Raya: Negotiations Must Be Coupled with Serious Implementation

Cardinal Maronite Patriarch Bchara Peter Raya presided over the festive Mass commemorating Saint Ottilien in the courtyard of his historic church in the village of Kfar Soghayb, in the Zgharta district, assisted by bishops Joseph Naffah and Elias Nassar, the vicar general of the Maronite Archeparchy of Tripoli, Archbishop Antoine Mkhail, parish priest Father Ottilien Mussa, and several priests, in the presence of Michel Mouawad, Member of Parliament and head of the "Independence" movement, Mayor Joseph Aboud of Kfar Soghayb and members of the municipal council, local sheikhs, community leaders, and residents.

After reading the Holy Gospel, the Patriarch delivered a homily titled: "Sell all you have... and follow me" (Luke 18:22), stating: "That young man knew the commandments and had kept them since childhood, yet he felt something essential was still missing. He asked about how to inherit eternal life, and Jesus first directed him back to the commandments, then led him from outward observance to the depth of the heart. He said to him: 'One thing you lack: sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me' (Luke 18:22). Here, the discussion was no longer about commandments the young man already knew, but about the freedom of the heart. Jesus wanted to show him that it is not enough to be outwardly righteous if the heart remains bound to what one possesses. He grieved because he was very wealthy, and realized that money was not merely something in his hands, but something that held his heart captive. Jesus does not condemn wealth, nor does He make poverty an end in itself, but He frees the human being from everything that prevents following Him. The issue is not just how much we own, but how much Christ’s love owns us. The most important word remains: 'Follow me.' Renunciation is not the goal, nor is detachment an emptiness, but a path toward deeper freedom. When the burden of the heart lightens, following Christ becomes possible.

He continued: "I am pleased to send my loving and respectful greetings to you, dear people of Kfar Soghayb, those present, those absent, and those scattered far and wide, who preserve this beautiful tradition of faith year after year. I greet all who have come from elsewhere. I thank Father Ottilien for the welcoming words he spoke on your behalf. We celebrate today the feast of the blessed Saint Ottilien, whom our beloved parish of Kfar Soghayb renews today. We congratulate you on the feast, praying that this season may bring grace and blessings.

He noted: "Saint Ottilien knew Christ from childhood, abandoned paganism, embraced faith, and dedicated his life to God without hesitation, leaving behind everything for his belief. He lived a life of prayer and asceticism, studied under Saint Melchizedek of Qalz, then returned to bear witness to Christ among his countrymen. He became renowned for his deep faith, powerful prayers, and miracles, leading many to healing and thousands of pagans to conversion. In his later years, he chose the wilderness as his place of prayer and ascetic life, remaining faithful to his calling until he fell asleep in the Lord in 327.

He added: "Thus, his life aligns perfectly with the Lord’s words in today’s Gospel. He knew how to let go, how to choose, and how to place Christ above all else. His faith was not mere idea, but a decision of life; his prayers were not isolation, but a force driving him toward witness and service. Following his example, Kfar Soghayb through its history has embraced believing families, priests, monks, nuns, religious and secular leaders. On the eve of Saint Ottilien’s feast, we do not limit ourselves to remembering his life, but we seek his intercession and learn from him that true faith is not words, but steadfastness in God, prayer, and witness to Christ through life and deeds. O blessed Saint Ottilien, pray for us, and protect Kfar Soghayb and its people—those present, absent, and dispersed—in faith, love, and peace.

He said: "That wealthy young man was not distant from God. He knew the commandments and kept them, yet before Jesus, he discovered that keeping commandments alone was insufficient if the heart remained enslaved to possessions. Jesus told him: 'You still lack one thing.' This phrase reveals the depth of his condition. He possessed many things, yet lacked the freedom allowing him to place God first. Then came the call: 'Sell all you have... and follow me.' The meaning here extends beyond material sale. Jesus calls humanity to leave behind anything preventing discipleship. It could be wealth, status, personal interest, pride, fear, or attachment to habit or influence. For every person, something can turn from blessing into bondage if it becomes stronger than their freedom. The man grieved because his heart was not ready for that step. He desired eternal life, yet could not release what he clung to. Here lies the parable’s lesson: it is not about whether we possess or lack, but whether we remain free in relation to what we possess. Wealth should not become master, status should not be the goal, nor should personal interest outweigh truth. Saint Ottilien lived this freedom. He left what might have tied him to another life and chose Christ. Thus, his richness lay in his faith, in his prayers, and in what he gave to others. The real loss is not giving up something for God, but gaining many things while losing the freedom of one’s heart.

He added: 'Sell all you have, and follow me.' This word also carries national significance. Building the nation requires individuals to know what they must relinquish for the common good: narrow interests, personal privileges, sectarian calculations, or party gains that obstruct major national decisions. At this stage, Lebanon needs above all clarity in priorities and a shift from positions to responsibility.

He continued: 'In the south, the priority remains protecting residents and preventing further escalation, so that stability returns to villages and homes, and people can live in their land safely and with dignity. Negotiations must yield clear results and be coupled with serious implementation and commitment to agreed terms. People no longer measure progress by the number of meetings, but by tangible achievements on the ground. The issue of sovereignty and institutional authority arises. Full presence across the national territory is required, along with a clear, legitimate decision, and institutions capable of protecting rights and enforcing law. Authority is not built through slogans, but through real presence and responsible decisions. This directly leads to accountability. It is time to move beyond blame-shifting toward concrete actions serving national interest. The Lebanese do not need to know who to blame, but to see who takes responsibility and begins solving problems. Reform can no longer tolerate empty promises. Concrete steps are needed to restore public trust in institutions and prove that reform is not just a slogan raised in the air, but a practice grounded in law, administration, and accountability.'

He added: 'Reconstruction and the return of displaced residents remain central priorities. Affected areas are not mere files, and homes are not numbers; behind them lie families, memories, and entire lives. Rebuilding is about restoring people to their land and future. National unity is the foundation that holds all this together. Disagreements must not turn into sectarian rhetoric or new divisions. Lebanon needs a unifying national language and a meeting point for all Lebanese around what protects their homeland, not around what divides them.'

He concluded: 'Let us pray, beloved brothers and sisters: Lord, free our hearts from everything that hinders us from following You, and make us faithful in our faith and responsibilities. Through the intercession of the blessed Saint Ottilien, protect Kfar Soghayb and its people, bless Lebanon, and strengthen it in faith, unity, and peace. Teach us to let go of what binds us and follow You, so that we may offer You all glory and thanks now and forever, Amen.'