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Page One
CHRISTIAN HOPE:
ANCHORED ON THE FULFILLMENT OF PROMISE
Bishop Sarhad Yawsip Jammo
A Divine Virtue:
Hope is one of the three major divine gifts of the Holy
Spirit that make up the basic structure of Christian
spirituality. With Faith, we reach out and connect
ourselves to the divine saving power of God. With Love,
we implement and fulfill the predicaments and
implications of Faith.
With Hope, we journey through our earthly life to the
plenitude of the Kingdom of God with serenity and
patience, following the guiding Star up to the heavenly
mansion.
Christian Hope is not a kind of wishful thinking we
resort to in order to face our crushing challenges; it
is not a sort of psychological sedative to subdue our
unbearable pain; nor is it a calculated probability for
the end result of our risky choices. Our Christian Hope
is based on a divine promise, communicated to us in a
manifested and documented fashion, that, unworthy though
we are,
a Savior is provided for us;
and despite our misery and shortcomings, God maintained,
and will maintain, his pact and covenant with the human
race, calling us to rise up with confidence and pursue
the Star.
The Liturgical Season of Hope:
The Church organizes annually a specific season, called
Subbara “Announcement of Tidings”, whose core
theme anchors on the ultimate foundation that secures
our Hope; it has a central subject and name:
Emmanuel “God is with us”.
Even a paradise on earth, if it would not lead to life
with God, would finally become a boring habitat.
Therefore, looking at what God has provided for us
humans despite our sinfulness, we realize that the
remedy to human sin far exceeded its actual treatment,
ending up in the elevation of our nature to lofty
heavenly peaks.
The role of Mary is pivotal in securing our liberation
and elevation. Indeed, in the plan of God, as it has
unfolded through human history, Jesus enters our time
and life through Mary’s donation of herself, in response
to the call of the Heavenly Father. In concrete
historical terms: there is no Jesus on planet earth, if
the humanity of the Son of God was not first fashioned
in the womb of Mary.
Thus, God is with us, having first been with
Mary: “The Lord is with thee.”
Hope for Our Time:
Hope is not only a theological virtue, belonging to some
contemplative order, but makes substantial part of any
complete and balanced spiritual life, for individuals as
well as for communities. Our community and Church are
facing, at the present time,
formidable hardship and radical transformation. Under
the overwhelming pain and unbearable circumstances, to
despair and give up is the tempting human weakness; but
we are a people with a
radical Hope,
implying that we are not alone in the surrounding
tempest, God being with us.
The awareness of who we are and what our Church is
imposes on us to stand steadfast in our Hope and
resilience, muster our spiritual confidence and
strength, and journey with God to the fullness of time.
~*~*~
Page Two
New Servants of the Lord, and Mary, the
Model of Service
Fr. Andrew Younan
On
Monday, December 8, 2008, the Feast of the Immaculate
Conception, the Diocese of St. Peter received 42 new
servers in a joyful ceremony presided by Mar Sarhad
Yawsip Jammo. Between Lectors (8 males & 13 females) and
Servers (9 males & 12 females), a single spirit pervaded
the atmosphere as each in turn came and received his
rank of service. This was neither an ordinary
commissioning nor simply an honor bestowed.
This was a renewal of mind and spirit, a transformation
whereby some were chosen and set apart for the sake of
the needs of the Church - especially her liturgy.
This
type of service is not merely a matter of qualification;
nor is it simply up to the individual to volunteer.
A potential lector and server must be chosen by their
parish priest, presented to the bishop and accepted, and
this all, again, only according to the needs of the
Church.
This reality reflects two things: first, that the divine
liturgy is not the work of any one person, but of the
whole Church, following the leadership of the
sacramental priesthood; second, that these individuals
are chosen from the whole community not for themselves,
but for others.
The prime example of this is Mary the Immaculate.
She did not volunteer to become the mother of the
Savior; she was chosen from the beginning of time. She
did not impose her will upon the world; on the contrary,
she gave up her will entirely and accepted the Will of
God in her life. Nor was any of this for her own sake:
she was chosen to be the instrument of God for the
salvation of all, and she accepted this role for the
same reason.
It
is heartwarming to remember, in this season of Subara,
as we prepare for the Feast of the Birth of the Lord,
that God has done so much for our sake. As we look upon
Mary and the Divine Child in her lap in the scene of the
Nativity, we realize that the reason God sent his Son
Jesus was the same reason he chose Mary to be his
mother: us and our redemption. Knowing this, let us
offer our service & our obedience to God & the Church
for the sake of the same salvation.
For DVD & Pictures contact
Goro Productions
619-504-5094
_____
أبرشية مار بطرس للكلدان والآثوريين الكاثوليك تحتفل
بمباركة 42 شماساً من الدرجات القارئية والرسائلية
أقام راعي الأبرشية، مار سرهد يوسب جمو مساء الاثنين 8
ديسمبر 2008 المصادف تذكار مريم العذراء المحبول بها بلا
دنس اصلي، قداساً احتفالياً في كاتدرائية مار بطرس
الكلدانية في سان دييگو، كاليفورنيا، بمباركة 42 شماساً
وشماسة مفوضين لخدمة مذبح الرب والاشتراك في القراءات
الطقسية وصلاة الرمش وخدمة القداس لأيام الاسبوع والآحاد
(حسب الدرجة).
الشمامسة القارئون (8) هم:
بيتر الكاتب، دانيال جوني، ستيفن قريو، بشار نجار، داني
شابا، بولس شوريز، عمانوئيل شابيرا وكرِس صومو.
الشماسات القارئات (13):
أنيسة ابلحد، جورجيت بطاح، مارينا گورو، سارة حمامة، سلمى
كريم، لبيبة كتولا، صبرية منصور، تيفَني نعوم، لانا عوديش،
هيفاء ربان، نضال شمعون، ساره زيتونة وجوزفين زومايا.
الشمامسة الرسائليون (9):
ثائر أبونا، طارق عطار، آلِن گلينا، سمير گورو، جوزيف
گوريال، رعد قاجي، نزار ميخائيل، نجاح سالم ونجاح يلدو.
الشماسات الرسائليات(12):
كميلة رزوقي، حياة بهورا، مفيدة برنو، دايانا دانيال،
باسمة گورو، كترينة گورو، نجيبة حلاق، خيرية قونجا، نوال
متيكا، جميلة ميرم، مريم ربان، وهيفاء سلمو.
يرجى الاتصال بالمصور حكمت گورو 5094-504-619 للحصول على
الصور والفديو.
~*~*~
Page Three
R E F L E C T I O N S A N D C O
M M E N T S
Here are
some reflections on these blessings:
I placed my life in God's hands, and told him I wanted
to do everything for his kingdom. I trusted him to guide
me. Then, I simply followed my own interests, instincts,
and consciousness. I let my actions talk and my words be
motionless. God doesn't stop me or start me. He doesn't
do my homework for me. But he's there, like a good
parent. He guides me and tells me where I went wrong,
correcting my errors night and day whenever I talk to
him, and I am always listing to him through Scripture
and where he points me in my daily life.
To be his servant at the altar is something I never saw
myself doing. A sub-deacon is the highest of the minor
orders of clergy in the Eastern rite. This year along
with several other men and women, I was elected to
receive a higher mandate by the Bishop. This mandate
calls me to serve the Church more deeply and faithfully,
especially at the altar where the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass is taking place. Being a shamasha is a blessing,
and is also a
challenge. It demands time away from family and friends,
and other personal attachments in my daily life.
However, it calls me to spend more time with Christ.
Utilizing your time properly is very important, and
serving Christ should be on the top of the list. One
more thing to keep in mind is that we all should be
listening to how the chief shepard is calling us to
serve him and one another.
The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the
sub-deacons, in virtue of their blessing are to be
servants in a servant-Church. Matthew 9:37 “Then he said
to his disciples, the harvest indeed is great, but the
labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the
harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.”
So how is the Lord calling you to serve for him? Be
still, and in silence, listen to his Word.
~Tariq Attar, Server
 I
would like to thank the Church for choosing me to be a
lector. This special blessing is accepted with zeal and
honor as I am able to serve my Church at the altar. I
would like to congratulate the servers and lectors who
were also chosen. My extended gratitude goes to our
amazing bishop, Mar Sarhad Yawsip. It means so much to
me to be included in the making of history. This is
truly a magnificent event to have women be blessed to
read from the Bible. The Church means so much to me, and
I will not take this responsibility lightly. It is
something I will take with me wherever the Lord leads
me.
~Marina Goro, Lector
__________
Please come to Church every Sunday,
not just on Christmas & Easter
Deacon Keith
Michael Esshaki
 Every
Christmas and Easter we have a parking problem outside
the church and a seating problem inside the church
because so many people show up to church during these
two holy occasions.
