Mor Bechara likens political office to the true faith of the Canaanite woman: persistent believe in the state and its citizen, and never give up

DIMANE, Lebanon — Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mor Bechara Boutros Raï reminded every Lebanese government official, politician and citizen that the office or responsibility they hold carries with it inherent and unchangeable values.  

In his Sunday sermon in Dimane, where he has his summer residence, Mor Bechara compared them with the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28) and her true faith in Jesus Christ. As for the Lebanese state, whose foundations have been seriously eroded in recent decades, he translates this true faith into honesty, reform, adherence to national unity, and working for the common good, not narrow interests.  

The responsibility of those in public office is immense: to serve the common good and the people, and to transcend personal interests. The Lebanese nation cannot overcome its crises except through faith and hope, and unless its people unite around a comprehensive national project, not around narrow interests and deadly divisions. 

“A nation is not built on conflicts but on trust; it does not rise on promises but on actions; it does not live on slogans but on justice and righteousness… we too are called to transcend the confines of our divisions and fears and raise our voices against all those who threaten our existence, our being, and our mission,” the Patriarch said. 

Mor Bechara taught his congregation that true faith is a living faith. It must take the form of perseverance, preservation of national dignity, defense of Lebanese sovereignty over its entire territory and its freedom, and the development of economic and social policies that protect its citizens from emigration and the sale of their land.