Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on February 28/16
The Lost Son Parable and Repentance/Elias Bejjani/February 28/16
Israeli Army preparing to meet Hezbollah’s next challenge/Yossi Yehoshua/Ynetnews/February 27/16
Hezbollah’s Enmity against Saudi Arabia/Salman Aldosary/Asharq Al Awsat/February 27/16
Saudi Arabia and holding Hezbollah accountable/Mshari Al Thaydi/Al Arabiya/February 27/16
Why did Riyadh cancel $4 billion in aid to Lebanon/Madawi Al-Rasheed/Al-Monitor/February 27/16
What’s next for Hamas/Hazem Balousha/Al-Monitor/February 27/16
Enough denial, Trump is made in America/Hisham Melhem/Al Arabiya/February 27/16
Arab women in boardrooms – what gets in the way/Yara al-Wazir/Al Arabiya/February 27/16
The Arab world needs independent think tanks/Samar Fatany/Al Arabiya/February 27/16
Iran’s Melting Factions and Failing Institutions/Mehdi Khalaji/Washington Institute/Frebruary 27/16
Kerry Neither Rules Out nor Supports Safe Zone Concept/James F. JeffreyWashington Institute/Frebruary 27/16
Three Fires That Burn Syria/Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/February27/16
Feige Stern, Eti Abramov/Ynetnews: When war comes a-knocking/Feige Stern, Eti Abramov/Ynetnews/February 27/16
Titles For Latest Lebanese Related News published on February 28/16 The Lost Son Parable and Repentance Israeli Army preparing to meet Hezbollah’s next challenge Geagea Slams Syria’s ‘Remnants,’ Says State has No Strategic Decision-Making Qaouq: Saudi Arabia Wants to Make up for its Regional Losses by Attacking Lebanon Reports of Booby-Trapped Car in Dahieh Dismissed as Rumors Berri: Achieving Peace in Syria Will Enable Lebanon to Overcome its Crises Report: Saudi Urging Hariri to Reconcile with Political Foes Hariri Postpones Riyadh Visit until Berri Returns to Beirut Opposition Lawmaker Hints Israel behind Quntar Murder, Warns Nasrallah Report: Rifi’s Resignation Cannot Be Accepted without President’s Consent Hezbollah’s Enmity against Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia and holding Hezbollah accountable Why did Riyadh cancel $4 billion in aid to Lebanon
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on February 28/16
Syria ceasefire agreement comes into effect
Syrian rebels blame regime for ceasefire breaches
Syria Truce Takes Hold despite Limited Violations
Russia Halts all Syria Bombing Sorties to Avoid ‘Mistakes’
Pentagon points to Syria gain as tactical vindication
ISIS attacks Kurdish-held town on Turkish border
Iran President, Top Ally Lead after Vote for Key Body
Iran signals lawyer yet to be appointed for detained Iranian-American
Rouhani on Course for Major Gains in Iran Elections
Reformists take lead in Iran parliament vote
Iran briefly overstepped a limit set by nuclear deal, IAEA says
Iran uses Syrian truce to deploy hundreds of Palestinian terrorists on Golan border
The Lost Son Parable and Repentance Elias Bejjani https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2016/02/27/elias-bejjani-the-lost-son-parable-and-repentance/ 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
