L'Evangile dans ma vie/ The Gospel in my life

Gospel text

(Jn 15,9-11): 

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete”.

The Application

The joy and inner peace are considered as highly searched commodity that very few people have it.  The contemporary world is ready to give any price to acquire it. Sadly very few have understood that they are fruits of sincere love and a painful process of mastering our daily crosses, as Jesus has shown us through His death and resurrection.

What boldness and divine desire which is revealed in today’s gospel, that can man ever imagine on earth! "Let my joy be in you, and let you be filled with joy. "For this Jesus invites us to imitate him, especially in the way he expressed his love for his Father. To remain in his love is to be faithful to his teaching, faithful to the commandment of love.

The fulfillment of his Father's will gave him deep joy, so may we who are his disciples do the same. The cross was not easy, and it was indeed a bitter cup, but he drank it, so that we may never taste it. To remain in Jesus is to participate in his mission, the salvation of the world. The best way to participate in this mission is to accept our own cross, to walk the path of holiness and to become his faithful and joyful disciples.  It is in the perfection of our discipleship that will assures us the joy and the inner peace, which are mere free gifts of God, to his disciples.

Action of the day: Be a joyful disciple of Christ.

«As the Father loves me, so I also love you»

Fr. Lluís RAVENTÓS i Artés

(Tarragona, Spain)

Today, we hear again the intimate confidence Jesus made last Holy Thursday: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you” (Jn 15:9). The Father's love for the Son is immense, tender, dear. We can read it in the Book of Proverbs, when He affirms that long before initiating his deeds “then was I beside him as artisan; I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while” (Pr 8:30). This is how He loves us and, prophetically announcing it in the same book, He adds: “Playing over the whole of his earth, having my delight with human beings.” (Pr 8:31).

The Father loves the Son, and Jesus tells us so: «And He that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him» (Jn 8:29). The Father loudly proclaimed it in the Jordan, when He says: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mk 1:11) and, later on, in Mount Tabor: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” (Mk 9:7).

Jesus has replied, “Abbà”, Pater! Now He reveals us, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.” And what shall we do? To stay indeed by his love, to abide by his commandments, to love His Father's Will. Is not this the example He gives us? «I always keep my Father's commandments and remain in his love».

But we, who are weak, fickle, cowards and —why not just admit it— even wicked at times, shall we then lose his friendship forever? No, He will not allow us to be tempted well over our own forces! And, if we ever fail to abide by his commandments, let us ask him the grace of quickly coming back to him, as the prodigal son to the Father's house. And of being able to receive the Sacrament of Penance and be forgiven our sins. “I love you” —Jesus tells us—.“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11).

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 15,9-11): 

«Comme le Père m'a aimé, moi aussi je vous ai aimés. Demeurez dans mon amour. Si vous êtes fidèles à mes commandements, vous demeurerez dans mon amour, comme moi, j'ai gardé fidèlement les commandements de mon Père, et je demeure dans son amour. Je vous ai dit cela pour que ma joie soit en vous, et que vous soyez comblés de joie».

L’Application

Quelle audace et quel désir divin l'homme peut-il jamais imaginer sur la terre ! " Que ma joie soit en vous, et que vous soyez remplis de joie. " Pour cela, il nous invite à l'imiter, notamment dans la manière dont il a exprimé son amour pour son Père. Demeurer dans son amour est synonyme de fidélité à son enseignement, de fidélité au commandement de l'amour. 
L'accomplissement de la volonté de son Père lui procurait une joie profonde, qu'il en soit de même pour nous qui sommes ses disciples. La croix n'était pas facile, et c'était vraiment une coupe amère, mais il l'a bue, afin que nous ne la goûtions jamais. Demeurer en Jésus, c'est participer à sa mission, le salut du monde. La meilleure façon de participer à cette mission est d'accepter notre propre croix, de marcher sur le chemin de la sainteté et de devenir ses disciples fidèles et joyeux.  

«Comme le Père m'a aimé, moi aussi je vous ai aimés»

Abbé Lluís RAVENTÓS i Artés

(Tarragona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui nous écoutons à nouveau la confidence intime que Jésus nous fait le Jeudi Saint: «Comme le Père m'a aimé, moi aussi je vous ai aimés» (Jn 15,9). L'amour du Père pour le Fils est immense, tendre, profond. Nous pouvons le constater dans le livre des Proverbes, lorsque Il affirme que, bien avant le commencement de ses oeuvres, «j'étais à ses côtés comme un maître d'oeuvre. J'y trouvais mes délices jour après jour en jouant devant lui à tout instant» (Pr 8,30). C'est bien ainsi qu'Il nous aime et, en l'annonçant prophétiquement dans le même livre, Il ajoute «jouant sur toute la terre, et trouvant mes délices avec les fils des hommes» (Pr 8,31).

