Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For March 27/17
Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for March 27/17
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Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published On March 26-27/17
The Healing Miracle of the Paralyzed/Elias Bejjani/ March 26/17
Defending Damascus and Beirut’s southern suburb/Ahmed Ayash/Al Arabiya/March 26/17
Hezbollah and the Shia in Lebanon: Panic signs/Mohamed Kawas/The Arab Weekly/March 26/17
Wage increases, new taxes trigger protests in Lebanon/Abdel-Rahman Ayas/The Arab Weekly/March 26/17
Saida, Lebanon’s authentic city/Samar Kadi/The Arab Weekly/March 26/17
Israel-Lebanon maritime dispute heats up/Ynetnews/Amir Ben David/March 26/17
A kill list targeting Shiite intellectuals/Turki Aldakhil/Al Arabiya/March 26/17
Saudi training and internship programs need a boost/Samar Fatany/Al Arabiya/March 26/17
Islamists taking the banner of a civil state/Adnan Hussein/Al Arabiya/March 26/17
Islam, Not Christianity, is Saturating Europe/Giulio Meotti/Gatestone Institute/March 26/17
Japan: The Grateful Generation/Amir George/Gatestone Institute/March 26/17
Titles For Latest Lebanese Related News published On March 26-27/17
The Healing Miracle of the Paralyzed
Fighting Puts Syria IS-Held Dam at Risk of Dangerous Water Levels
PSP: We’re Open to All Electoral Law Formats but We Won’t Accept to be Marginalized
Bassil: No to 1960 Law, No to Extension, No to Vacuum
Al-Rahi Urges Politicians to ‘Rise Above Private Interests’
Ahmed Hariri: We’re against Any ‘Veiled Orthodox Law’
Kanaan Says FPM Practiced Real Opposition, Defends LF, Hizbullah Agreements
Moussawi: We’ll Seek to Impose Taxes on Capitalists, Bank Profits
Defending Damascus and Beirut’s southern suburb
Bassil windsup his SidonZahrani region tour by visiting Abra
Teymour Jumblatt, Marwan Hamadeh visit Archbishops Haddad and Ammar in Sidon
Johannes Han visits Lebanon upcoming Tuesday and Wednesday
Fneish: Proportionality law is pathway to reform, stability
Anwar Khalil: We hope to reach positive results in the election law, otherwise we will face a complex stage nationally and constitutionally
Kabbara meets Saudi Chargé d’Affaires
680 young graduates in project to support Lebanese host societies
Riachy calls for rectifying Christian representation in new electoral law
Bassil from Sidon: We should stop polemics, work for election law that ensures stability
Hezbollah and the Shia in Lebanon: Panic signs
Wage increases, new taxes trigger protests in Lebanon
Saida, Lebanon’s authentic city
Israel-Lebanon maritime dispute heats up
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published On March 26-27/17
One Killed, 15 Wounded in Ohio Nightclub Shooting
Air Strike Kills 16 Civilians near Damascus
Syria U.S.-Backed Fighters Enter IS-Held Airport
Saudi Shura Council Member Ibrahim Al-Buleihi Criticizes Arab Society: All We Want Today Is To Regress Further
Iran sanctions 15 US companies for support of Israel
61 bodies pulled from collapsed Mosul site boobytrapped by ISIS
Egyptian court jails 56 over migrant boat shipwreck
Hamas shuts Gaza crossing, blames Israel for assassination
Erdogan says Turkey may hold Brexit-like referendum
US strike kills senior al-Qaeda leader behind deadly attacks
Links From Jihad Watch Site for March 26-27/17
Obama loyalists replaced “radical Islamic terrorism” with “violent extremism” in Trump’s immigration executive order
Germany: “Mentally ill” Muslim migrant smashes cyclist’s head with hammer
Why Never-Trump Politics Is Bad For Jews
400 Islamic State jihadis have returned to UK, only 54 have been prosecuted
UK: Four teens plow car into pedestrians, flee on foot, knives found, cops say not terror-related
German officials were warned about Berlin truck jihad murderer nine months before massacre
UK police on London jihadi: “There is a possibility we will never understand why he did this”
Canada: Imam quotes Muhammad, complaint lodged with police
Links From Christian Today Site For March 26-27/17
Voters blame everybody but Trump for Obamacare repeal failure
Iraqi military says 61 bodies pulled from collapsed Mosul site
Thousands join London march demonstrating against leaving the EU
Republicans in disarray as Trump fails to repeal Obamacare
Religious people are less afraid of death, say researchers – but so are atheists
Archbishop of Canterbury: ‘Christ’s love and self-sacrifice will triumph over evil and despair’
Fortune’s 50 greatest leaders: Who is the one religious figure?
