Monday – April 16, 2018

Meeting at Imam Al Sajjad Theological Center
Monday was full of important meetings. We started our day at Imam Al Sajjad Theological Center with Sheikh Mohamad Ali Al Hajj from the Shiite denomination. He said that the sheikhs were pleased with Vassula’s spiritual talk on Friday, adding that generally, today’s clerics no longer speak about spirituality because of the problems the country is facing. However, since there is a difference between the politicians’ principles and those principles which the clerics follow, there is a need for religious reform. Sheikh Mohamad told Vassula that he spoke very positively about the pilgrimage in Russia to the youth in his community. Vassula remarked that it was a very difficult job to organize that pilgrimage. She moreover informed Sheikh Mohamad Ali El Hajj about the plan towards a fifteen minute procession for peace, as the participants hold a banner reading: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” She added that this procession must be filmed and largely diffused by the media. Christians and Muslims alike are divided, so we really need to reconcile and bring peace.

[Vassula welcomed by Sheikh Mohamad in his office]
Sheikh Mohamad loved the idea. In solidarity, he mentioned that he had recently met with some Syrian ministers. This pertinent discussion then led to the heated issue regarding the Syrian refugees in Greece and Lebanon. Finally, Sheikh Mohamad showed Vassula some books in which the issues of abortion, cloning and civil marriage between Islam and Christianity were studied.

Meeting with Mufti Ahmad Taleb, (Mufti Jaafari)
With these topics in mind, we left so as to meet with Mufti Ahmad Taleb, and Mufti Jaafari from the Shiite denomination. Sheikh Mohamad briefly introduced Vassula and her mission, and then subsequently introduced the Mufti and his role. Vassula thanked them for welcoming her. She mentioned that True Life in God is spread everywhere in the world and the advocates of True Life in God work spiritually not politically, in accordance with God’s Will. TLIG reminds everyone that division is not wanted. Thus, TLIG advocates organize pilgrimages to which people from all nations and faiths come. Seeding a TLIG future endeavor, she told the Mufti about the plan towards a procession in Syria in the fall. To dialogue is not enough; it’s time to work for peace. With God’s Will in mind, she added that many people today don’t glorify God; they glorify themselves. She asked the Mufti for his prayers.

[Vassula at Sheikh Ahmad Taleb’s home with Sheikh Mohamad and the TLIG group]

The Mufti said that people think God is in Heaven and then think about how to get to Heaven. “They think it’s a vertical process. We need to teach them that the process is not vertical; it’s a horizontal process that embodies a relationship with human brothers and sisters. It is not limited to a mosque or a church. The best way to reach God is by serving our fellow human beings. We can unite as spiritually-based religions when we are able to make this teaching known. What has pushed people away from each other is the search for the truth. I am not concerned about a search for the truth; instead I have to determine how to represent God on earth. I consider your mission similar to ours. We consider fasting and praying as lessons that teach us how to be humane. For sure, we support you. Every religion that pushes people away from each other is not a religion. Every work you do for the good of humanity is a true message and a true undertaking. The more we live our humanity, the more we show that we have true faith. God looks at a person’s faith, not the name of his/her designated religion. Our clothes don’t show the reality of our faith, and God does not differentiate between humans. Diversity can create obstacles, but it can also be a means towards distinguishing God’s work, as it is in the TLIG events. We focus on faith. Man is the image of God.”

[(Mufti Jaafari), Sheikh Ahmad Taleb, offers his book to Vassula; she is offers him the HIR book]

In reply, Vassula said that we teach that one has to live as if it were one’s last day on earth. She added to her explanation by alluding to the Beth Myriams; without good works our faith is not complete. While thanking the Mufti for his kind words, she said that God will judge us according to the measure of the love we had on earth. She talked about her life before God’s calling and after God’s manifestation. Lastly, she offered him the HIR book and he offered her his book about the Ways of Islam towards Family Issues.

Meeting with the Greek Catholic Patriarch
The next stop, at 11:00 a.m., was in Rabweh at the Greek Catholic Patriarchate. Bishop Georges Haddad along with Vassula and TLIG Lebanon visited His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef I Absi. Vassula offered him her autobiography, and she noticed that His Beatitude wanted to know about her experience with God. Hence, Vassula testified to his Beatitude the manner in which God approached her and how she has been guided by Christ on the path towards unity in diversity. She explained her mission, the interfaith dialogue as well as the pilgrimage in Russia. She told him about the Beth Myriams and the TLIG ecumenical prayer Groups. She explained the nuances of the hieratic handwriting in the messages, and that it was analyzed and studied by experts of graphology.

[Vassula offered the HIR book and the True Life in God Messages to His Beatitude Patriarch Absé]

Vassula told the patriarch that her forthcoming retreat will be held on the first week of May in Nea Makri, Greece, at the church where St. Ephraim, a martyr saint, is lying in a glass casket. She explained that he is known for his powerful means of healing the sick. She spoke about the life of that saint.
The Patriarch was so pleased; he invited us to stay for lunch, but we had another commitment. We apologized and headed to South Lebanon.

