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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

“Today we sing praise to you, O John, Messenger, Forerunner, and Baptizer, saying: You are the child whose birth was announced by an angel sent by God. You are the voice crying out in the wilderness and the prophet to whom the mystery of the Lord was revealed while still in your mother’s womb.” – The Prayer of Forgiveness and Incensing

Today the Maronite Church celebrates the birth of John the Baptist and how he fulfilled his mission so faithfully. We can ask ourselves whether we too make straight the ways of the Lord so that He may enter the souls of those friends and relatives of ours who are still far from him. So much depends on each of us, if we respond to Christ’s grace many people will remain in darkness no longer.

St. Augustine points out that the Church celebrates the birth of John as something sacred, and he is in fact the only saint whose day of his birth is celebrated, we celebrate the birth of John and that of Christ. (Sermon 293,1). He was the great forerunner of Christ, provoking the greatest religious revival in Israel’s history, drawing the people of Judea to the river Jordan to confess their sins. As Christians we are called to be forerunners of Christ in today’s world.
John’s sanctity, his strong and attractive virtues, his preaching … had contributed little by little to giving substance to some people’s thinking that John himself was the long-awaited Messiah.
Deeply humble, John wants only the glory of God when he says: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:27-30). God wants something similar for us; to pass unnoticed whilst we do good and fulfill our duties and obligations with human perfection.

Today, I will have the immense joy to ordain Elias Liatsos to the sacred priesthood. Let us pray for this brother of ours and for his family. May St. John the Baptist obtain for our Archeparchy a great harvest of vocations.
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1589

Before the grandeur of the priestly grace and office, the holy doctors felt an urgent call to conversion to conform their whole lives to him whose sacrament had made them ministers. Thus St. Gregory of Nazianzus, as a young priest, exclaimed:
We must begin by purifying ourselves before purifying others;
we must be instructed to be able to instruct, become light to illuminate,
draw close to God to bring him close to others, be sanctified to sanctify,
lead by the hand and counsel prudently.

Prayer
St. John the Baptist, you are the sign of God’s mercy and an apostle of the King of Peace. Obtain from the Heart of Christ peace for so many places in the world today.

† Selim Sfeir
Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, a week after Pentecost when we received the gift of the Spirit, the Church invites us to meditate on the great mystery of the Trinity, a mystery like all typically Christian mysteries, inaccessible to our human intelligences.

And yet this mystery is one that responds to one of humanity's deepest expectations: unity in love, or love in unity. Love is the source and foundation of all true unity. Jesus himself will make this understood, testifying to his disciples that the very nature of God's being is love.

The disciples follow Jesus' instructions and go to Galilee and the mountain. This term indicates and reminds us of all the Theophanies that took place there. An emblematic place that speaks of the divine presence, Jesus gave them an appointment in a place where the presence of God is an evidence. The disciples knew this well, for they knew by heart the events of Old Testament history. Of course, on the mountain where the Theophany took place, the disciples saw Jesus and bowed down before him. Had they forgotten the commandment, God is Lord, you shall have no other God but him, and you shall bow down to no other God? If they prostrated themselves before Jesus, it was because they recognized in him God. But perhaps some of them, hindered by their Jewish faith, could not help but doubt? At first glance, this seems disconcerting, but on closer examination, it is very consoling for us, who are going through moments of doubt.

Yes, we call ourselves disciples of the 21st century, and so we are.  If we go through moments of doubt, the disciples, in the presence of Jesus, went through doubts. But Jesus is not going to dwell on the doubts of some of his disciples; if he has gathered them together, it is for a much more important task.

Jesus draws near. What joy for us today, going through moments of doubt, to see that Jesus draws even closer to us. While we know that those closest to us, in moments of doubt, are ready to let us go, and act as if they don't know us. Jesus gets close and talks to them. Many of our friends, in difficult times, don't even speak to us. Jesus sees in them beloved disciples, not people who doubt, and he never distances himself from them.

