Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For March 05/201
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on March 04-05/18
The Lost Son Parable and Repentance/Elias Bejjani/March 04/18
What the Unspoken in ‘The Insult’ Says About Lebanon’s Politics/Karim Emile Bitar/New York Times/March 04/18
Botched response to Daesh paves way for its expansion/Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/March 04/18
Top rabbi praises ‘refreshing’ Saudi remarks on ‘horrors of Holocaust’/Eman El-Shenawi Al Arabiya/March 04/18
How Iran deal aided the regime’s bid for hegemonic control/Tony Duheaume Special to Al Arabiya English/March 04/18
Titles For Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on March 04-05/18
The Lost Son Parable and Repentance
Aoun calls on authorities to protect migratory birds
Lebanese official arrested for framing actor as Israeli agent
Hariri leaves Saudi Arabia after meeting with Saudi King, Crown Prince
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rahi: We cannot continue with martyrdom while officials remain indifferent, solely caring about their narrow interests
Bassil Says No One Can Forbid ‘Partnership’ in Zgharta
Saudis Tell Hariri Will Attend Lebanon Support Conferences
Bassil says FPM keen on maintaining relations regardless of election results
Saudis Tell Hariri Will Attend Lebanon Support Conferences
Bassil says FPM keen on maintaining relations regardless of election results
MP Suleiman Franjieh Lashes Out at Bassil, FPM
MP Suleiman Franjieh: We are open to others, but refuse to have our presence cancelled
Kanaan Says FPM Not Seeking to ‘Isolate’ LF
Kanaan says international conferences’ success is ensured by boosting confidence in Lebanon, not by raising the tone
Bou Assi: We cannot relax since the elections outcome is not guaranteed with the new law
Bassil from Qartaba: We respect the representation of others in their regions
Iraq’s Ambassador calls on displaced Iraqis to return voluntarily to their country
Batroun Women’s Association, chaired by Laure Sleiman, launches its first annual conference
Hankache: We Count on People’s Conscience on May 6
Saade: Kataeb Party Is Against Win-Loss Settlements
Dagher: Current Ruling Class Is the Most Impertinent in Lebanon’s History
Mira Wakim Urges Accountability on May 6
What the Unspoken in ‘The Insult’ Says About Lebanon’s Politics
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 04-05/18
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman landed Started an official Visit To Egypt
Egypt conducts first ever air strikes in the Nile Delta against terrorist targets
Egypt: 10 terrorists eliminated while four armed forces killed in Sinai
Syria’s Assad says the humanitarian situation that the West talks about is a ‘ridiculous lie’
France tells Iran risks sanctions if ballistic missile issue not handled
Rescue teams recover black boxes at site of Iran plane crash
Netanyahu to talk with Trump about attending Jerusalem embassy opening
Syrians flee government advances in eastern Ghouta
Netanyahu to Talk with Trump about Attending Embassy Opening
Netanyahu Opposes Early Polls as Graft Probes Intensify
Syria Regime Retakes Quarter of Rebel Enclave as Civilians Flee
Italy Votes in Uncertain Election Stalked by Populism
Macron Urges Tehran to ‘Pressure’ Syria to Halt E. Ghouta Offensive
Trump and May Blame Russia, Syria for E. Ghouta Suffering
The Lost Son Parable and Repentance
Elias Bejjani
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/37357
Lent is a prime time for spiritual change through genuine praying, serious and in depth self-examination, return to the roots of faith, repentance and forgiveness.
Almighty God is ready and always willing to turn everything around and take the hands of those who seriously and honestly pursue His mercy with perseverance forgiveness and repentance. He, with love and extreme happiness leads their steps towards all virtues of righteousness. He who in the Cana Wedding changed the water into wine and cleaned the Leper is willing all the time also to transform our minds and consciences from wickedness to goodness and salvation if and when we call for His help.
In our Maronite Catholic Church’s rite, on the Fourth Lent Sunday we recall and cite the biblical Lost Son’s parable that is known also as The Prodigal Son. This impulsive, selfish and thoughtless son, as the parable tells us, fell prey to evil’s temptation and decided to take his share of his father’s inheritance and leave the parental dwelling.
He travelled to a far-away city where he indulged badly in all evil conducts of pleasure and corruption until he lost all his money and became penniless. He experienced severe poverty, starvation, humiliation and loneliness. In the midst of his dire hardships he felt nostalgic, came back to his senses and decided with great self confidence to return back to his father’s house, kneel on his feet and ask him for forgiveness. On his return his loving and kind father received him with rejoice, open arms, accepted his repentance, and happily forgave him all his misdeeds. Because of his sincere repentance his Father gave him back all his privileges as a son.
The Lost (prodigal) Son’s parable: Luke15/11-32: He said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them. Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. 15:17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants .”’ “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’ But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him. But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 15:30 But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.
This parable is a road map for repentance and forgiveness. It shows us how much Almighty God our Father loves us, we His children and how He is always ready with open arms and willing to forgive our sins and trespasses when we come back to our senses, recognize right from wrong, admit our weaknesses and wrongdoings, eagerly and freely return to Him and with faith and repentance ask for His forgiveness.
Asking Almighty God for what ever we need is exactly what the Holy Bible instructs us to do when encountering all kinds of doubt, weaknesses, stumbling, hard times, sickness, loneliness, persecution, injustice etc.
Matthew 7/7&8: “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened” All what we have to do is pray and to ask Him with faith, self confidence and humility and He will respond. Matthew 21/22: “All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
We are not left alone at any time, especially when in trouble, no matter how far we distance ourselves from God and disobey His Holy bible. He is a Father, a loving, caring and forgiving Father. What is definite is that in spite of our foolishness, stupidity, ignorance, defiance and ingratitude He never ever abandons us or gives up on our salvation. He loves us because we His are children. He happily sent His only begotten son to be tortured, humiliated and crucified in a bid to absolve our original sin.
God carries our burdens and helps us to fight all kinds of Evil temptations. Matthew11/28-30: “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
God is waiting for our repentance, let us run to Him and ask for forgiveness before it is too late.
