We continue to unite our prayers with the intentions of our Holy Father entrusted to us for this year, and this month we are especially blessed to be joined by Fr Elie, parish priest of St Clement’s Melkite Catholic Church. We pray especially for societies where living together in peace is most challenging, asking that, through the grace and blessing of Jesus, they may grow in mutual respect, be strengthened in harmony, and be filled with the love and peace that come from Him.
Transcript
My beloved brothers and sisters. Seventeen years ago, I came from a small country in the Middle East called Lebanon. A country known for its coexistence, for its diversity of religious sects, to a land rich in civilisations, cultures, and ideologies, a vast continent that brings together many religions, sects, and communities that, at first, seemed foreign to our reserved Eastern society. The beginning was difficult, as it was hard to accept things that were perhaps unfamiliar to our customs and traditions. But with the passing of the years, we have gained new experience in how to deal with the differences in the new society, and how to accept one another through mutual respect and embracing others despite differences in culture, religion, ethnicity, or political opinion. We engage with transparency and love under the umbrella of the law that unites us, and the love of this welcoming nation in which we live without discrimination or favouritism, a nation we consider a gift from God, who brought us here. We also bring with us our own customs and culture, sharing them with others while also learning from theirs. Therefore, let us pray for societies where coexistence seems more difficult, that they may not give into the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious, or ideological reasons. And may we be a model for these societies, that all may grow and live together in peace and love, through the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ.