LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
December 26/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,1-18. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;  the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'" From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him.

Saint Basil (c.330-379), monk and Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Doctor of the Church
Homily on the birth of Christ; PG 31, 1471f./"We saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son"
«The magi were overjoyed at seeing the star» (Mt 2,10). Let us, too, today, welcome this great joy into our hearts, the joy that the angels announced to the shepherds. Let us adore with the magi, rejoice with the shepherds, sing with the angels: «Today a savior has been born for us who is Christ the Lord; the Lord God has appeared to us»...This feast is held in common by the whole creation: the stars run in the heavens, magi arrive from foreign lands, the earth receives him in a cave. There is nothing that does not add to this feast, nothing that does not come to it with full hands. Let us, too, ring out a song of joy...; let us celebrate the world's salvation, the day of humanity's birth. Today the punishment that struck down Adam is abolished. Let no one any longer say: «You are dirt and to dirt you shall return» (Gn 3,19), but: «United to him who comes down from heaven you will be raised up into heaven»...«A child is born to us, a son is given us; his dominion is vast» (Is 9,5.6)... What an abyss of goodness and love for humankind! So unite yourself to those who receive their Lord descending from heaven with joy and who adore the Great God in this little child. God's power is manifested in this body as light through a window and it shines on the eyes of those who are pure of heart (Mt 5,8). Together with them we will therefore be able «with unveiled face, gaze as in a mirror on the glory of the Lord and ourselves be transformed from glory to glory» (cf. 2Cor 3,18) through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and his love for us.


Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for December 25/08
Franjieh At Bkirki For Meeting, Not Christmas Mass-Naharnet
Sarkozy's New Year Gift to Lebanon-Naharnet
Saniora Pledges No Talks with Israel-Naharnet
The International Tribunal's Nightmare In March 8 Eyes-Naharnet
Army Arrests Smugglers, Car Thieves in Brital-Naharnet
Aoun Warns Against Possible Assassination-Naharnet

Franjieh At Bkirki For Meeting, Not Christmas Mass
Naharnet/Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh joined President Michel Suleiman and Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir for a tripartite meeting at Bkirki on Thursday, but left without attending Christmas mass, apparently for "political considerations."Well informed sources told Naharnet Franjieh made the move for two reasons:
1st: To avoid possible embarrassment if Sfeir's Sermon echoed political stands he had made in his Christmas message, which Franjieh has rejected for believing that he and March 8 allies were targeted by its concept. 2nd: Franjieh boycotted the mass also to avoid meeting any of the March 14 Christian leaders, particularly Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, which would result in a "de facto reconciliation," the sources noted. Franjieh's visit to Bkirki was non-scheduled and he was accompanied by chairman of the Maronite League Joseph Tarabey. No details were immediately available regarding topics of discussion during the tripartite meeting. Sfeir's sermon was rather non-politicized, and focused mainly on "patience and wisdom" required to tackle challenges that Lebanon is encountering. Sfeir praised President Suleiman for his "wisdom, patience and determination" to regain prosperity for Lebanon, especially through his foreign visits. Beirut, 25 Dec 08, 10:26

Sarkozy's New Year Gift to Lebanon
Naharnet/French President Nicolas Sarkozy is scheduled to visit Lebanon on Jan. 6 for bilateral assessment with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman on progress achieved by Damascus in engaging Beirut. Sarkozy would also visit the French contingent serving with the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and would address a message of New Year greetings to French troops operating overseas, in a precedent reflecting the importance Paris attaches to Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and stability, according to the al-Balad daily. New Year greetings to French Troops serving overseas had been traditionally addressed from Paris. "Sarkozy's unprecedented move reaffirms France's commitment to Lebanon and reflects a message that pledges and commitments regarding respect for Lebanon's sovereignty and non-intervention in its domestic affairs should be honored," the report said. The report, attributed to a diplomatic source, said Sarkozy would probably declare a French initiative regarding Middle East peace, covering tracks that had been dormant for a long time." It did not elaborate.
Beirut, 25 Dec 08, 16:00

Saniora Pledges No Talks with Israel
Naharnet/Premier Fouad Saniora said Lebanon has no interest in holding peace talks with neighboring Israel at the moment. "I see no interest for us right now to discuss direct negotiations or indirect negotiations with Israel," Saniora said in an interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation broadcast on Wednesday. "No one has challenged our claim of authority and ownership of the land that Israel occupies. So we see it as premature to take a decision in this regard as yet," he added. Israel withdrew from south Lebanon in 2000 after more than two decades of occupation, but Lebanon claims it is still occupying land on the border, including Shebaa Farms, a mountainous sliver of land rich in water resources. Lebanon's former power broker Syria began Turkish-mediated indirect peace talks with Israel in May, eight years after the previous negotiations broke down over the fate of the strategic Golan Heights plateau. Beirut, 25 Dec 08, 14:07

The International Tribunal's Nightmare In March 8 Eyes
Naharnet/A pro-Hizbullah newspaper on Thursday said the International Tribunal would issue subpoena warrants for six ex-ministers from the minority alliance before the end of March and after the charge sheet is issued in the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. The daily al-Akhbar, quoting majority sources, said the six ex-ministers would refuse to appear before the International tribunal at the Hague. Such rejection would hurl the March 8 minority and "the whole of Lebanon into a new era in which March 8 forces would be outlawed by international law" apparently for rejecting cooperation with the International Tribunal, the report said. The March 14 majority also voices concerns about possible assassination attempts targeting its "major leaders," the report added. In a related development, the Mustaqbal daily, which reflects the viewpoint of the Hariri Clan, reported that the United Nations recently sent messages to member states asking them to settle their financial contributions to the International Tribunal's expenses for the send and third years of its services. The report quoted U.N. Sources as saying the head of the U.N. commission probing the Hariri crime, Daniel Bellemare, would pursue with his investigation as Prosecutor General of the International Tribunal to "support the crime's already accumulated reconstruction theme." "Bellemare would not link his efforts to a deadline," the report noted. It said The International tribunal, which starts functioning by March, would "deal with suspects in line with its powers." This, the report added, includes "charges, penalties … and all issues related to witnesses." The Tribunal, the report said, would seek the help of the U.N. Security Council "when needed, especially in cases of non-cooperation in turning over suspects and convicts in absentia." Beirut, 25 Dec 08, 11:11

Army Arrests Smugglers, Car Thieves in Brital
Naharnet/The Lebanese Army Command said its troops in the Bekaa Valley, backed by helicopter gunships, arrested an undisclosed number of criminals in a major raid on hideouts in the town of Brital on Wednesday. A short communique said some suspects remain at large in the remote mountains and a hunt is underway by troops. The communique did not disclose the number of suspects rounded up in the major operation backed by tanks and armored personnel carriers in a rainy day.
However it said the suspects include car thieves, smugglers of weapons and other illegal items. The long-awaited bust was "welcomed" by citizens of Brtal and the region, the army communique added without further elaboration. Local reporters said troops sealed off Brital during the operation as helicopter ginships chased some suspects who tried to escape towards the mountain range abutting Syria. Beirut, 24 Dec 08, 10:46

Aoun Warns Against Possible Assassination
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Wednesday expressed concern over possible "assassinations and bomb attacks" just before the forthcoming elections. "Lebanon is open to foreign intelligence agencies and such incidents could happen," Aoun said in a television interview. Aoun also said "there is nothing such as intra-Christian reconciliation. Political differences reflect viewpoints and political options." "What is important, however, is not to have clashes," Aoun added.
Beirut, 24 Dec 08, 17:29