The Church is everyone’s mother and will always welcome
her children with open arms. But as a mother, the Church
also cares so much about her children that she wouldn’t
want to lose them to the fires of hell forever. So she
will tell them the truth, not only what they like to
hear.
Do we have to go to church every Sunday?
So what does the Catholic Church teach about the
obligation to attend Sunday mass? The Catechism of the
Catholic Church is very clear on that
"Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit
grave sin"
(section #2181 of the Catechism)
The fourth commandment of God is
"Keep Holy the Lord’s day"
A "commandment" is not a "suggestion"; it’s an "order".
When can we receive the Eucharist?
Many people who come to church especially during
Christmas and Easter haven’t been to confession since
their wedding or since their first communion but still
receive the Eucharist. We can only receive the Eucharist
when we are in a state of grace.
"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or
drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be
guilty of profaning the body and blood
of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of
the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Cor. 11:27–28)
So my dear brothers and sisters spread the word to all
your relatives and friends and tell them the truth that
we are to come to church every Sunday, not just on
Christmas and Easter and receive the Eucharist only when
we are in a state of grace. If we have committed a
mortal sin and are not in a state of grace then we need
to first go to confession.
The King of kings comes down so humbly and generously
from His heavenly throne and is born of Mary at the
hands of the priest in the Blessed Sacrament to become
our spiritual food and drink. Please come and receive
this sweetness every Sunday, not just on Christmas and
Easter. Come and receive it worthily when you are in a
state of grace and if you are not, wash away your sins
with one repentant confession.
May the grace and peace of the child Jesus protect you
and your families and be with you always.
~*~*~
Page Four
Happy
Birthday,
Jesus!
What
does the birth of
Jesus Christ mean to our Youth?
Unfortunately,
many kids and even some grownups reduce Christmas to the
secular, shallow, and materialistic definitions the
world is constantly pushing and brainwashing people with
(i.e. presents, eggnog, mistletoe, parties, etc). But we
all know this is the work of the devil.
Spiritually and realistically, Christmas is the birth
of God made man. Literally, if one ponders this for a
while, it would mean that prior to the first Christmas,
Jesus did not exist. The Trinity was always there of
course, and so was the 2nd Person of the trinity, the
Son of God. But, the human manifestation of the Son of
God was not present. Imagine the drama in heaven when
God revealed his plans to reduce himself to one of his
inferior creatures (humans) and then allow these
unworthy and sinful creatures to scorn him, spit at him,
and even kill him. Heaven would never be the same.
Many theologians believe this revelation was so
repulsive that many angels including one of the most
beautiful
angels [at the time] rebelled and yelled "I will not
serve!" Thus began the war of the angels and the
creation of hell. If the "thought" of the
Incarnation caused so much drama in heaven, then perhaps
we should take a minute to reflect and ponder on what
the "actual birth" of Jesus accomplished on earth.
Jesus' birth [and the sacraments] actually "transform"
our human natures into the "supernatural". Jesus
actually becomes our brother and we literally become
adopted sons and daughters of God the Father. We
become like God in grace, we become one family.
The mercy and love of God allows us to get so close to
him, if only we can cooperate with his graces and live
out our salvation as he taught us by example.
These meditations are just one of hundreds we should try
to think about during the Advent and Christmas season,
they are what celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ
should mean to all of us. Give Thanks and Glory to
God for giving us his Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus
Christ, and don't forget to wish him a "Happy Birthday!"
-
Bashar Kassab
_________
Every
year most of us can’t wait for the Christmas season to
come. We all get busy decorating the tree, putting the
lights up, last minute Christmas shopping, and Christmas
parties. Yet, throughout all of the festivities many of
us forget what this holiday really stands for. When we
get ready to go to Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas
Day we all have to remember that Jesus is the reason for
the season.
The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ centralizes our faith
in many ways. God gave us a Messiah, someone to preach
his Word and save us. We all need to remember that
celebrating this season isn't only about presents and
fun, it’s about celebrating the birth of a person who in
his future gave up his life for our humanity. For me
celebrating this season is all about love and being
thankful for what God has given me, like my families who
have provided for me all these years. I also believe
that it’s the best time to reconnect with God if you
have drifted away from him. All it takes is to remember
that with God there is always hope, and the perfect
example of that is the birth of Christ since Jesus
always trusted and had hope in God.
