Category: Birth of Our Lord

The Promise to Abraham Brothers and Sisters: I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, “And to offsprings,” as of many; but it says, “And to […]

Ephesians 2:11-22 One in Christ Brothers and Sisters: Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision” — a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers […]

Hebrews 7:11-19 Melchizedek, a Type of Christ Brothers and Sisters: Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood — for the people received the law under this priesthood — what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to […]

Ephesians 1:3-14 The Father’s Plan of Salvation Brothers and Sisters: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him […]

Maronite Christmas Traditions or Customs The Nativity scene The preparations for Christmas start on 15 December when the Maronite Church starts the evening masses 9 days before Christmas. In the villages, on 23 December the housewives used to whiten sesame for the traditional «coulouria» and the following day they would bake them together with the […]

Romans 1:1 -12   Salutation / Prayer of Thanksgiving Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to […]

Ephesians 3:1-13   Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles Brothers and Sisters: This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles — for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known […]

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist (or Birth of John the Baptist, or Nativity of the Forerunner) is a Christian feast daycelebrating the birth of John the Baptist, a prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah in the person of Jesus and who baptized Jesus. Christians have long interpreted the life of John the Baptist as a preparation for the coming ofJesus Christ, and the circumstances of […]