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A controversial Christmas homily in Metn

While some viewed the scene through a political lens, a source from the parish stated that the homily aimed to convey "a message of brotherhood and love."

The priest of the Mar Maroun parish in Mazraat Yeshouh carrying a weapon in the church during Christmas mass. (Screenshot of a video circulating on social networks)

A short video making the rounds on social media and news outlets shows a priest conducting a Christmas Mass on Wednesday with a Kalashnikov slung over his shoulder. The scene, recorded at Mar Maroun Church in Mazraat Yeshouh (Metn), sparked dozens of reactions. Some media outlets, known for their opposition to Hezbollah — such as MTV — interpreted the gesture as a political statement, suggesting that "militia or party weapons should be handed over to the Lebanese Army."

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However, a source from Mar Maroun parish told L’Orient-Le Jour that priest Walid Mallah intended for his homily to convey a message of "brotherhood and love." The source lamented that the way the incident was portrayed served "political interests" and shared the full text of the priest’s sermon.

The cross as a Christian weapon

According to the sermon transcript, the priest indeed begins the scene holding a weapon. He then declares: "Does the image of a priest with a rifle resemble Jesus? Absolutely not! Jesus traded the gun for the cross; he forgave his enemies and integrated them into his people," the priest proclaimed.

He then symbolically discarded the weapon, emphasizing that Christians have moved from worshiping the "God of armies" to the "disarmed God." Preaching that the only weapon Christians should wield is the cross, he called for "love and forgiveness."

Loulou Murr, who attended the Mass, struggles to understand the uproar over the incident. "Everyone feels entitled to interpret it. I’m surprised it’s causing so much noise. His sole aim was to send a message that our only weapon is the cross, and he threw the rifle to the ground," she said.

"He’s a theatrical priest who loves creating scenes and is close to everyone. He’s excellent," added Murr, a gynecologist living in the area. The same sentiment was echoed by mukhtara Olga Zakka (local official): "He had no bad intentions. It was simply an image he wanted to convey," she asserted.

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Another parishioner, Hadia Zakka, said she wasn’t shocked by the scene. "Who doesn’t carry a weapon in this country?" she joked. “Besides, it wasn't loaded. He had already told us he was going to speak about peace. He’s a priest who often uses visuals. Once, he brought a bicycle.”

Clerical authorities issue warning

The Maronite Church appears less enthusiastic about Father Mallah’s actions than his parishioners.

In a statement relayed by the official National News Agency (NNA), Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm, head of the Catholic Information Center (CIC), condemned the display of the weapon, calling it "unacceptable," even if the priest’s intention was to illustrate that "this weapon is a source of war and does not serve peace, and that the true weapon of the Church is the weapon of prayer." "After consulting the pastor of the diocese, His Excellency Bishop Antoine Bou Najem, he confirmed that he does not support this unusual method within the Church and has issued strict instructions to ensure such actions are not repeated," he added.

The Media Department of the Maronite Diocese of Antelias stated that it does not "approve" of the priest's actions, confirming that he received a "written warning, instructing him not to repeat such behavior." However, the diocese clarified that it "approves the content of the homily, as it aligns with the teachings of the Church and its spiritual and pastoral directives." It emphasized that the display of the weapon was limited to only a portion of the sermon. The diocese expressed hope that the incident would not take on a sectarian dimension or be exploited to "fuel conflicts and communal hatred."

Resolution 1559?

The priest's initiative also sparked polarized reactions on social media. "Yes to implementing Resolution 1559," wrote one user, referring to the U.N. Security Council resolution calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Lebanon and the disarmament of all militias, interpreting the video in this context.

The debate over illegal arms, particularly those held by Hezbollah, has resurfaced strongly in recent months following the party’s war efforts alongside its allies against the Israeli army. Others, however, criticized the priest’s actions. "It’s unfortunate to celebrate the birth of Christ with such unacceptable and reprehensible displays, regardless of the messages some may perceive in them," posted a user on X.

This article was translated from L'Orient-Le Jour.

A short video making the rounds on social media and news outlets shows a priest conducting a Christmas Mass on Wednesday with a Kalashnikov slung over his shoulder. The scene, recorded at Mar Maroun Church in Mazraat Yeshouh (Metn), sparked dozens of reactions. Some media outlets, known for their opposition to Hezbollah — such as MTV — interpreted the gesture as a political statement,...