Le Père aime le Fils, et Jésus ne cesse pas un instant de nous le rappeler: «Celui qui m'a envoyé est avec moi; il ne m'a pas laissé seul parce que je fais toujours ce qui Lui plaît» (Jn 8,29). Le Père l'a bien proclamé quand du ciel une voix se fît entendre sur le Jourdain: «C'est toi mon Fils bien-aimé; en toi j'ai mis tout mon amour» (Mc 1,11) et, plus tard au mont Thabor: «Celui-ci est mon Fils bien-aimé. Écoutez-le» (Mc 9,7).

Jésus a répondu, «Abbá», Papa! Maintenant, Il nous dit, «Comme le Père m'a aimé, moi aussi je vous ai aimés». Et, que faisons-nous? Nous maintenir dans son amour, obéir à ses commandements, aimer la Volonté du Père. N'est-ce pas là l'exemple qu'Il nous donne? «Je fais toujours ce qui Lui plaît».

Mais nous, qui sommes faibles, inconstants, lâches et —pourquoi ne pas l'avouer— même méchants, allons-nous perdre à jamais Son amitié? Certes, non! Car Il ne permettra pas que nous soyons tentés au-delà de nos forces! Mais si jamais nous nous éloignions de ses commandements, demandons Lui la grâce de revenir en courant comme le fils prodigue, vers la maison du Père et de nous tourner vers le sacrement de la Pénitence afin de recevoir le pardon de nos péchés. «Moi, aussi, je vous ai aimés —nous dit Jésus—. Je vous ai dit cela pour que ma joie soit en vous, et que vous soyez comblés de joie» (Jn 15,9.11).

Gospel text (Jn 15,1-8): 

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

The Application

As we have already meditated on this Gospel last Sunday, I invite you to discover the fruit of this divine dwelling in the hearts of men, which is found in the first reading. The dwelling of God in our hearts helps us to act according to God's will, not by human impulse. Paul and Barnabas were convinced that circumscribing is not a necessity to give glory to God.   Yet they chose to pray and consult the apostles.

Very often, we are result or success oriented. We wish to accomplish some good work and desire to be acknowledged. Though this is not bad in itself, the better way as Christian is to search what God wishes at a particular time and event. Since God of goodness is able to transform even our bitter or painful experience in to some miraculous saving, with a happy ending in the future, we are called in faith to trust and listen to God and to God’s people.

This approach of Paul and Barnabas helps us to act in a way that is consistent with the Christian faith: prayer and dialogue. When a man of faith is confronted by daily difficulties, after having put all his knowledge and intelligence to work, he will accept not only the difference and will be able to welcome the points of others, even his failures. He will always seek the divine presence that unites all the elements of life and the path that God will propose to him. In so doing, through his human actions, as a faithful disciple of God, he will produce the fruits desired by the Lord.

Action of the day: Seek the divine will.

«Remain in me, as I remain in you»

Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench

(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, once more, we may see Jesus surrounded by the Apostles in an atmosphere of especial intimacy. He is giving them what we could consider as his final recommendations: what is normally said in the last moment, in the last farewell; that which has an especial force, as if it would be the last will.

We imagine them in the cenacle. Jesus has washed their feet there, has announced them again He must go, has transmitted them his command of fraternal love and has consoled them with the gift of the Eucharistic and the promise of the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn 14). And, well ahead this 15th chapter of John's Gospel we now find the exhortation to unity within charity.

Our Lord does not hide to his disciples all the dangers and difficulties they will have to face in the near future: “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (Jn 15:20). But they should not be intimidated nor overwhelmed by all the hate they will find in this world: Jesus renews his promise of the arrival of the Protector, while assuring them they may ask and they will be given. Finally, the Lord prays for them —for all of us— to the Holy Father during his priestly prayer (cf. Jn 17).

But our danger does not come from outside, though: the worst menace may arise within ourselves when we fail to respect the fraternal love among the members of Christ's Mystic Body or the unity with the Head of that Body. The recommendation is clear: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5).

The first generations of Christians managed to keep a very clear conscience of the importance of remaining united through charity. Here is the testimony of saint Ignatius of Antioch, one the Fathers of the Church: «Therefore run together as into one temple of God, as to one altar, as to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from one Father, and is with and has gone to one». And here is also an indication from the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Christians: “Do whatever he tells you.”