-
Isin Allos, 19
________
Meditating
on the birth of Jesus makes me think of the great
humility of God. It is so amazing how the all-powerful
God would come down to earth to be one of his creatures.
The amazing thing about the birth of Jesus is that the
all-knowing God wanted to find a way to save the people
whom he loved so much and he did not find any other way
than sending his only Son to die and be crucified so
brutally by his own creatures. It is so amazing how much
God humbled himself by becoming so powerless, after he
was the most powerful being. He became totally powerless
in the form of a baby, and placed himself in the arms of
Mary, a human. He let her feed him, clothe him,
and care for him: she was his mother, and he couldn't
live without her. He set an example for us of how
we should let Mary treat us in our lives.
Christmas is such an important day in history because it
is the day that God became man and Incarnated himself to
be one of us, and it is something so great to celebrate
-
Simon Esshaki, 17
________
To
me, the birth of Jesus Christ is a renewal of my
spiritual journey. During Advent, I must cleanse myself
of all sin and prepare to begin my journey once again
this year with Christmas. I must humble myself and
remember that Jesus Christ lives within me. The Birth of
Jesus Christ is a remembrance of innocence. It is a
perfect time to rid bad habits from your life and start
out fresh. It’s the time when you tell yourself, “I need
to make some changes in my life.” You should never think
it’s too late to change. It is a time to reflect on our
past and see what we can change, how we can grow in our
faith and how to trust in the power of God.
The birth is an event so glorious that even kings bowed
down to praise him; yet an event so humble that we must
never be arrogant. So, we must relieve ourselves of all
meaningless obligations and remember that this is a time
of celebrating and a time of giving. The symbol of the
birth of Jesus Christ is a reminder for the world, that
all of our lives have a meaning, and that we all have a
purpose; and that purpose is to act accordingly to the
Word of God and to spread the Word so that others can
follow in a path to righteousness.
-
Heather Jarbo, 16
________
Celebrating
the birth of Christ means that we are celebrating our
beloved Mother and the birth of our savior and creator
while spreading the Word of the Lord at the same time.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was sent to us as a
reminder that God does exist and that our prayers are
real and meaningful.
When Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, it was
spectacular as the world was honored with the coming of
our Savior. Our Lord then showed us his mercy by healing
the sick and showing the people the
true nature of praying and the essence of God. During
Advent, we remember how God became man by allowing
himself to be carried in the womb of a virgin. We are
spreading the importance of our Virgin Mother and
requesting the stubborn to pray.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Creator, had mercy
on his people and showed them that forgiveness is a part
of life. Jesus is our savior by his dying on the Cross.
-
Bryan Bazzi, 15
~*~*~
Page Five
20th Annual Christmas Concert
at St. Mary Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church, San Jose
On Sunday; December 14, 2008, during the 20th Annual
Christmas Concert. More than 350 parishioners were
present to enjoy Christmas hymns and popular
carols chanted by 50 members of both adult and children
choirs who participated in a 3-hour uplifting program
praising the Lord God who sent to us His Son to save us
from Satan, death and sin, and to bring us back to His
Father who loves us so much.
Our beloved Bishop, His Excellency Mar Sarhad Yawsip
Jammo was present there, along with Bishop Mar Bawai
Soro, Rev. Chorbishop Samuel Dinkha, the Pastor of the
Parish Rev. Youshia Sana and Rev. Michael Barota (St.
Matthew's Church).
To see more photos , visit
www.kaldu.org
or
www.kaldaya.net
~*~*~
Page Six
ܚـܠــܝ̈ܬܢ
ܬ
ܐ
ܡܪܢ
ܟܘܪܐܦܣܩܘܦܐ
ܦ̮ܝܠܝܟܤ
ܫܐܒܝ
ܩܪܒܼܠܹܗ
ܙܲܒܼܢܵܐ
ܕܡܲܘܠܵܕܹܗ
ܕܡܵܪܲܢ
݊ܟܪܸܣܡܸܤ
݊
ܘܥܲܠܡܵܐ
ܟܠܹܗ
ܗܘܿܠܹܐ
ܒܡܲܚܛ̇ܘܿܪܹܐ
ܬܵܐ
ܥܲܝܘܿܕܸܐ
ܒܗܵܢܵܐ
ܓܸܕܫܵܐ
ܒܪܝܼܟܼܵܐ.