Westminster terror attack: Injury toll climbs to 50 as police appeal for information
Does religion make you stupid? Study says religious societies do worse at maths and science
The Bulletin’s Link on the lccc Site
http://data.eliasbejjaninews.com/newselias/english.march27.17.htm
The Healing Miracle of the Paralyzed
Elias Bejjani/ March 26/17
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/?p=37700
“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.” Matthew 11/28-30)
The practice of praying for others in any manner or pattern is a desirable religious conduct, especially when the prayers are for the sake of those who are sick, persecuted, oppressed, poor, lonely and distressed, or have fallen prey to evil temptations.
Praying for others whether they are parents, relatives, strangers, acquaintances, enemies, or friends, and for countries, is an act that exhibits the faith, caring, love, and hope of those who offer the prayers. Almighty God, Who is a loving, forgiving, passionate, and merciful Father listens to these prayers and always answers them in His own wisdom and mercy that mostly we are unable to grasp because of our limited human understanding. “All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21/22)
On the fifth Lenten Sunday the Catholic Maronites cite and recall with great reverence [ ] the Gospel of Saint Mark ( 02/1-12): “The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic”: “When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was in the house. Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them. Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him. When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”— He said to the paralytic— “I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
This great miracle in its theological essence and core demonstrates beyond doubt that intercessions, prayers and supplications for the benefit of others are acceptable faith rituals that Almighty God attentively hears and definitely answers.
It is interesting to learn that the paralytic man as stated in the Gospel of St. Mark, didn’t personally call on Jesus to cure him, nor he asked Him for forgiveness, mercy or help, although as many theologians believe Jesus used to visit Capernaum, where the man lives, and preach in its Synagogue frequently. Apparently this crippled man was lacking faith, hope, distancing himself from God and total ignoring the Gospel’s teaching. He did not believe that the Lord can cure him.
What also makes this miracle remarkable and distinguishable lies in the fact that the paralytic’s relatives and friends, or perhaps some of Jesus’ disciples were adamant that the Lord is able to heal this sick man who has been totally crippled for 38 years if He just touches him. This strong faith and hope made four of them carry the paralytic on his mat and rush to the house where Jesus was preaching. When they could not break through the crowd to inter the house they climbed with the paralytic to the roof, made a hole in it and let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on in front of Jesus and begged for his cure. Jesus was taken by their strong faith and fulfilled their request.
Jesus forgave the paralytic his sins first (“Son, your sins are forgiven you) and after that cured his body: “Arise, and take up your bed, and walk”. Like the scribes many nowadays still question the reason and rationale that made Jesus give priority to the man’s sins. Jesus’ wisdom illustrates that sin is the actual death and the cause for eternal anguish in Hell. He absolved his sins first because sin cripples those who fall in its traps, annihilates their hopes, faith, morals and values, kills their human feelings, inflicts numbness on their consciences and keeps them far away from Almighty God. Jesus wanted to save the man’s soul before He cures his earthy body. “For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?” (Mark 08:/36 & 37).
Our Gracious God does not disappoint any person when he seek His help with faith and confidence. With great interest and parental love, He listens to worshipers’ prayers and requests and definitely respond to them in His own way, wisdom, time and manner. “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”. (Matthew 07/07 &08)
In this loving and forgiving context, prayers for others, alive or dead, loved ones or enemies, relatives or strangers, are religiously desirable. God hears and responds because He never abandons His children no matter what they do or say, provided that they turn to Him with faith and repentance and ask for His mercy and forgiveness either for themselves or for others. “Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. 5:14 Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 5:15 and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up”. (James 05:13)
There are numerous biblical parables and miracles in which Almighty God shows clearly that He accepts and responds to prayers for the sake of others, e.g.
Jesus cured the centurion’s servant on the request of the Centurion and not the servant himself. (Matthew 08/05-33 )
Jesus revived and brought back to life Lazarus on the request of his sisters Mary and Martha. (John 11/01-44)
In conclusion: Almighty God is always waiting for us, we, His Children to come to Him and ask for His help and mercy either for ourselves or for others. He never leaves us alone. Meanwhile it is a Godly faith obligation to extend our hand and pull up those who are falling and unable to pray for themselves especially the mentally sick, the unconscious, and the paralyzed. In this realm of faith, love and care for others comes our prayers to Virgin Mary and to all Saints whom we do not worship, but ask for their intercessions and blessings.
O, Lord, endow us with graces of faith, hope, wisdom, and patience. Help us to be loving, caring, humble and meek. Show us the just paths. Help us to be on your right with the righteous on the Judgment Day.
God sees and hears us all the time, let us all fear Him in all what we think, do and say.
