Seated at the Right Hand of God
This Sunday, although it is the 7th and final week of the Season of the Glorious Resurrection, our Maronite Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension. This feast is celebrated forty days after the Resurrection when Jesus ascends to heaven and takes his rightful place at the right hand of God. Before leaving, Jesus instructs his disciples to “go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel,” (Mk 16:1) and this is exactly what they did. Even though Jesus was no longer physically present with them on Earth, he was still with them in spirit; he was with them in his word and in their love. Furthermore, Jesus promised the Apostles that he would send them the Paraclete who would also help them and guide them but that they would have to wait for this to happen. Therefore, the period of waiting is very important because it is a time of great anticipation when we should be in deep prayer and charitable action, carrying out the commandment to preach the Gospel to all. This is not the job only of the Priests and religious but also the duty of each and every baptised member. This proclamation can be done through word and deed so that all may know that we are Christians and who our Lord and God is.
On this blessed Feast of the Ascension, let us lift up our cares and worries, our troubles and stresses, our joys and blessings to heaven. The Lord is waiting for us to be lifted up, all that is needed is to stretch out our hand and ask him to do so.
This Sunday is also Mother’s Day and on behalf of all the Clergy and staff of Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral, I would like to wish our mothers a blessed and beautiful Mother’s Day; may Our Lady, our mother, intercede for you always. We also npray for all those mothers who have gone before us to their heavenly rest, may the Lord grant them eternal rest in His Heavenly kingdom.
This week, we commenced work on the shelter in the grotto area. The estimated time for completion of this project is 6 weeks. Therefore, we ask of all our blessed parishioners for your patience and understanding as the work continues throughout the upcoming weeks. This shelter is for the benefit of all the parish and we apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause to anyone.