ܘܵܠܝܼܬܵܝܠܵܐ
ܥܸܠܢ
ܐܲܚܢܝܼܢ̄
ܡܫܝܼܚܵܝܹ̈ܐ
ܕܡܲܚܛ̇ܪܲܟܼ
ܢܲܦ̮ܫܲܢ
ܩܕܵܡ
ܦܲܓܼܪܲܢ.
ܡܸܛܠ
ܡܵܪܲܢ
ܝܑܼܫܘܿܥ
ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ "ܥܲܡܵܢܘܼܝܑܹܠ"
ܐܬܹܐܠܹܗ
ܬܵܐ
ܦܘܼܪܩܵܢܵܐ
ܕܢܲܦ̮ܫ̈ܵܬܲܢ
ܘܚܹܐܪܘܼܬܲܢ
ܕܲܪܩܘܼܠ
ܦܲܚܹ̈ܐ
ܘܩܲܝ̈ܕܹܐ
ܕܣܲܛܵܢܵܐ.
ܡܵܪܝܵܐ
ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ
ܡܫܘܼܕܹܪܠܹܗ
ܗܵܘ
ܡܸܢܕܝܼ
ܒܸܫ
ܥܲܙܝܼܙܵܐ
ܥܸܠܹܗ
ܘܟܸܡܝܵܗܒܸܠܹܗ
ܛܵܠܲܢ؛
ܗܒܸܠܹܗ
ܒܪܘܿܢܹܗ
ܛܵܠܲܢ.
ܟܠܲܢ
ܟܬܲܟܼܪܲܟ
ܗܲـܢ
ܬܠܵܬܼܵܐ
ܡܲܠܟܹ̈ܐ
ܡܓܼܘܼ̈ܫܹܐ
ܕܐ̄ܬܹܐܠܲܝܗܘܢ
ܡ̣ܢ
ܒܹܝܬ
ܢܲܗܪܹܝܢ
ܠܡܲܩܪܘܿܒܹܐ
ܚܠܲܝ̈ܵܬܼܵـܐ
ܬܵܐ
ܡܵܪܲܢ
ܪܸܡܙܵܐ
ܬܵܐ
ܐܲܠܵܗܘܼܬܹܗ
ܘܐ̄ܢܵܫܘܼܬܹܗ،
ܘܡܲܠܟܘܼܬܹܗ
ܘܚܲܫܹܗ.
ܡܓܼܘܼ̈ܫܹܐ
ܗܒܸܠܵܝܗܘܿܢ
ܗܵܘ
ܡܸܢܕܝܼ
ܕܐܝܼܬܼ
ܗܘܵܐ
ܒܸܫ
ܥܲܙܝܼܙܵܐ
ܘܒܸܫ
ܡܵܪܝ
ܛܝܼܡܵܐ
ܥܸܠܲܝܗܘܿܢ؛
(ܕܸܗܒܵܐ
ܘܡܘܼܪܵܐ
ܘܲܠܒܘܿܢ̄ܬܵܐ).
ܒܘܼܩܵܪܵܐ
ܛܵܠܲܢ
ܐܲܚܢܲܢ،
ܡܵܐ
ܐܝܼܬܼܠܲܢ
ܕܡܲܩܸܪܒܲܟ
ܬܵܐ
ܡܵܪܲܢ
ܒܗܵܢ
ܥܹܐܕܵܐ،
ܡܵܐܝܼܠܹܗ
ܗܵܘ
ܡܸܢܕܝܼ
ܒܸܫ
ܥܲܙܝܼܙܵܐ
ܘܒܸܫ
ܡܵܪܝ
ܛܝܼܡܵܐ؟
ܐ̄ܚܢܲܢ
ܩܸܪܝܹܐ
ܐܝܼܘܸܟ
ܬܵܐ
ܕܡܲܣܩܘܼܟܼ
ܬܸܫܒܘܿܚܬܵܐ
ܬܵܐ
ܡܵܪܲܢ
ܒܗܵܢ
ܥܹܐܕܵܐ
ܒܪܝܼܟܵܐ.
ܬܫܒܘܿܚܬܐ
ܕܗܵܕܝܘܿܡ
ܝܵܘܡܵܐ
ܕܡܲܩܸܪܒܲܟܠܵܐ
ܠܲܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ
ܐܝܼܠܵܗ
ܒܓܵܘ
ܦܲܪܨܘܿܦܵܐ
ܕܩܲܪܝܼܒܼܵܐ.
