Episode Transcript
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My beloved brothers and sisters.
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Seventeen years ago,
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I came from a small country
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in the Middle East called Lebanon.
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A country known for its coexistence,
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for its diversity of religious sects,
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to a land rich in civilisations,
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cultures, and ideologies,
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a vast continent that brings together
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many religions, sects, and communities
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that, at first,
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seemed foreign to our reserved Eastern society.
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The beginning was difficult,
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as it was hard to accept things that were perhaps unfamiliar
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to our customs and traditions.
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But with the passing of the years,
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we have gained new experience
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in how to deal with the differences
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in the new society,
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and how to accept one another
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through mutual respect and embracing others
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despite differences in culture, religion,
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ethnicity, or political opinion.
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We engage with transparency and
love under the umbrella of the law
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that unites us,
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and the love of this welcoming nation
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in which we live without discrimination or favouritism,
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a nation we consider a gift from God,
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who brought us here.
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We also bring with us our own customs and culture,
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sharing them with others
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while also learning from theirs.
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Therefore, let us pray
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for societies where coexistence seems more difficult,
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that they may not give
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into the temptation of confrontation
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for ethnic, political, religious,
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or ideological reasons.
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And may we be a model for these societies,
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that all may grow
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and live together in peace and love,
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through the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
