Rai: The Nation Cannot Stand on Two Decisions... We Want a Strong Army

Cardinal Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai presided over the 14th Sunday of Easter in the patriarchal residence church in Deir el-Qamar, assisted by Bishop Elias Nasser, Monsignor Natale Albino from the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, Monsignor Elias Ades, Monsignor Victor Kiroz, General Secretary Father Fadi Tabet, Patriarchal Secretary Father Camillo Mkhail, and several priests, with a delegation from the Association of Graduates of the Faculty of Law, Political and Administrative Sciences – Jlebbi Branch, accompanied by former Bar Association President Georges Greige, the president and members of the Lady Ilija Association, a delegation from the town of Choueifat – Jbeil, and a large gathering of faithful.

After the Gospel, Patriarch Rai delivered a homily titled "One Thing Is Needed" (Luke 10:42), stating: "One thing is needed" refers to listening to God's word before beginning any work, so that we may sanctify our labor and be sanctified through it. This is what Jesus wanted to convey to Martha, preoccupied with service and hospitality, and what He intended to say about her sister Mary, who sat at His feet listening to His words. Today’s Gospel does not separate prayer from work, nor does it pit Martha against Mary; instead, it reorders priorities: before you act, know why you act; before your hands are filled with tasks, fill your heart with the Word. A person can do much and still end up empty-handed if their work lacks spirit and purpose. But when one listens to God’s word and lives by it, their work gains meaning, their effort has value, and their service becomes sacred. "One thing is needed": namely, to listen first to God’s word, so we may understand how to act, for whom to act, and why to act.

He added: "I am pleased to welcome all of you to celebrate this divine liturgy together, especially Monsignor Natale Albino from the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, the Lebanese Scouts of Aleppo, accompanied by Monsignor Elias Ades, the delegation from the Association of Graduates of the Faculty of Law, Political and Administrative Sciences – Jlebbi Branch, accompanied by former Bar Association President Georges Greige, as well as the president and members of the Lady Ilija Association, and the delegation from the town of Choueifat – Jbeil. The Gospel of Martha and Mary is the Gospel of prayer and work. Martha works, Mary listens. Work in itself is good, and prayer is not an escape from work. But Jesus wants to tell us that work separated from God can become exhausting and chaotic, while true prayer transforms work into a mission. Martha was not doing anything wrong. She was serving Jesus. The problem was not in the service, but in her becoming "disturbed by many things." The abundance of work took away her inner peace, causing her to compare herself to her sister and complain. Meanwhile, Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to His words. She is the image of the human being who knows there is a moment when the hand must stop so the heart may listen.

He continued: "Here lies the message: if we hear God’s word, we live by it; if we do not hear it, we may work and work, only to discover later that our hands are empty. Two people may perform the same task, yet one turns it into service, the other into personal gain. Two people may assume the same responsibility, but one lives it as a mission, the other as power. The difference is not always in the action, but in the heart behind it. Prayer does not exempt us from work, but teaches us how to work. Work does not exempt us from prayer, but becomes the place where we live out what we have prayed. Prayer helps me sanctify my work and sanctify myself through work. I sanctify myself when I work with integrity. I sanctify myself when I respect others. I sanctify myself when I reject fraud and injustice.

He said: "One thing is needed: listening to God’s word. Our nation, too, amidst countless voices, positions, and calculations, needs to discern what is essential and what is secondary. Lebanon is weary of excessive talk and lack of listening, tired of constant movement without direction, exhausted from managing crises instead of addressing their root causes. If Jesus told Martha: 'You are anxious and troubled about many things,' how closely this mirrors our national reality: numerous files, frequent disputes, multiple interests, and loud voices—while what is needed remains singular: Lebanon, the state, and the human being. Listening to God’s word nationally means that truth prevails over interest, justice triumphs over sectarianism, human dignity stands above calculations, and responsibility shifts from position to service. Just as prayer sanctifies work, so too do values give national work its meaning.

He added: "In the south, our people continue to pay the price of attacks and escalations. Therefore, we raise our prayers for victims and those affected, for the protection of our people and land, for an end to aggression, and for the return of stability to villages and homes, so that our people may remain safe and respected in their own land. We look forward to the ongoing negotiations yielding a lasting solution that safeguards Lebanon and its rights, leads to an end of aggression, withdrawal from occupied lands, and full restoration of sovereignty. The talks held in Rome are still addressing these issues and have not yet reached the desired resolution. We affirm that only the state must be sovereign and make decisions across its entire territory, and that the army and legitimate institutions must guarantee the unity, security, and stability of the nation. The nation cannot stand on two decisions, the state cannot be restored through parallel authorities, and sovereignty cannot be divided. Sovereignty means the state’s authority extending over its entire territory, with decisions resting solely in the hands of legitimate institutions. We stand with the Lebanese Army in its national mission, and we desire it to be strong, capable of protecting borders, ensuring stability, and enforcing state authority, because it is the army of the nation and an institution for all Lebanese. As for justice, it must never become a political stance or compromise. Justice must not be sectarian or selective, nor should it discriminate between citizens. The law must be one, justice one, and human dignity equal for all. We particularly emphasize that national issues must be addressed free from political and sectarian calculations, with equality before the law. There is no justice if the scales differ based on individuals, sects, or positions, and no state if truth bows to private, group, or factional interests?"

He concluded: "Let us pray, beloved brothers and sisters: Lord, teach us to listen to You before we act, and to make our work a prayer and our prayers a service. Protect Lebanon, unite its people, and grant it peace, justice, and a strong state. Let us pray and act, and act through prayer."

After the Mass, the Patriarch received those who participated.