I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Think of how long you prepared for your Thanksgiving dinner. Was it worth it? Imagine if you prepared a table full of food but forgot to invite anyone to your house. Or imagine if you invited your family and friends but forgot to prepare any food... 

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Today’s Gospel contains one of Jesus’ most popular parables, frequently called the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Romania, United Kingdom, and the United States, have even been enacted “Good Samaritan Laws” that encourage bystanders to help those in need without being sued. Therefore, this parable has literally influenced people around the world in different ways... 

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What is ordinary and what is extraordinary?
 
 If we were to summarize Jesus’ life, most would say, He was a great teacher, He did many miracles, He died, and rose from the dead. We tend to think these things were ordinary for Jesus. We overlook that each of these elements of Jesus’ life is exceptionally significant. If we assume we already heard this story, then that which is supposed to be extraordinary becomes ordinary and perhaps even boring...

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Rethinking Sunday School: The Problems & Practical Solutions. 

Monday, September 20, 2021. 

Presented by Father François Beyrouti, Ph.D./D.Th.

“We, then, are the Church, the Body of Christ and we actualize it for the transformation of the world, transforming the world to become the Body of Christ.” Bishop Nicholas Samra, Stewards of the Mysteries, Page 23.

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There are several Gospel texts that speak about demons and unclean spirits. People are sometimes fascinated with this topic mainly because of how demons are portrayed in art, literature, and film. To make this topic interesting, the devil is often portrayed wearing a red suit, horns on his head, a long red tail, a pitchfork in his hand, and a silly grin on his face. Sometimes the devil and our guardian angel are portrayed fighting for our attention and for our soul. In some movies, evil spirits possess people, and all sorts of crazy things happen... 

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October 17, 2021, homily by Father François Beyrouti, Ph.D./D.Th.
Fourth Sunday after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross.
Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. Second Council of Nicea.
Epistle: Titus 3:8-15. Epistle of the Fathers.
Gospel: Luke 8:5-15. Parable of the Sower. 

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When you are on a road trip with your family, there are two questions someone will ask: “Where are we?” and “How long will it take us to get where are going?”
These are also important questions for all of us to ask every day as we focus on both our journey through life and our ultimate destination. It is interesting that although a GPS tells us how long it will take us to get to our destination, the first thing that it locates is where we are... 

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Are you barbaric, civil, or Christian? 
You have probably heard the saying “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”
Hopefully, you have never said it or used it, as this verse is often used by someone who is angry and wants revenge. If we operate at this level, we are barbaric... 

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Like all other teachers and leaders, Jesus died. But Jesus is not just another figure among the list of many others who are now long dead, because He, unlike anyone else, rose from the dead.
 Without the Resurrection, there would be no Christianity. That is why Saint Paul tells us: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).
 To fully understand the full relevance of Jesus’ we need to keep together the connection between Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection.
 

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We can only understand some sayings if we know the context they refer to. For example, when someone doesn’t have a solution for a problem they are in, they can say: “I’m up the creek with no paddle.” This specifically refers to river kayaking. If you have ever gone kayaking in a river you know that you need both a good kayak and a good paddle...

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