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 15,1-8): 

«Moi, je suis la vraie vigne, et mon Père est le vigneron. Tout sarment qui est en moi, mais qui ne porte pas de fruit, mon Père l'enlève; tout sarment qui donne du fruit, il le nettoie, pour qu'il en donne davantage. Mais vous, déjà vous voici nets et purifiés grâce à la parole que je vous ai dite: Demeurez en moi, comme moi en vous. De même que le sarment ne peut pas porter du fruit par lui-même s'il ne demeure pas sur la vigne, de même vous non plus, si vous ne demeurez pas en moi. Moi, je suis la vigne, et vous, les sarments. Celui qui demeure en moi et en qui je demeure, celui-là donne beaucoup de fruit, car, en dehors de moi, vous ne pouvez rien faire. Si quelqu'un ne demeure pas en moi, il est comme un sarment qu'on a jeté dehors, et qui se dessèche. Les sarments secs, on les ramasse, on les jette au feu, et ils brûlent. Si vous demeurez en moi, et que mes paroles demeurent en vous, demandez tout ce que vous voudrez, et vous l'obtiendrez. Ce qui fait la gloire de mon Père, c'est que vous donniez beaucoup de fruit: ainsi, vous serez pour moi des disciples».

L’Application

Comme nous avons déjà médité cet évangile dimanche dernier, je vous invite à découvrir le fruit de cette demeure divine dans le cœur des hommes, qui se trouve dans la première lecture. La demeure de Dieu dans nos cœurs nous aide à agir selon la volonté de Dieu, et non selon une impulsion humaine. Paul et Barnabé étaient convaincus que la circonscription n'est pas une nécessité pour rendre gloire à Dieu.   Pourtant, ils ont choisi de prier et de consulter les apôtres.

Cette approche de Paul et Barnabé nous aide à agir d'une manière qui est cohérente avec la foi chrétienne : la prière et le dialogue. Lorsqu'un homme de foi est confronté aux difficultés quotidiennes, après avoir mis en œuvre tout son savoir et son intelligence, il acceptera la différence et sera capable d'accueillir les points de vue des autres, car il cherchera toujours la présence divine qui unit tous les éléments de la vie et le chemin que Dieu lui proposera. Ce faisant, par ses actions humaines, en tant que fidèle disciple de Dieu, il produira les fruits désirés par le Seigneur.

«Demeurez en moi, comme moi en vous»

Abbé Antoni CAROL i Hostench

(Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, nous contemplons à nouveau Jésus entouré de ses disciples, dans une ambiance d'intimité. Il leur confie ce qu'on pourrait qualifier comme ses dernières instructions, ce qu'on dit au dernier moment juste avant le départ, et comme tel cela a une force spéciale, car il fait office de testament.

Nous l'imaginons au cénacle. Là, Jésus leur a lavé les pieds, Il leur a annoncé une fois de plus son départ, leur a transmis l'amour fraternel et les a consolés en leur donnant l'Eucharistie ainsi que la promesse de la venue du Saint Esprit (cf. Jn 14). En lisant cet évangile, au chapitre 15, nous trouvons l'exhortation à l'unité dans la charité.

Le Seigneur ne cache pas à ses disciples les dangers et difficultés qu'ils rencontreront dans le futur: «Si l'on m'a persécuté, on vous persécutera, vous aussi» (Jn 15,20). Mais Il leur conseille de ne pas se laisser abattre ni se sentir opprimés face à la haine du monde: Jésus renouvelle sa promesse de leur envoyer leur Défenseur, il leur garantit son assistance dans tout ce qu'ils lui demanderont et enfin, Il prie son Père pour eux, pour nous tous, dans sa prière sacerdotale.

Le danger pour nous ne vient pas de l'extérieur: la menace vient de nous mêmes quand l'amour fraternel parmi les membres du Corps Mystique de Jésus n'est pas présent et quand l'unité n'existe pas entre le Corps et la Tête de ce Corps Mystique. La recommandation de Jésus est claire: «Moi, je suis la vigne, et vous, les sarments. Celui qui demeure en moi et en qui je demeure, celui-là donne beaucoup de fruits, car, en dehors de moi, vous ne pouvez rien faire» (Jn 15,5).

Les premières générations de chrétiens avaient conservé une notion vive du besoin de vivre unis par la charité: voici un témoignage d'un père de l'Eglise, Saint Ignace d'Antioche: «Courez tous à l'unisson comme un seul temple de Dieu, un seul autel, un seul Christ qui procède d'un seul Père». Voici encore la recommandation de notre Sainte Mère: «Faites tout ce qu'il vous dira» (Jn 2,5).

Gospel text

(Jn 14,27-31a): 

Jesus said to his disciples; “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

The Application

Who doesn’t serach for peace and joy in their personal life ? All our energy is spent on this. It is the person of inner peace and joy who lives his or her life in its fulness and is able to discern and accompany others towards the right direction. Jesus the man of peace assures His disciples something the world can never offer to them.

