St. Sharbel Makhluf (Feast Day July 24)

May 8, 1828 – December 24, 1898

Although this saint never traveled far from the Lebanese village of Beka-Kafra, where he was born, his influence has spread widely. An uncle raised Joseph Zaroun Makhluf because his father died when Joseph was only three. At 23, Joseph joined the Monastery of St. Maron at Annaya, Lebanon and took the name Sharbel in honor of a second-century martyr. He professed his final vows in 1853 and was ordained six years later. He lived as a hermit from 1875 until his death. His reputation for holiness prompted people to seek him to receive a blessing and to be remembered in his prayers. He followed a strict fast and was very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament. When his superiors occasionally asked him to administer the sacraments to nearby villages, Sharbel did so gladly. He died in the late afternoon on Christmas Eve. Christians and non-Christians soon made his tomb a place of pilgrimage; many healings took place there. Pope Paul VI beatified St. Sharbel in 1965 and canonized him 12 years later.

·      What do you enjoy about going to Mass on Sunday?

·      In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about wheat and weeds. What does the wheat represent? What do the weeds represent? 

·      Why do you think Jesus doesn’t want to pull up the weeds until the harvest?

·      St. Sharbel had a reputation for holiness. Do you know anyone who is good, kind, and lives a life of holiness? What do you like about that person?

Outdoor Activity

·      Pull weeds in your garden or landscaping. Make it a competitive family activity to see who can pull the most weeds and award a prize for the winner. Be sure to instruct children on the difference between weeds and plants/flowers!

·      Clean out your garage, shed, or storage area, and consider giving things away to Goodwill. Alternatively, sell old things and consider using your proceeds to purchase something for your new outdoor sacred space.

·      Enjoy the summer weather by going for a walk as a family.

Lebanese Rice Pilaf

Lebanese rice goes with nearly everything. Since St. Sharbel was from Lebanon, it’s only fitting to make this dish today!

2 cups jasmine rice

Water

1 cup broken vermicelli pasta

2 ½ Tbsp olive oil

Salt

½ cup toasted pine nuts, optional

Rinse the rice well (a few times). In a medium cooking pot, heat the olive oil on medium-high. Add the vermicelli and continuously stir to toast it evenly. Vermicelli should turn a nice golden brown, but watch carefully not to over-brown or burn it. Add the rice and continue to stir so that the rice will be well-coated with the olive oil. Season with salt. Add 3 ½ cups of water and bring it to a boil until the water significantly reduces. Turn the heat to low and cover. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes on low. Once fully cooked, turn the heat off and leave the rice undisturbed for 10 to 15 minutes, then uncover and fluff with a fork. Transfer to a serving platter and top with the toasted pine nuts. Enjoy!

Family Rosary

Allow someone to pick any mystery of the Rosary they like. Read or retell the story of that mystery. Use your imagination and think about the mystery as you pray one Our Father, the 10 Hail Mary’s. Share what you heard or imagined in your reflection. End with the Glory Be prayer.

How many hymns did you sing today that contained the word “wheat”?

As a family, volunteer at a local goodwill shop or food bank. Call some friends and neighbors to join you.

Wheat is the third largest crop produced in the United States, following corn and beans. One bushel of wheat contains approximately one million individual kernels, and it weighs about 60 pounds!