Patriarch Al-Rai: Lebanon Needs Lasting Peace

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rai presided over Sunday Mass at the Church of Our Lady in the Patriarchal Residence in Bkerke, assisted by Patriarchal Vicar Bishop Antoine Choukr, Secretary General of the Patriarchate Father Fadi Tabet, and Private Secretary to the Patriarch Father Camilleo Mikhail.

He said: "The Maronite Church today celebrates the feast of the Renewal of the Temple and its consecration. The Lord Jesus reveals that true renewal is not limited to stones, appearances, and rituals, but reaches the depths of the human being, giving his life new meaning. In this context, a dialogue took place between Jesus and the Jews who demanded he explicitly declare his messianic identity. He answered them that his works, done in his Father's name, bear witness to him, yet they did not believe his words. Then he declared the truth of his relationship with the Father, saying: 'I and the Father are one.' Amidst some rejection and others' faith, the reality of Christ was manifested—he who came to give the world new life and establish the Church as a faithful community carrying his message and continuing his salvific work. Christ did not come merely to renew what surrounds the human being, but to renew the human being himself, making his life a path to God."

He continued: "I am pleased to welcome you all, with a special greeting to the Cross Road Association – i.e., 'Way of the Cross'. The association includes people from various partisan and political backgrounds, who were among those who fought the war defending Christian existence in Lebanon. But what united them after the war was not partisan affiliation, but the single wound, shared suffering, and the belief that the human being is not left alone facing his pains. Despite their disabilities and wounds, these individuals managed to extend a helping hand to their comrades and establish a network of solidarity and loyalty, at a time when parties, despite their differences, failed to gather these comrades around their humanitarian, livelihood, and health needs. Despite the material and moral difficulties they faced, their journey continued, drawing strength from the flame of faith and hope, and from their conviction that solidarity is not a slogan raised, but an act of love and responsibility practiced every day. This has been the case since the founding of the association in 1995. It continues to fulfill its mission by securing medical needs and medicines for comrades, following up on their health conditions, organizing periodic medical examinations, and standing alongside anyone in need of assistance or care.

He said: "The Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon will hold its annual session tomorrow, which lasts a week. They have received the letter 'A Cry from the Five Border Christian Villages in the South: Rmeish, Debel, Ain Ebel, Alma al-Shaab, and Kozhaya.' This letter contains ten urgent and legitimate demands. We assure our people there that their cry has fallen upon our consciences and hearts as shepherds of the Church, and it will occupy a significant portion of our deliberations. We ask the children of our churches to accompany us with their prayers."

He added: "The Feast of the Renewal of the Covenant brings us a fundamental truth in the Christian faith: that Jesus Christ came to renew the human being and the world through the grace of salvation, as he says in the Book of Revelation: 'Behold, I make all things new' (Revelation 21:5). The newness achieved by God begins in the heart and extends to life, relationships, and the believing community. Christ came to reveal the Father's love, reconcile the human being with God, free him from sin, and open before him the path to eternal life. The newness he brought was not merely moral teaching, but a new life based on faith in him and union with him. Among the greatest fruits of this renewal is the establishment of the Church, which Christ willed to be the community of believers, his mystical body, and a sign of his presence and salvific mission in the world. The reality of the Church is manifested in three interconnected dimensions: the Church as Sacrament, the Church as Communion, and the Church as Mission. The Church as Sacrament is the mystical body of Christ, of which we become members through baptism, born to new life, sharing in Christ's death and resurrection, and entering into a filial relationship with God. The Church as Communion gathers believers in union with God and unity among themselves. The Church as Mission is entrusted with the proclamation received from Christ, namely: announcing the Gospel, witnessing to his death and resurrection, and calling to repentance and salvation. The Church is called to witness to Christ through its actions, making love, mercy, and truth a living presence of the Gospel in the world. This is the newness Christ brought to the world: a life renewed by his grace, a church living by faith, united in love, and embarking on the mission of salvation. The renewal of the Church does not mean changing its faith or abandoning its apostolic tradition, but a continuous return to Christ, reviving fidelity to his word, and deepening unity and love among its children. Our entire Christian life is a journey of renewal: through repentance the heart is renewed, through forgiveness relationships are renewed, through reconciliation communion is renewed, and through love life is renewed. The feast of renewal is not confined to spiritual matters but also applies to national life and the state. Lebanon is in dire need of reform that restores order to institutions, dignity to the law, meaning to public service, and confidence to the citizen that what changes in his homeland can truly change for the better."

He said: "What we witnessed this week regarding electricity and public utilities reveals a clear aspect of dysfunction. That power cuts reach public administrations and institutions, services, and communications due to accumulated dues means that the citizen remains ultimately the link paying the price for disorder. Then comes the waste and environment file, where it is no longer acceptable to transfer waste from one landfill to another and from one area to another as if the problem were solved. It is no longer acceptable. A serious solution relies on sorting, treatment, recycling, and shared responsibility. The environment guarantees human health and the right to clean land, water, and air. Then food safety and public health come to remind us that protecting the citizen begins with the simplest details of his life, and that oversight and accountability are necessary when people's health becomes subject to negligence or fraud. At the heart of restoring trust remain the judiciary and accountability. The Dahr al-Baydar file has entered a new judicial phase, requiring the investigation to take its full course away from preemptive judgments, tug-of-war, and political exploitation. Above all calculations, peace remains an existential national need. Lebanon needs lasting peace, not remaining hostage to the possibility of a new war whenever the region ignites. This requires a state holding its decision, a single national reference in security and peace, and institutions capable of protecting stability. Hence the importance of neutralizing Lebanon from axis conflicts and wars. Neutrality is not withdrawal from rights, nor distancing from Lebanon's surroundings, but protecting the homeland from becoming a permanent arena for others' conflicts, and affirming its role as a space for encounter, dialogue, and a message of peace."

Al-Rai concluded: Let us pray, brothers and sisters, so that God may renew us with the grace of salvation, and renew our homeland with all its components. To Him be glory and thanks forever, Amen.