ܐܝܼܡܲܢ
ܕܒܵܥܲܟܼ
ܠܩܲܪܝܼܒܲܢ
ܡܐܲܝܟܼ
ܓܝܵܢܲܢ،
ܐܝܼܡܲܢ
ܕܸܡܝܲܩܪܲܟܼ
ܚܲܕ
ܠܐܲܚܪܹܢܵܐ،
ܐܝܼܡܲܢ
ܕܦܲܠܚܘܼܟܼ
ܘܝܵܗܒܘܼܟܼ
ܡ̣ܢ
ܥܸܕܵܢܵܐ
ܕܝܼܠܵܢ
ܘܡܼܢ
ܓܸܗܘܵܐ
ܘܡܼܢ
ܙܘܼܙܹ̈ܐ
ܕܝܼܠܵܢ
ܬܵܐ
ܥܝܵܢܵܐ
ܘܸܣܢܵܕܵܐ
ܕܩܲܪܝܼܒܼܵܐ
ܕܝܼܠܵܢ
ܘܕܲܥܪܲܟ
ܠܒܲܝܬܲܢ
ܓܸܗܝܹܐ
ܘܢܸܗܝܹܐ
ܘܗܵܘܘܼܟ
ܨܝܼܪܹ̈ܐ
ܦܸܨܚܘܼܬܵܐ
ܠܣܸܦܘ̈ܵܬܼܵܐ
ܕܩܲܪܝܼܒܼܵܐ
ܘܫܘܿܩܲܟ
ܕܢܵܫܹܐ
ܥܘܿܩܵܢܹܗ
ܘܥܲܣܩܘ̈ܵܬܹܗ
ܐܝܼܡܲܢ
ܕܝܵܕܲܥ
ܕܐܲܚܢܲܢ
ܦܸܫܠܲܢ
ܩܲܪ̈ܝܼܒܹܐ
ܕܝܼܠܹܗ
ܘܐܲܚܲܘܵܬܹܗ
ܒܡܵܪܲܢ.
______
News and
Events of the Parish
ST. PETER CHALDEAN CATHEDRAL
EL CAJON, CA
Welcome
Christian fellows through Holy Baptism and Confirmation:
Angelo
Alkatib, Anthony Nona, Tristan Konja, Giovanni Murad,
Venise Yousif, Leonardo
Yousif, Miley Yousif, Matias Yousif,
Nicolette Gammo, Iden Shaya,
Allison Skyles, Ava Razoky, Jade Elia, Christopher
Garmo, Janna Romaya, and Christiano Shores.
 Congratulations
to our brothers & sisters who have received the crown of
Holy Matrimony:
Saad Jabo & Maryam Nissan, Gazwan Jarbo & Reem Awraha,
Duraid Bidi
& Ranen Hermaz,
Steev Jabrou & Miad Franci, Raymond Jacob & Claudia
Dakhy, and Muhsin Salem & Norma Lobato.
With deep sympathy the following members of our
community of faith passed away in the hope of heavenly
glory:
Norai
Mansour, Sliwa Kattoula, Kifah Salmu, & Habib Haisha.
ST. MICHAEL CHALDEAN CHURCH
EL CAJON, CA
Welcome
Christian fellows through Holy Baptism and Confirmation:
Joesif
Yousef, Yousif Ouraha, Jude Somo, Allen Golla, Gianni
Kasshamo, Marcello Daniel, Amanda Michael, Geovano Yako,
and Nadia Edge.
With deep
sympathy the following member of our community of faith
passed away in the hope of
heavenly glory: Joseph Elia.
ST. MARY ASSYRIAN CHALDEAN CHURCH
SAN JOSE, CA
Welcome
Christian fellows through Holy Baptism and Confirmation:
Steven
Shamoon, Matthew Shahbazian, and Justine Jabo.
Congratulations to our brother & sister who have
received the crown of Holy Matrimony:
Ramil Betyadegar & Monica Oliva.
With deep
sympathy the following member of our community of faith
passed away in the hope of
heavenly glory: Martin Kaldani and
Petros Petrospour
ST. BARBARA CHALDEAN CHURCH
LAS VEGAS, NV
Welcome
Christian fellow through Holy Baptism and Confirmation:
Christopher & Krisstian Suliman.
MAR AURAHA CHALDEAN CHURCH
SCOTTSDALE, AZ
Welcome
Christian fellows through Holy Baptism and Confirmation:
Stavros
Shaia, Christian Hamama, Pamela Al Bafro, Jacob
Shleimun, and Francis Shimoon.
With deep
sympathy the following members of our community of faith
passed away in the hope of
heavenly glory: Gorgis Rays and Fadi
Naaim.
 ST.
JOSEPH CHALDEAN MISSION
San Diego/North County, CA
Welcome
Christian fellows through Holy Baptism and Confirmation:
Marciano Isteepho.
~*~*~
Page Seven
المـيلاد
الأب بولس خزيران الراهب
تاريخ البشرية حافل بالولادات ففي كل يوم تحصل مئات الالاف
من الولادات. هناك ولادات نتيجة التدخل الالهي تنفيذا
للوعود التي قطعها اللـه مع شعبه ليكون حضور اللـه بين
الشعب وتكون ايات لعظمة الرب في العمل الخلاصي مثل شمشون
ويوحنا المعمذان الذي يمهد الطريق للرب، وكيف ان اللـه من
الشيخوخة العاجزة عن اعطاء الحياة بحسب الطبيعة اعطى اللـه
لزكريا ولدا تنفيذا لوعد الرب كي لا يعتقد ان الطبيعة
وهبته اياه بل هو وعد من اللـه له ليقوم بمهمة التبشير
وتحضير البشرية لقبول المخلص.
اما ولادة المسيح من العذراء مريم فليست من مشيئة الرجل بل
هي من الروح القدس (لوقا1: 35) "ان الروح القدس ينزل عليك
وقدرة العلي تضللك لذلك يكون المولود قدوسا وابن اللـه
يدعى". فالروح القدس حل على العذراء بعد اخذ موافقتها
ورضاها (لوقا 1: 38) فقالت مريم أنا أمة الرب فليكن لي
بحسب قولك. فاللـه القادر على كل شيء يقف امام ارادة
الانسان باحترام كي يأخذ موافقته كما رأينا في العذراء
مريم ذلك عملا بحرية الانسان الذي خلقه حرا والعمل لمجده
وامانة منه لاحترام هذه الحرية.
عزيزي القاريء لنتأمل بهذه الولادة العجيبة التي لم يسبق
مثيلها في تاريخ البشرية لا في الماضي ولا في الحاضر ولن
يحدث مثلها في المستقبل كيف يمكن ان تتم الولادة من غير
مشاركة الجنسين الذكري والانثوي هذا محال بحسب الطبيعة.
ففي ولادة يوحنا رأينا الطبيعة البشرية عاجزة للحصول على
الولد بسبب عجز الشيخوخة رغم هذا حصل ذلك بتدخل اللـه، وفي
ولادة المسيح نرى كيف ان الطبيعة البشرية كلها حيوية في
شخص العذراء لتهب الحياة الا انها غير قادرة على اعطائها
ان لم يكن بمشاركة الرجل ولهذا السبب سألت العذراء عن
كيفية حدوث الولادة، وقد سكن الملاك حيرتها بقوله لها ان
الروح القدس ينزل عليك وقدرة العلي تضللك. فمن هذه الولادة
نستنتج ان المولود يكون عظيما وانه لا بد وان يحمل رسالة
مهمة بحيث يأخذ الطبيعة البشرية من غير ان يكون خاضعا لحكم
الخطيئة الاصلية وبذلك يكون غير خاضع لسلطان الشيطان وبهذه
الحالة يكون موته على الصليب ذبيحة طاهرة مرضية للأب
ومقبولة منه لانها غير مدنسة وغير خاضعة للخطيئة بذلك
تستحق ان تكون تكفيرا عن خطيئة الانسان مثل خروف ابينا
ابراهيم الذي لم يكن من نسل الحيوان بل عطية من اللـه كي
يقربه ذبيحة عن ابنه اسحق.
_______
العائـلة المسـيحية جماعـة
إيمـان
الأب بطرس لورنس
العائلة المسيحية جماعة ايمان تفتح امامنا آفاق جديدة في
سبيل معرفة دور العائلة المسيحية في الايمان الذي تحمله في
طيات حياتها، ودورها الخلاصي بالاشتراك مع الرب يسوع في
تبادل وعودهما الواحد للآخر بموجب الايمان الواحد والشركة
الجسدية في تكميل ارادة الله واعلان بشرى الخلاص.