Jesus does not wait for doubts to fade. At the moment of doubt, and despite the doubt, he charges them with his mission: "All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth...". Through Jesus, the disciples are sent out to teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them all that I have commanded you. And most importantly, Jesus reassures them: "And behold, I will be with you all the days, until the end of the age".

Our mission is the same: let's look to Jesus and remember that we are sent to teach, baptize and make disciples, in the name and power of the Holy Trinity, until the end of time. Let us live up to the trust that Jesus continues to place in us.

Prayer

Lord, you who are Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may we today recognize the love with which you have loved us, welcome this love to live by it and spread it around us.

Lord, make us apostles!

† Selim Sfeir

Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today, as we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to meditate on the profound meaning of this event and its impact in our lives.

The Ascension marks the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of a new era for his disciples. It is a moment of transition, but also a moment of revelation. As Jesus ascends to heaven, he shows us the way to eternal glory and promises us the constant presence of the Holy Spirit.

In this act of Ascension, we see the power of God at work. Jesus, who had conquered death, ascends triumphantly to his Father, demonstrating his sovereignty over all creation. It is a powerful reminder that nothing is impossible for those who believe.

As we contemplate the Ascension, we are also called to renew our own commitment to faith. Like the disciples who witnessed this extraordinary event, we are called to walk in confidence and hope, knowing that he who ascended to heaven will one day return in all his glory.

But the Ascension is not just a past event; it is also a present reality in our lives. Every time we lift our hearts to God in prayer, every time we seek to live according to his will, we participate in this spiritual ascension. We are called to ascend with him, to transcend the limits of this world, and to live in the light of his presence.

On this holy day, may we be encouraged to look upwards, to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. May we find in him the strength and courage to persevere in the race set before us, knowing that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.

May the power of Ascension be with us all, now and forever. Amen.

† Selim Sfeir
Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus

Chers frères et sœurs en Christ,

Aujourd'hui, alors que nous célébrons l'Ascension de notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, nous sommes invités à méditer sur le sens profond de cet événement et sur son impact dans nos vies.

L'Ascension marque la fin du ministère terrestre de Jésus et le début d'une nouvelle ère pour ses disciples. C'est un moment de transition, mais aussi un moment de révélation. Car en montant vers le ciel, Jésus nous montre la voie vers la gloire éternelle et nous promet la présence constante du Saint-Esprit.

Dans cet acte d'Ascension, nous voyons la puissance de Dieu à l'œuvre. Jésus, qui avait vaincu la mort, s'élève triomphalement vers son Père, démontrant ainsi sa souveraineté sur toute la création. C'est un rappel puissant que rien n'est impossible pour celui qui croit.

En contemplant l'Ascension, nous sommes également appelés à renouveler notre propre engagement envers la foi. Comme les disciples qui ont été témoins de cet événement extraordinaire, nous sommes appelés à marcher dans la confiance et l'espérance, sachant que celui qui est monté au ciel reviendra un jour dans toute sa gloire.

Mais l'Ascension n'est pas seulement un événement du passé, c'est aussi une réalité présente dans nos vies. Chaque fois que nous élevons nos cœurs vers Dieu dans la prière, chaque fois que nous cherchons à vivre selon sa volonté, nous participons à cette ascension spirituelle. Nous sommes appelés à monter avec lui, à transcender les limites de ce monde et à vivre dans la lumière de sa présence.

En cette journée sainte, que nous soyons encouragés à regarder vers le haut, à fixer nos yeux sur Jésus, l'auteur et le consommateur de notre foi. Puissions-nous trouver en lui la force et le courage de persévérer dans la course qui nous est proposée, sachant que celui qui a commencé en nous une bonne œuvre la rendra parfaite jusqu'au jour de Jésus-Christ.

Que la puissance de l'Ascension soit avec nous tous, maintenant et pour toujours. Amen.

† Selim Sfeir
Archevêque Maronite de Chypre