1. THIRD WEEK OF LENT
FINAL

2. Copyright© 2013 Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
Saint Rafka Maronite Catholic Church
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
2301 Wadsworth Blvd., Denver, CO 80214
Photo: Red Spruce Media
The Third Week of LENT
Healing of the Hemorrhaging Woman
HaveFaith+SeekForgiveness+FindGod=
“ThatYouMayHaveLife,AndHaveItAbundantly”(John10:10)
2 Corinthians 7:4-11, Luke 8:40-56
The hemorrhaging woman was healed through seek-
ing out Christ. How often do we sit and passively await
Christ’s arrival to better our lives?
Mary, like the hemorrhaging woman,
is a woman of action. She is a sign of
hope for the suffering throughout the
world. She always intercedes for us
and accompanies the faithful in their
journey. We only have to take the first
active step of asking for her assis-
tance.
THE YEAR OF FAITH
TAKING THE FIRST STEP
Inspired by Synodus Episcoporum Bulletin,
October 2012, prop. 58
EVENING PRAYER (RAMSHO in Syriac)
The Evening Prayer is the first prayer of the day because
when God created the world, He defined the sequence of
one day from evening to morning. “And there was evening
and there was morning, one day.” (Genesis 1:5)
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 We are required to build a
Christian community through cooperation of all the faith-
ful and leaders. Live in peace and understanding with
respect and love one another. Be patient with one another.
Women are the foundation of these qualities. Their sense
of beauty is eminent. Do not shut off the spirit that dwells
in you.
Mark 5:22-34 Faith is the new gate that leads to a new
life in Jesus. The woman believed first, then touched the
Lord’s garment, and the power of God entered her. With
faith we have the power of God in us.
PRACTICAL TIPS
How to Incorporate Maronite Spirituality
Into Your Daily Life
QUESTION: What is the most important form of Chris-
tian prayer? The most important form of Christian prayer is
the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Despite sharing ele-
ments of the Jewish tradition of the Passover, the Celebration
of the Holy Eucharist, called
QOORBONO in Syriac,
Qouddas in Arabic, and Mass
in English, is the genius of
Christian worship. It is the
direct making of the Divine
Sacrifice of Christ through
the re-enactment of His Last
Supper and the recollec-
tion of his Passion, Death
and Resurrection, called the
Memorial of the Son and the
Fulfillment of the Plan of
Salvation. By partaking in
the bread and wine that have
become His Body and Blood,
all the baptized Faithful are in turn made worthy of these
gifts, which are given to us for the forgiveness of sin and for
eternal life.
OBSERVATION: Attending Mass (QOORBONO) is the
highest form of honoring Jesus Christ and the sacrifices He
made for us. By participating in Communion, we are made
whole again by the healing power of the Body and Blood of
Christ.
Tip: Understanding the Significance of Mass (QOORBONO)

3. The intent of these documents is strictly for educational purposes. Donations are greatly appreciated.
Copyright© 2013 Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon • Director: Father Andre Mahanna • Editors: Subdeacon Chris Pond,
Susan Boackle Childress, Eliza Marie Somers • Production & Graphic Design: James P. Weber
“And He said to her, ‘Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(Luke 8:48)
“This icon depicts the miracle of the healing of a woman suffering from a flow of blood
for 12 years. She was healed by reaching out in faith and touching the hem of Our Lord’s
robe. The necessity of faith in the healing, given by Christ, is further shown in other
incidents of faith and is illustrated in the lower level of the icon. These healing miracles
of faith illustrate well the verse written in Syriac on each of the Lenten icons: ‘These are
written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, …’ (John 20:31)”
Source: The Maronite Icons, According to the Maronite Liturgical Year and the Feasts
of the Saints; St. Maron’s Bookstore, Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon 2008 (n17).
At an early age, girls are bombarded by images and messages
urging them to look and act in ways that are unpleasing to God.
It starts in the toy box from the misproportioned Barbie dolls
to store shelves where Photoshopped models beckon from the
covers of popular magazines. Jonny Diaz, a Christian muscian
and former baseball player at Florida State University, takes
a cue from the Bible and targets young girls and women in
“More Beautiful You,” encouraging them to embrace their bod-
ies and not get caught up in the “lies, disguises and hoops they
make you jump through.”
These early unrealistic images shoved upon girls produce wom-
en who are not confident in their skin, let alone their unique-
ness, causing some to compromise themselves to “fit in.” We
must teach our children that they are
made in God’s image and urge them
to realize their worth not only in the
family but also in their neighbor-
hoods and churches. Women carry
the seed of life and have a unique
purpose in this world. They must
start loving themselves, so they can
carry that love to others. The first
disciple was Mary, the Mother of
God. The first ones to proclaim the
Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection were women.
When women choose, the entirety of their lives is altered by
their choices. Two women in the past have made choices that
had profound effects on life itself, man, and God. Eve, our first
mother, decided to say no to God, to give in to desire, to touch
and eat the fruit, and the curse reigned. Death and the poison of
Evil governed all creation and the seal of
love and trust between man and God was
broken. Mary, the new Eve, chose to say
yes to God and overturned the curse. She
carried the Word of God in the flesh and
gave Life to all, and God and man were
reconciled.Peace came on Earth and with
great joy the children of man were again
received at home in Paradise. So women:
make your choice.
Evening Prayer (RAMSHO in Syriac)
Exodus 32:1-8, Isaiah 55:1-9, Galatians 5:13-26, Luke
15:11-32 (Same as the Mass)
Morning Prayer (SAFRO in Syriac)
Ezekiel 33:10-16, Acts 13:6-12
MASS (QOORBONO) Readings
2 Corinthians 13:5-13, Luke 15:11-31
Judges 4:4, 6, 14; 5:1-5, 31 With faith we can overcome
our enemies. Be united as people of God. God can heal us
and defeat the enemy. Wisdom is a virtue, and the Virgin
Mary is called the Sea of Wisdom. The wisdom of God
was with Deborah, and it can be in you if you just ask God,
who gives generously.
Acts 9:36-42 Tabitha was a good and faithful woman full
of charity. She had a great influence over her community.
People looked to her because of her kindness. Women have
great influence over their families, friends and communi-
ties. Do not take this gift for granted.
MORNING PRAYER (SAFRO in Syriac)
UPCOMING: FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
Parable of the Prodigal Son
Feast Day of St. Thomas Aquinas
Feast Day of St. Katherine Drexel
The Maronite Icons
HEALING OF THE HEMORRHAGING WOMAN
(Luke 8:40-48)
Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn’t straight, her body isn’t fake
And she’s always felt overweight
Well, little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care, your skin, your body
and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are
THE IMPACT OF OUR CHOICES
LITURGY OF THE HOURS:
-Jonny Diaz, Christian musician
“MORE BEAUTIFUL YOU”