العائلة هي الكنيسة الاولى:
عندما نعرف الكنيسة بانها جماعة المؤمنين، أي انها مؤلفة
من جماعات مصغرة نقصد بها العائلة. إذاً العائلة (الرجل
والمرأة) هي الكنيسة التي تعلن ايمانها بالمسيح امام
ابنائها و العالم، وتتعهد بان تكون الثمرة الروحية لتحقيق
سر الله الخلاصي لجميع البشر. وان تعترف بانها تعطي الحياة
لابنائها بالجسد لانهم هبة الله من اجل الحياة.
الام التي ترضع طفلها الحليب من صدرها تعطيه الحب والحنان
النابع من القلب، هكذا تعطي الايمان الى بنيها عندما تكون
معلمة وامينة على العهد المقدس الذي قطعوه امام الله في سر
الزواج. الاب والام اللذين ولدا من رحم الكنيسة الام في
الايمان، العائلة ايضاً تلد ابناءَها بالجسد والروح، لكي
تعطيهم شِركة الحياة مع يسوع المسيح، في الحب، والمعرفة،
والايمان. وهذا ما عبَّر عنه
قداسة البابا يوحنا بولس الثاني، حيث يقول إن " من أهم
وظائف العائلة المسيحية، وظيفتها الكنسية: أعني تلك التي
تضعها في خدمة بناء ملكوت الله على مرّ العصور، بمشاركتها
في حياة الكنيسة ورسالتها "، "ولكي نحسن فهم أساس هذه
المشاركة وماهيتها وخصائصها، لا بدّ من التعمق في بحث ما
يشدّ الكنيسة إلى العائلة المسيحية من روابط عديدة حميمة
تجعل من العائلة شبه " كنيسة مصغَّرة، بحيث تكون هذه
العائلة بدورها صورة حيَّة وتجسيداً في الزمن لسرّ الكنيسة
".
العائلة مدرسة ايمان:
نقرأ في يوحنا 6/40 "فمشيئة أبي هي ان كل من رأى الابن
وآمن به كانت له الحـياة الابـدية وأنا
اقيمه في
اليوم الاخير". العائلة المسيحية تكتشف ايمانها من خلال
اكتشافها معنى وجودها في الحياة من خلال الحب الذي اخذته
من لدن الله في سر الزواج، والعائلة تجسد هذا الحب
وتجعله ان يكون منارة لابنائها والعالم، وان تؤمن بان هذا
الحب هو نعمة مجانية وهبها الله لها.
اننا نقول في اللاهوت "ان الكنيسة هي أم ومعلمة"، كذلك
العائلة هي مدرسة ايمان، تغذي، وتربي، وتنشىء ابناءَها على
الايمان بالرب يسوع. هي معلمة ومؤدبة في نفس الوقت، تعلم
عندما ترى ابناءَها بحاجة للتعليم، وتؤدب عندما ترى
ابناءَها زاغوا عن الطريق الصحيح. العائلة حكيمة وخائفة،
حكيمة في تصرفاتها واقوالها، وخائفة في احتضانها لابنائها.
وعلى العائلة ان تعي اليوم ان عليها مسؤوليات جمة امام
ابنائها والله، في ان تستفيد من جميع الفضائل والنعم التي
افاضها الله عليها في سر الزواج المقدس، في ان توزعها
وتشهد ايمانياً على واهبها، وبدورها تكون العائلة شاهدة
ايمان والوجه الآخر ليسوع المسيح على الارض.
وبقدر ما تكون إنطلاقة الحياة الزوجية على هذا المستوى من
الوعي لسرّ حضور الله وعمله في حياة العائلة، تصبح الحياة
الزوجية كلها مسيرة إيمان، يمكن للعائلة من خلالها أن ترى
كل شيء وأن تقرأ الاحداث على ضوء هذا الاختبار الايماني،
ويكون نور الربّ يلوح باستمرار في أفق حياتها، أقوى من كل
غيوم الحياة وأعاصيرها .
العائلة رسولة يسوع المسيح:
ما نريد ان تتعلمه العائلة المسيحية من خلال هذه اللقاءات
التعليمية هي ان تعي دورها الرسولي في المجتمع، وان تعطي
ثمار الحياة الى ابنائها دون توقف، وان تكون الصورة
الواضحة أو المرآة الصافية في الحب، والعطاء ، والتعليم
القويم، والايمان، وممارسة الاعمال الصالحة، وان تحمل كلمة
الله الحقة للعالم، وان تعلن ايمانها بالرب يسوع، وان تكون
رسولة له في العالم . |
