Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For March 25/2018

Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For March 25/2018

Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on March 24-25/18
Jesus’ Victorious Entry into Jerusalem -Palm Sunday/Elias Bejjani/25 March/18
Out with the old, in with the new: Lebanon’s elections promise changing of the guard/Sami Moubayed/The Arab Weekly/March 24/18
Trump rattles White House with Bolton shake-up/Jonathan Easley and Jordan Fabian/TheHill/March 24/18
UK: Islamization Full Speed Ahead/Judith Bergman/Gatestone Institute/March 24/2018
Why Palestinians Need an Israel Victory/Daniel Pipes/Australian/March 24/2018
Trump’s War Cabinet … Against Whom/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/March 24/18
Is Qatar waking up from its stupor of stubbornness/Mashari Althaydi/Al Arabiya/March 24/18
The new Cold War between Russia and Britain/Abdullah bin Bijad Al-Otaibi/Al Arabiya/March 24/18
China’s espionage scandal blow for ties with Africa/Huda al-Husseini/Al Arabiya/March 24/18/
Trump’s North Korea Talks Need to Address Syrian and Iranian Proliferation/Jay Solomon/The Washington Institute/March 24/18

Titles For Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on March 24-25/18
Jesus’ Victorious Entry into Jerusalem -Palm Sunday
Lebanese President Warns of Country’s ‘Bankruptcy’
Aoun: No One Can Disrupt Relations with Saudi Arabia
Out with the old, in with the new: Lebanon’s elections promise changing of the guard
Sami Gemayel Blasts Government’s Plan to Introduce More Tax Hikes
Nadim Gemayel: It Is Time for Citizens to Decide Which Nation They Want
Report: Aoun ‘Mulls’ Leading Cedre Delegation to France
LF Backed Electoral List Announced in Keserwan-Jbeil
Cypriot Minister in Beirut Next Week to Discuss Maritime Economic Zone
Electoral Lists Announced in Chouf-Aley, Zahle and Sidon-Jezzine
Hariri: Elections are a strategic matter through which we alter the country’s direction
Lights out at Presidential Palace for Earth Hour tonight
Berri: The closer we get to the elections, the lower the level of political discourse
Hariri announces Akkar Electoral List: Our battle is to stop the guardianship from laying its hand again on North Lebanon
Pakistan’s Ambassador: We are committed to strengthening our historical, brotherly ties with Lebanon
Rahi chairs second educational meeting in Bkirki
Khalil, Fayyad call for heavy turnout during elections

Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 24-25/18
Syria Rebels Prepare to Quit Penultimate Pocket of Ghouta
Iran Slams US Sanctions over Hacking Scheme
Egyptians to Vote Monday, Sisi Re-election ‘Guaranteed’
Europe Steps up Pressure on Russia over Spy Attack
Bolton: Trump Should Insist on Libya-style Denuclearization for North Korea
Policeman, who Traded Places with Hostage in France Shooting, Dies from Injuries
At Least 13 Killed, 27 Wounded in Apartment Block Fire in Vietnam
7 Arrested in Bahrain over Arson Attack at Police Patrol
Egypt FM: We Look Forward to Counter-Terrorism Coordination with India
Head of Alexandria Security Directorate Escapes Bombing
Oil Prices Rise in Strongest Showing since July 2017
The Russia World Cup Has to Save International Football from CrisisMalaysia Arrests 7 Men with ISIS Links Over Attacks Plot
Two Koreas Hold Talks Next Week ahead of April Summit between Leaders
China expresses regret at U.S. move to file WTO challenge
Car bomb explodes in Egypt’s Alexandria, one killed
Jack Wilshere: Wenger Just Said if you Can Get a Contract Elsewhere you Can Go
Libyan Official Holds Sarraj Responsible for Failing to Unite Army at Cairo Talks

