelation, Authority, and Miracles, then act with responsibility and yet another one by Venerable Fulton Sheen on the true meaning of Easter here - And above all, listen to Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta in an interview with her on Irish Television, 1974 here. You may wish to listen to Bishop Robert Barron in his address in England about Sainthood, sanctity and what makes us holy given in September 2018 here.
The above examples show what is probably the most beautiful way of gaining converts to Christ since the 20th century. We have here what it takes to help persecuted Christians - especially when they are mandated to help persecuted Christians in the Middle East (particularly The Knights of Columbus that the Archbishop of Toronto, Cardinal Thomas Collins, calls the right strong hand of the Church), and what it takes to help Christian missionaries including the Sisters of Charity founded by St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta who work in most countries of the world including Canada, Egypt, and most other countries in Africa, Asia, and other underdeveloped areas as they continue caring for the dying and the 'poor of the poor' and providing them with means of hospitalization. For the needy, and the poor everyone can help them through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in virtually every country, CNEWA that care for the needy in the Near East, and Christian organizations and persons that help persecuted Christians. In all cases the needy would best be served if they are presented with the Messianic message that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and, if possible, offer them to receive the sacraments of the Church...More on Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta "The Third Teresa - a Woman for all Seasons" can be found here. Listen to her great words in an Irish TV interview in 1974 here.
In recent events, the Turkish Islamic Sunni military attacked North Syria and killed Kurds and Christians that many had to flee to Iraq. America's Trump who depended on the Kurds for eliminating the Islamic State seemed hesitant in giving the green light for the Turkish attack. Christian Bishops in Northern Syria pleaded with the United Nations and world powers to make every effort in order to stop the killing of Christians in such areas as the one where Jesus followers were first called Christians (Antioch) as Turkish Islamist President Erdogan continues to slaughter Christian minorities in southern Turkey. Protesters in Lebanon have been complaining about corruption in the government and parliament that, for many decades, were divided along religious lines. Islamic Shiite Hizbullah under its leader Sheikh Nasr-Allah fought back with weapons targeting protesters while they received orders from their masters the Mullahs in Iran to crush every protest that could diminish Iran's virtual power in directing Lebanon's future! It seems that American CIA did infiltrate Lebanon adding more effect to the sanctions imposed by Trump on Iran that crippled Iran's economy. The situation of Christians in Iraq is not better. Since April 2019, news show that Christians of Iraq were increasingly persecuted and targeted, In an April 12 op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus wrote that "Christian towns in Iraq increasingly look neither Christian nor Iraqi — but Iranian." "The public identifies the threat against Christians in Iraq and Syria as emanating from Islamic State," wrote Carl Anderson. "After a hard-fought war, ISIS is no longer a territorial power. But the religious minorities persecuted under the caliphate remain in peril, thanks to the Iraqi government's tolerance of Iranian influence." In the continuing struggle for regional power between Islamic states, in 2018, thanks to Turkey's Erdogan, Saudi Arabia had lost its huge influence in the West due to the massacre of American journalist and member of the International Muslim Brotherhood Khashoggi by allegedly Saudi forces that, on order of Saudi's Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), entered the Saudi embassy in Turkey and tortured and killed Khashoggi. At The G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, November 2018, no leader shook hands with MBS except for the Russian Fox Vladimir Putin. Referred to as the Petroleum Superpowers, Russia and Saudi Arabia found much common economic interests that could change the balance of powers in the world. In October 2017 Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud paid a visit to Russia which was hailed by Saudi's Foreign Minister as historical. Intending to isolate the United States from the Middle East powers, Putin has continued to provide weapons to Iran and yet concluded a greater investment with Saudi Arabia when he visited the Kingdom in October 2019.
Such is the situation of Christians in the Middle East today. Non-military action is needed to help them stay there.
I asked my spiritual mentor the Jesuit Fr. Henri Boulad about recent events in which Pope Francis and a number of his assistants have been involved (see this link of a discussion by Raymond Arroyo at EWTN with Most. Reverend Athanasius Schneider Auxiliary Bishop of Astana, Kazakhstan recorder on November 7, 2019). The initial answer by Fr. Boulad by email was full of solace:
Yes, George, I feel also uncomfortable about The Abu-Dhabi Declaration and the possible pagan implications of these Amazon rites. Francis' desire of openness at all costs is misleading for many people, who are mixed up. My humble opinion is that Pope Francis should clarify his position on both issues. People are waiting for such a clarification.
Fr. Boulad has always amazed me with his tremendous knowledge yet utter humility. See this post referring to his book "All is Grace" here.
About the historical development of Christianity, you may wish to read this slightly-long post here.
I wish to add one personal note: Since I was in the womb of my mother, I have been blessed by God in a special way (see this post here). Since 1986, I developed health issues related to my heart, brain and kidney. Yet God in his mercy gave me life and extended it through the work of great physicians (The reader may wish to read my posts here and here).
I was seen by Professor Dr. Victor Hoffstein on Wednesday November 6 at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. He examined my chest, and dictated the results of the CT scan that was taken of my lungs this past Friday at the same hospital. All in all, Dr. Hoffstein said that there is no change nor deterrioration in my health status. I am still God's "Living Miracle". In God's eyes everyone is unique. With Fr. Boulad, I can say "He loves me as I am"! Pope Saint John Paul II wrote extensively about the incomparable worth of the human person (see his Encyclical EVANGELIUM VITAE here.
For this, I thank the Sacred Heart of Jesus my Lord, God, and Savior who continues to give me life and grant me blessings through the prayers of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God, my guardian angel, as well as my patron saints:
Saint George the Great; Saint Rita of Cascia; and Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and many other saintly persons including the late saintly Bishop Paul Antaki the Great as well as many other persons around us whether in the family, extended families, or friends who continue to pray for me and ask about my health as well as priests and bishops that I have known including Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J.; Fr. Daniel Callam, CSB, D.Phil; Msgr. Robert Nusca, STD; Fr. Rafic Greiche; Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Jules Zerey; Bishop George Bakar; and Cardinal Thomas Collins and continue to be blessed by their prayers particularly the Eucharistic celebrations (a gift granted by God as I receive the Eucharist in the state of grace weekly when I attend Mass at the parish with my wife). On the significance of the Eucharist found in the Lord's Prayer "Give us this day our daily bread" the reader may wish to read this research here.
Let us pray for all the departed ones, all the sick, and all the needy...
The above examples show what is probably the most beautiful way of gaining converts to Christ since the 20th century. We have here what it takes to help persecuted Christians - especially when they are mandated to help persecuted Christians in the Middle East (particularly The Knights of Columbus that the Archbishop of Toronto, Cardinal Thomas Collins, calls the right strong hand of the Church), and what it takes to help Christian missionaries including the Sisters of Charity founded by St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta who work in most countries of the world including Canada, Egypt, and most other countries in Africa, Asia, and other underdeveloped areas as they continue caring for the dying and the 'poor of the poor' and providing them with means of hospitalization. For the needy, and the poor everyone can help them through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in virtually every country, CNEWA that care for the needy in the Near East, and Christian organizations and persons that help persecuted Christians. In all cases the needy would best be served if they are presented with the Messianic message that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and, if possible, offer them to receive the sacraments of the Church...More on Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta "The Third Teresa - a Woman for all Seasons" can be found here. Listen to her great words in an Irish TV interview in 1974 here. In recent events, the Turkish Islamic Sunni military attacked North Syria and killed Kurds and Christians that many had to flee to Iraq. America's Trump who depended on the Kurds for eliminating the Islamic State seemed hesitant in giving the green light for the Turkish attack. Christian Bishops in Northern Syria pleaded with the United Nations and world powers to make every effort in order to stop the killing of Christians in such areas as the one where Jesus followers were first called Christians (Antioch) as Turkish Islamist President Erdogan continues to slaughter Christian minorities in southern Turkey. Protesters in Lebanon have been complaining about corruption in the government and parliament that, for many decades, were divided along religious lines. Islamic Shiite Hizbullah under its leader Sheikh Nasr-Allah fought back with weapons targeting protesters while they received orders from their masters the Mullahs in Iran to crush every protest that could diminish Iran's virtual power in directing Lebanon's future! It seems that American CIA did infiltrate Lebanon adding more effect to the sanctions imposed