The Cup of Independence
The leader takes bread, breaks it, dips the first piece in salt water and eats it, saying:
Take the Lahmo, break it, and dip the first piece in salt water, and eat it. Remember the tears our
brothers and sisters shed when they abandoned their lands.
The leader takes the second piece, dips it in horseradish, and eats it, saying:
Dip the second piece in “Maurorae” and eat it. Remember the bitterness our brothers and sisters
experienced under occupation and humiliation.
All recite a passage from the Book of Lamentations 5:1-22:
Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us, look, and see our disgrace:
Our inherited lands have been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners.
We have become orphans, fatherless; widowed are our mothers.
The water we drink we must buy, for our own wood we must pay.
On our necks is the yoke of those who drive us; we are worn out, but allowed no rest.
Our fathers, who sinned, are no more; but we bear their guilt.
Slaves rule over us; there is no one to rescue us from their hands.
At the peril of our lives we bring in our sustenance, in the face of the desert heat;
our skin is shriveled up, as though by a furnace, with the searing blasts of famine.
The joy of our hearts has ceased, our dance has turned into mourning;
the garlands have fallen from our heads: woe to us, for we have sinned!
Over this our hearts are sick, at this our eyes grow dim:
That [Mount Lebanon] should be desolate, with jackals roaming there!
You, O LORD, are enthroned forever; your throne stands from age to age.
Why, then, should you forget us, abandon us so long a time?
Lead us back to you, O LORD, that we may be restored:
give us anew such days as we had of old. For now you have indeed rejected us,
and in full measure turned your wrath against us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
The leader takes the cup of wine, saying:
Take the cup of wine and drink from it. This is the cup of Independence. Remember the martyrs whose
blood shed for the sake of Independence.
Reconciliation
The woman says to her sons:
The LORD Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against
house.”[30] Therefore, he commanded us to love one another. He said, “Love one another. As I have
loved you, so you also should love one another.[31] Forgive and you will be forgiven.”[32]
The sons stand, holding each other’s hands, saying:
– Forgive me brother, for I have sinned against heaven and against you.[33]
– I forgive you, brother. Peace be with you.
– And also with you.
The sons exchange hugs and kisses while the family members applaud as a sign of joy for reconciliation.
The woman continues, saying:
The LORD Jesus also taught us to love our enemies: He said, “Love your enemies, and pray for those
who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father.”[34]
The sons pray, saying:
O Father, we ask you to forgive our enemies, forgive them, they know not what they do.[35]
More Than a Country
The child asks:
Did God abandon his people?
The leader responds:
God did not abandon his people. He consoled the Maronites, giving them three saints: St. Sharbel,
St. Rafqa, and St. Nimatullah Hardini.[36] In 1997 A.D., Pope John Paul II visited Lebanon to give hope
to the Lebanese people and particularly to the Maronites. He said, “Lebanon is more than a country, it is
a message.” The Pope gave them his Apostolic Exhortation “New Hope for Lebanon”.
The woman passes an olive branch to each individual, saying:
Take this olive branch. It represents your message of peace to the world.
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