Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For March 06/16
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Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on March 06/16
The Healing Miracle of the Paralyzed/Elias Bejjani/March 06/16
Who’s really taking Christian homes in Iraq/Omar Sattar/Al-Monitor/March 05/16
Post Elections Iran and GCC Security: Any Changes/Middle East Briefing/March 05/16
Will Iran Vote Dislodge IRGC Deep State/Middle East Briefing/March 05/16
What Syria’s Ceasefire Should Lead to/Middle East Briefing/March 05/16
The War against ISIL Shifts to Africa/Middle East Briefing/March 05/16
Egypt: The failure of the Brotherhood revolution/Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/March 05/16
Breaking the farmers chain of desperation/Ehtesham Shahid/Al Arabiya/March 05/16
Outdated Muslim rhetoric strengthens the far right/Fahad Suleiman Shoqiran/Al Arabiya/March 05/16
No one should have the authority to allow child marriage/Yara al-Wazir/Al Arabiya/March 05/16
Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation/Samar Fatany/Al Arabiya/March 05/16
Titles For Latest Lebanese Related News published on March 06/16
Saudi says it will take arms bound for Lebanon
Report: Salam Tasks Mashnouq Instead of Bassil at Islamic Summit
Report: Halted Arms Grant Will be Delivered to Saudi Arabia
Jumblat Meets with Hariri at Center House
Protests Against Reduction in UNRWA Services Continue
Raad: Our concern is not opening internal battles but rather preserving stability, civil peace despite conspiracy against Resistance
Hariri bound for Riyadh
Lebanese Leen Hayek…best voice in ‘The Voice Kids’
Enemy gunboat violates territorial waters to a distance of 220 meters
NLP student organization rallies in front of Foreign Ministry, protests against Bassil
Araiji at Lebanese Book Fair Opening: We hope the destructive vacuum ends by electing a President to restore balance to institutions
Wahhab: Presidency postponed for regional reasons unless Hariri decides to nominate Aoun
Waste Crisis Rescue Conference: For a contingency plan to address daily, backlog of waste in 8 months
“We Want Accountability” activists head to Grand Serail
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 06/16
Killings, violations as Syria fragile truce continues
Syrian rebels seize Iraq border crossing from ISIS
Saudi FM reiterates: Assad must go at start of transitional process
Syrian opposition group elects new leader
Lavrov, Kerry call for prompt start to Syria talks
US: ISIS ‘losing’ as campaign to retake Mosul begins
Turkish police fire tear gas to raid top newspaper
Turkish PM in Iran talks ending regional strife
Erdogan mulls giant ‘refugee city’ in north Syria
Veteran Sudan opposition leader Turabi dead at 84
Libya’s future threatened by ‘terrifying’ ISIS: UN chief
Libya health minister demands release of frozen funds
Links From Jihad Watch Site for March 06/16
Pope Francis condemns “diabolical” Islamic State attack on Yemen aged care home
Sweden: 46% of women over 16 are afraid to go out after dark for fear of rape by Muslim migrants
UK: Queen Mary University Palestine Solidarity Society hosts jihad terrorist murderer as featured speaker
Twitter not taking down ISIS accounts, but banning users who report terrorists
UK: Muslim Uber driver tells Jewish bus driver he will “kill all the Jews”
German water park segregates men and women after two sex attacks by Muslim migrants
Germany: 15-year-old Islamic State Muslima who stabbed cop concerned after her arrest that her hijab was in place
German cafes stop selling pork sausages to spare the feelings of Muslim “refugees”
UK’s Express: “A group of British men have been charged with funding terrorism”
Geller: SPLC Blames Me for the San Bernardino Jihad Massacre
The Healing Miracle of the Paralyzed
Elias Bejjani
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/2016/03/05/elias-bejjani-the-healing-miracle-of-the-paralyzed/
“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 habit of praying for others in any manner or pattern is a desirable religious practice, 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( 2/1-12): “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 5:13)
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 8/5-133:
Jesus revived and brought back to life Lazarus on the request of his sisters Mary and Martha. (John 11/1-44)
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.
http://www.eliasbejjaninews.com/newsbulletin16/english.march06.16.htm