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Jesus’ Victorious Entry into Jerusalem -Palm Sunday
Elias Bejjani/25 March/18
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/38277
(Psalm118/26): “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of Yahweh! We have blessed You out of the house of Yahweh”.
On the seventh Lantern Sunday, known as the “Palm Sunday”, our Maronite Catholic Church celebrates the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The joyful and faithful people of this Holy City and their children welcomed Jesus with innocent spontaneity and declared Him a King. Through His glorious and modest entry the essence of His Godly royalty that we share with Him in baptism and anointing of Chrism was revealed. Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem, the “Palm Sunday”, marks the Seventh Lantern Sunday, the last one before Easter Day, (The Resurrection).
During the past six Lantern weeks, we the believers are ought to have renewed and rekindled our faith and reverence through genuine fasting, contemplation, penance, prayers, repentance and acts of charity. By now we are expected to have fully understood the core of love, freedom, and justice that enables us to enter into a renewed world of worship that encompasses the family, the congregation, the community and the nation.
Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time to participate in the Jewish Passover Holiday. He was fully aware that the day of His suffering and death was approaching and unlike all times, He did not stop the people from declaring Him a king and accepted to enter the city while they were happily chanting : “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”.(John 12/13). Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19/39-40). Jesus entered Jerusalem to willingly sacrifice Himself, die on the cross, redeem us and absolve our original sin.
On the Palm Sunday we take our children and grandchildren to celebrate the mass and the special procession while happily they are carrying candles decorated with lilies and roses. Men and women hold palm fronds with olive branches, and actively participate in the Palm Procession with modesty, love and joy crying out loudly: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21/09).
On the Palm Sunday through the procession, prayers, and mass we renew our confidence and trust in Jesus. We beg Him for peace and commit ourselves to always tame all kinds of evil hostilities, forgive others and act as peace and love advocates and defend man’s dignity and his basic human rights. “Ephesians 2:14”: “For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us”
The Triumphal Entry of Jesus’ story into Jerusalem appears in all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19). The four accounts shows clearly that the Triumphal Entry was a significant event, not only to the people of Jesus’ day, but to Christians throughout history.
The Triumphal Entry as it appeared in Saint John’s Gospel, (12/12-19), as follows : “On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!” Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written, “Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt. ”His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him, and that they had done these things to Him. The multitude therefore that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it. For this cause also the multitude went and met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.” Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast. These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus.”
The multitude welcomed Jesus, His disciples and followers while chanting: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”.(John 12/13). His entry was so humble, meek simple and spontaneous. He did not ride in a chariot pulled by horses as earthly kings and conquerors do, He did not have armed guards, nor officials escorting him. He did not come to Jerusalem to fight, rule, judge or settle scores with any one, but to offer Himself a sacrifice for our salvation.
Before entering Jerusalem, He stopped in the city of Bethany, where Lazarus (whom he raised from the tomb) with his two sisters Mary and Martha lived. In Hebrew Bethany means “The House of the Poor”. His stop in Bethany before reaching Jerusalem was a sign of both His acceptance of poverty and His readiness to offer Himself as a sacrifice. He is the One who accepted poverty for our own benefit and came to live in poverty with the poor and escort them to heaven, the Kingdom of His Father.
After His short Stop in Bethany, Jesus entered Jerusalem to fulfill all the prophecies, purposes and the work of the Lord since the dawn of history. All the scripture accounts were fulfilled and completed with his suffering, torture, crucifixion, death and resurrection. On the Cross, He cried with a loud voice: “It is finished.” He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.(John19/30)
The multitude welcomed Jesus when He entered Jerusalem so one of the Old Testament prophecies would be fulfilled. (Zechariah 9:9-10): “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth”.
The crowd welcomed Jesus for different reasons and numerous expectations. There were those who came to listen to His message and believed in Him, while others sought a miraculous cure for their ailments and they got what they came for, but many others envisaged in Him a mortal King that could liberate their country, Israel, and free them from the yoke of the Roman occupation. Those were disappointed when Jesus told them: “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom” (John 18/36)
Christ came to Jerusalem to die on its soil and fulfill the scriptures. It was His choice where to die in Jerusalem as He has said previously: “should not be a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem” (Luke 13/33): “Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem”.
He has also warned Jerusalem because in it all the prophets were killed: (Luke 13:34-35): “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! “behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”.
Explanation of the Palm Sunday Procession Symbols
The crowd chanted, “Hosanna to the Son of David” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21/09), because Jesus was is a descendant of David. Hosanna in the highest is originated in the Psalm 118/25: “Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success”. It is a call for help and salvation as also meant by the Psalm 26/11: “But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me”. Hosanna also means: God enlightened us and will never abandon us, Jesus’ is a salvation for the world”
Spreading cloth and trees’ branches in front of Jesus to walk on them was an Old Testament tradition that refers to love, obedience, submission, triumph and loyalty. (2 Kings 09/13): “They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”. In the old days Spreading garments before a dignitary was a symbol of submission.
Zion is a hill in Jerusalem, and the “Daughter of Zion” is Jerusalem. The term is synonymous with “paradise” and the sky in its religious dimensions.
Carrying palm and olive branches and waving with them expresses joy, peace, longing for eternity and triumph. Palm branches are a sign of victory and praise, while Olive branches are a token of joy, peace and durability. The Lord was coming to Jerusalem to conquer death by death and secure eternity for the faithful. It is worth mentioning that the olive tree is a symbol for peace and its oil a means of holiness immortality with which Kings, Saints, children and the sick were anointed.
The name “King of Israel,” symbolizes the kingship of the Jews who were waiting for Jehovah to liberate them from the Roman occupation.
O, Lord Jesus, strengthen our faith to feel closer to You and to Your mercy when in trouble;
O, Lord Jesus, empower us with the grace of patience and meekness to endure persecution, humiliation and rejection and always be Your followers.
O, Lord Let Your eternal peace and gracious love prevail all over the world.
A joyous Palm Sunday to all