[Vassula telling her story to Patriarch Absé]

[Patriarch Youssef Absé with Metropolitan Haddad welcoming Vassula and the TLIG group]

Meeting at the Monastery of the Savior near Sidon
On the way to the Monastery of the Savior near Sidon, one TLIG companion’s car, (George’s) malfunctioned and Vassula had to travel in Roula’s car. Roula is another TLIG reader who was the day’s translator.
Sheikh Iyad was at the monastery and attended the meeting with us. We arrived at 1:30 p.m. After listening to a brief history of the monastery by Fr. Nabil Wakim, Vassula informed them about her mission towards reconciliation, unity and interfaith dialogue, and invited Fr. Wakim to join us in the next pilgrimage.

[Archimandrite Nabil Wakim receiving Vassula and Sheikh Iyad at The Savior School]

With enthusiasm, everyone toured the historic monastery, visited the church and the tomb of Venerable Fr. Béchara Abou Mrad. As a continuation of their tour, the group visited the adjoined school where Vassula offered the HIR book to its priest director.

[Archimandrite Nabil Wakim receiving Vassula and Sheikh Iyad at The Savior School]

Meeting at Matariyat (Chehim)
After the visit, we all headed towards Sheikh Iyad’s region. Sheikh Iyad is from the Sunni denomination and he had invited everyone for lunch, around 43 persons. Vassula met with Sheik Iyad’s wife, Rouwayda, a delightful lady and so very friendly! She and Vassula communicated as though they knew each other, and displayed a friendship that seemed deep and sincere.

[Vassula arriving at Sheikh Iyad’s home for witnessing]

After Sheikh Iyad’s welcoming words, Mr. Ahmad Younes spoke about the history of Chehim and its culture.
Then, Mr. Omar Habanjar spoke about the political situation in the Middle East. After him, Mr. Ghazi, member of the municipal council, said that the people of their region have an open spirit; the various denominations within the region coexist. Parenthetically, he also touched on the importance of preserving the environment. With these important topics in mind, Georges Chabab briefly introduced Vassula. Vassula began her discussion by saying that it is about time we place God back at the center of our lives and allow Him to be at the center of our soul. Thus, our lives, while on earth, will turn into an unceasing prayer around God, in God and on God alone. She continued by saying we were not created to govern the earth with tyranny and blood. It is obvious that all these evil acts occur because man has forgotten his creator; he has failed to give glory to God. People live without God.

The world has been over-focused, she claims, on technology and materialism and has somewhat neglected humanitarian needs and realities. Humans are not robots. Materialism will never satisfy man’s yearning for the truth and for communion from within. There will always be a void within the soul and the soul will always seek to fill this void, aiming towards the wrong things. Our duty is to fill this void with the right things, starting with the truth. There are many, the Lord says, that still have not decided to follow God; they use the liberty that God gave them in the wrong way. They prefer to do their will rather than God’s Will.

“generation, you have still not set your minds for Me; when will you decide to return to Me? do you want to pass this era’s threshold by blazing fire, by brimstone and devouring flame?” (TLIG Messages, December 13, 1992)
“take My Mighty Hand and I shall help you glorify Me, but to be able to do this I need your consent again (renewal of vows) … I need your abandonment, your will, your heart and your entire ‘yes’; once I have your consent, then My Will shall be done in you…” (TLIG Messages, March 10, 1994)
Vassula explained that God is not a complicated God, for He is meek and humble. He said: “do not fear Me, fear Me only if you rebel against Me;” (TLIG Messages, September 18, 1988) God wants us perfect. In His conscience, He has impressed upon all His creation what is right and what is wrong. Nonetheless, many of us tend to leave the path towards integrity to follow a twisted road. A lot of people, says the Lord, carry war in their heart. The origin of any sort of conflict is usually located in our heart and sometimes well- rooted.

Our Lady said on October 10, 1990:
“when you come and pray in pilgrimages do you come with a clean heart? have you ceased to do evil? are you in peace with your neighbour? have you confessed and repented truly of your sins? have you blessed your enemies and forgiven them? have you repaid evil with love? are you indeed ready to meet the Lord with your hands full of good works?” (TLIG Messages, October 10, 1990)

Vassula reflected by saying, “At night, I look at the stars and the planets; I look at the vast universe. Then I see our world, which is such a small speck of dust floating among innumerable stars and planets among this beauty of our galaxy that God created. And I ask myself, how is it that this speck of dust that is our planet, managed to have so much violence and hatred coming out of its inhabitants? What inspires its inhabitants to be so wicked? Are we so influenced by Satan? What went wrong with humanity? Why are we more and more obeying the law of Evil rather than the law of God, which is love? Where has humanity’s dignity gone? What dignities can the poor and homeless have, when they can hardly survive, due to lack of the basics of life? Where has human sensitivity gone for these underprivileged people? What did we do with the freedom that God has given us? Where is the freedom of speech and freedom of religion that, were they to be expressed, wouldn’t avoid discrimination?”

Then Vassula told everyone that some nations speak about the needed peace in Syria, but they practice the opposite. We all meet to talk about peace, but we need to do more; dialogues are not enough. We have to go to Syria and unite in a fifteen minute procession. Christians, Muslims and all denominations must unite under the banner: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” We must expose how easily we can befriend one another and that we do not agree with nor condone war.

[Sheikh Iyad organized a witnessing for Vassula at his home with his family and friends]

Tuesday – April 17, 2018
Vassula left Beirut after a very rich and successful mission, hoping to come back to the region in December for the Peace Procession.

Prepared by TLIG Lebanon
April 2018