by Trump on Iran that crippled Iran's economy. The situation of Christians in Iraq is not better. Since April 2019, news show that Christians of Iraq were increasingly persecuted and targeted, In an April 12 op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus wrote that "Christian towns in Iraq increasingly look neither Christian nor Iraqi — but Iranian." "The public identifies the threat against Christians in Iraq and Syria as emanating from Islamic State," wrote Carl Anderson. "After a hard-fought war, ISIS is no longer a territorial power. But the religious minorities persecuted under the caliphate remain in peril, thanks to the Iraqi government's tolerance of Iranian influence." In the continuing struggle for regional power between Islamic states, in 2018, thanks to Turkey's Erdogan, Saudi Arabia had lost its huge influence in the West due to the massacre of American journalist and member of the International Muslim Brotherhood Khashoggi by allegedly Saudi forces that, on order of Saudi's Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), entered the Saudi embassy in Turkey and tortured and killed Khashoggi. At The G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, November 2018, no leader shook hands with MBS except for the Russian Fox Vladimir Putin. Referred to as the Petroleum Superpowers, Russia and Saudi Arabia found much common economic interests that could change the balance of powers in the world. In October 2017 Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud paid a visit to Russia which was hailed by Saudi's Foreign Minister as historical. Intending to isolate the United States from the Middle East powers, Putin has continued to provide weapons to Iran and yet concluded a greater investment with Saudi Arabia when he visited the Kingdom in October 2019.
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I asked my spiritual mentor the Jesuit Fr. Henri Boulad about recent events in which Pope Francis and a number of his assistants have been involved (see this link of a discussion by Raymond Arroyo at EWTN with Most. Reverend Athanasius Schneider Auxiliary Bishop of Astana, Kazakhstan recorder on November 7, 2019). The initial answer by Fr. Boulad by email was full of solace:
Yes, George, I feel also uncomfortable about The Abu-Dhabi Declaration and the possible pagan implications of these Amazon rites. Francis' desire of openness at all costs is misleading for many people, who are mixed up. My humble opinion is that Pope Francis should clarify his position on both issues. People are waiting for such a clarification.
Fr. Boulad has always amazed me with his tremendous knowledge yet utter humility. See this post referring to his book "All is Grace" here.
About the historical development of Christianity, you may wish to read this slightly-long post here.
I wish to add one personal note: Since I was in the womb of my mother, I have been blessed by God in a special way (see this post here). Since 1986, I developed health issues related to my heart, brain and kidney. Yet God in his mercy gave me life and extended it through the work of great physicians (The reader may wish to read my posts here and here).
I was seen by Professor Dr. Victor Hoffstein on Wednesday November 6 at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. He examined my chest, and dictated the results of the CT scan that was taken of my lungs this past Friday at the same hospital. All in all, Dr. Hoffstein said that there is no change nor deterrioration in my health status. I am still God's "Living Miracle". In God's eyes everyone is unique. With Fr. Boulad, I can say "He loves me as I am"! Pope Saint John Paul II wrote extensively about the incomparable worth of the human person (see his Encyclical EVANGELIUM VITAE here.
For this, I thank the Sacred Heart of Jesus my Lord, God, and Savior who continues to give me life and grant me blessings through the prayers of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God, my guardian angel, as well as my patron saints:
Saint George the Great; Saint Rita of Cascia; and Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and many other saintly persons including the late saintly Bishop Paul Antaki the Great as well as many other persons around us whether in the family, extended families, or friends who continue to pray for me and ask about my health as well as priests and bishops that I have known including Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J.; Fr. Daniel Callam, CSB, D.Phil; Msgr. Robert Nusca, STD; Fr. Rafic Greiche; Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Jules Zerey; Bishop George Bakar; and Cardinal Thomas Collins and continue to be blessed by their prayers particularly the Eucharistic celebrations (a gift granted by God as I receive the Eucharist in the state of grace weekly when I attend Mass at the parish with my wife). On the significance of the Eucharist found in the Lord's Prayer "Give us this day our daily bread" the reader may wish to read this research here.
Let us pray for all the departed ones, all the sick, and all the needy...
