Saint Maroun, Father of the Maronite Catholic community.
The Maronite Catholic Church, an Eastern Rite Catholic community,
celebrates the feast of Saint Maroun on February 9. Saint Maroun is
considered the father of the Maronite Catholic community, which professes
the same apostolic faith, celebrates the same sacraments and is united with
the chief shepherd of the Church, the pope, as are all Roman Catholics
throughout the world.

Based in part on the writings of Saint John Chrysostom (feast, Sept. 13),
Saint Maroun’s life is dated at approximately 350-410. Saints Maroun and
John Chrysostom are believed to have studied together in the great Christian
learning center at Antioch, which at the time was the third largest city in the
Roman Empire.

Unlike Saint John Chrysostom, who became Archbishop of
Constantinople, Saint Maroun embraced a life of quiet, prayerful solitude
in the mountains of Syria. He was known for his simplicity and his
extraordinary desire to discover God’s presence in all things. He was also
known for his evangelization efforts and his extensive healing ministry. He
shared his deep commitment to Christ with everyone he encountered.
Saint Maroun’s missionary work came to fruition when he converted an
entire pagan community living in the mountains of Syria to Christianity. This
was the beginning of mass conversions to Christianity in Syria. Saint Maroun
attracted a multitude of followers and drew attention throughout the empire.
His influence on the Syrian Christians was so great they took their name after
him, “Maronites.” In time, the Maronite movement spread the Christian faith
to Lebanon where its influence was even more profound.

Saint Maroun is the patron saint of Lebanon, which celebrates his
feast day as a national civic holiday for Christians and Muslims alike. Pope
Benedict XVI established the granting of a plenary indulgence to anyone who
visits a Maronite church on February 9th.

A sage once wrote that a good marriage is like a fire around which others come
to warm themselves. So, as we celebrate World Marriage Day on February 12,
we realize that no matter our station in life – married, single or religious – we
have benefited from this sacred covenant relationship whether through the
example of our parents, grandparents, and other role models, or through our
own stewardship of the marriage covenant.

For the Catholic steward, marriage goes far beyond the legal or societal
agreement that our culture might define. For the Catholic steward, marriage
is a sacrament that fosters a sacred covenant; establishing family and
nurturing the domestic church which we understand is fundamental to our
spiritual development.

Marriage brings us countless blessings, but is met with many obstacles.
Busy schedules, the challenges of parenthood, the strains of finances,
mortgages, issues of health and aging – all of these test the bonds of even the
finest unions.

World Marriage Day, observed on the second Sunday of each February,
is sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, associated with Catholic
Marriage Encounter. Many Catholics have participated in a Marriage Encounter
weekend, but no matter how we have endeavored to grow in and to support
our marriages, or the marriages of those close to us, we know that marriage
does take effort, continuing commitment, deep prayer, great communication, a
good sense of humor and faithful love.

This year, the observances of National Marriage Week, February 7 to 14,
and World Marriage Day, are an opportunity to focus on building a culture
of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the
family.

Many parishes celebrate World Marriage Day by the renewal of vows, the
celebration of special anniversaries, or even candlelit dinners in the parish hall.
Take time this February to celebrate marriage, whether by setting aside a special
time to devote to your own spouse, or by honoring the marriages that have
warmed you and nurtured you throughout your life.

In this weekend’s readings and psalm, the prevailing theme
is that of light: We are the light of the world; our light
breaks forth like the dawn; our light shines in the darkness;
our light reflects generosity and justice. Good stewards
know they are the lamp, and Christ is the flame that,
through them, illuminates the earth. They know that they
carry Christ’s light in their hearts, and let it shine through
their words and deeds. What are we doing to shine Christ’s
light on the hungry, the homeless and others most in need
of God’s mercy? How do we exercise good stewardship
over the light of Christ that burns within each of us?

February is a transitional month,
especially with Ordinary Time ending
on the 21st at the doorstep of Ash
Wednesday, February 22, and the
season of Lent. Many of us also begin
to hope that spring will be around the
next corner. The first seed catalog we
find in the mail reminds us this must
be true, yet we know it’s not time to
turn the soil. We wait in the quiet of
late winter.

What better time than February,
before Lent and the advent of
spring, to settle in for some reading
and praying with sacred scripture?
February can be a quiet time of patient
reflection for the Christian steward.
The psalms, like so many biblical
passages, remind us of the benefits of
reading God’s word: “Your word is a
lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my
path” (Ps 119:105).

Our liturgical year offers us a
wonderful pathway to the Bible by
providing Lectionary readings for each
day. Our Sunday Gospel readings this
year come to us mainly from Saint
Matthew. In the month of February
we have an opportunity to reflect on
Christ’s teachings in his Sermon on the
Mount with its hope-filled Beatitudes.
This Gospel is ideal for spending time
with the Lord in quiet meditation.
Stewardship of God’s Word: Reading the Bible
In the Gospel of Saint Matthew
Jesus gives us a guide to Christian
living. If you choose to read this great
book of the Bible, consider just one
episode in the Gospel each time you
read it. Put yourself into the scene.
See what words strike a chord in you.
Ask the Lord to help you know him
through the Gospel reading.
One of the hallmarks of Saint
Matthew’s Gospel is his emphasis
on discipleship and what it means to
follow Jesus. Christian stewards look
to this Gospel to gain new insights
into their journey of faith; and much
like the desires of gardeners, long for
the seeds of the Gospel, especially the
Beatitudes, to be planted in their own
hearts. Find some quiet time. Pick up
your Bible. And use God’s gift of these
quiet February days to deepen your
knowledge of Christ through sacred
scripture.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus begins his Sermon on the Mount
with a series of blessings, the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes
are a summary of the fundamental attitude of a Christian
steward. This speech sets the themes and tone for Christ’s
public ministry. He calls for a radical change in how we
respond to the human condition. Good stewards understand
that conversion is a lifelong process and trying to live the
Beatitudes is fundamental to this process. Make it a point
to reflect on this Gospel reading during the week. Identify
the blessing you relate to the most. Which one is the most
challenging for you?

In today’s gospel we hear Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James
and John to follow him. Following Jesus was a difficult
journey for these first disciples. It is difficult for us today.
Jesus wants to teach us his way of thinking, acting and
encountering the world. But it is not easy for us to embrace
his teaching. Good stewards of Jesus’ teachings realize
they are on a spiritual journey, and must learn from their
experiences of being open and resistant to the gospel. They
realize the need to be liberated from those actions that keep
them from enjoy¬ing a closer friendship with Jesus. What is
it in our lives that we need to reform? What keeps us from
revealing God’s glory to others?