Life on earth is full of joy and suffering. We are called to discern every moment of life. Very often our choice and its results determine our emotions and feelings. Unfortunately, situations and demands change all the time and condition the results. In consequence, weak people suffer more than strong individuals.

To avoid all these unnecessary painful moments of life, today Jesus invites us to fix our eyes on Him and on His words, once listened to and practiced, they will assure us the peace we seek. The world is not able to provide us with this peace in a permanent way, especially inner peace and tranquillity.

The first reading helps us to understand how the disciples felt this peace, despite the opposition and persecution they faced. The assurence of Jesus has helped them to fix the eyes on the grace received than the persecution inlinged on them. In the love that Jesus has for his Father and the faith that we have in God, we will help us to have this peace that God offers us through the death and resurrection of the Lord. He is telling us that in physical and visible absence, He is very much present in us, in spirit and in truth.

«My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you»

Fr. Enric CASES i Martín

(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, Jesus speaks to us indirectly of the cross: He will give us the peace, but at the cost of his painful “departure” of this world. Today, we read those words He said before the sacrifice on the Cross but that were written after his Resurrection. With his death on the Cross, He defeats both death and fear. He gives the peace “Not as the world gives” (Jn 14:27), inasmuch as He does it by going through the most excruciating pain and humiliation: this is how He proved his merciful love for man.

As of the moment sin entered the world, suffering in our lives is unavoidable. There are times when it is a physical pain; others, it is a moral suffering; and then, there are times when it is a matter of a spiritual pain..., and we all have to die. But God in his infinite love has given us the remedy to have peace amidst the pain: He has accepted “to leave” this world with a painful “departure” surrounded by serenity.

Why did He do it in such a way? Because thus, human pain —together with Christ's suffering— becomes a sacrifice that saves us from sin. “In the Cross of Christ (...), human suffering has been redeemed” (Saint John Paul II). Jesus Christ quietly suffered to please the Heavenly Father with an act of costly obedience, through which He willingly offered Himself for our salvation.

An unknown author of the 2nd century attributes these words to Jesus: “See the spits over my face, which I received from you, to give you back the first gust of life I had blown on your face. See my cheeks, which were slapped so I could reform your deteriorated aspect according to my new image. See my back, which was lashed to remove the weight of your sins from your shoulders. See my hands, so strongly nailed to the cross for you, who, in times ago, fatally stretched out one of your hands towards the forbidden tree.”

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 14,27-31a): 

«C'est la paix que je vous laisse, c'est ma paix que je vous donne; ce n'est pas à la manière du monde que je vous la donne. Ne soyez donc pas bouleversés et effrayés. Vous avez entendu ce que je vous ai dit: Je m'en vais, et je reviens vers vous. Si vous m'aimiez, vous seriez dans la joie puisque je pars vers le Père, car le Père est plus grand que moi. Je vous ai dit toutes ces choses maintenant, avant qu'elles n'arrivent; ainsi, lorsqu'elles arriveront, vous croirez. Désormais, je ne parlerai plus beaucoup avec vous, car le prince du monde va venir. Certes, il n'y a rien en moi qui puisse lui donner prise, mais il faut que le monde sache que j'aime mon Père, et que je fais tout ce que mon Père m'a commandé. Levez-vous, partons d'ici».

L’Application

La vie sur terre est pleine de joie et de souffrance. Nous sommes appelés à discerner chaque moment de la vie. Très souvent, notre choix et ses résultats déterminent nos émotions et nos sentiments. Malheureusement, les situations et les exigences changent sans cesse et conditionnent les résultats.

Aujourd'hui, Jésus nous invite à fixer nos yeux sur lui et sur ses paroles, qui, une fois écoutées et mises en pratique, nous assureront la paix que nous recherchons. Le monde n'est pas en mesure de nous procurer cette paix de manière permanente, surtout la paix et la tranquillité intérieures.

La première lecture nous aide à comprendre comment les disciples ont ressenti cette paix, malgré l'opposition et la persécution auxquelles ils étaient confrontés. L'assurance de Jésus les a aidés à fixer la grâce reçue par rapport à la persécution qui leur était imposée. L'amour que Jésus a pour son Père et la foi que nous avons en Dieu nous aideront à avoir cette paix que Dieu nous offre par la mort et la résurrection du Seigneur.

«C'est ma paix que je vous donne; ce n'est pas à la manière du monde que je vous la donne»

Abbé Enric CASES i Martín

(Barcelona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui, Jésus nous parle indirectement de la croix: il nous laisse sa paix, mais au prix de son douloureux départ de ce monde. Aujourd'hui nous pouvons lire ses paroles dites avant le sacrifice de la Croix et écrites après sa Résurrection. Sur la Croix, par sa mort il a vaincu la mort et la peur. Il ne nous donne pas la paix «à la manière du monde» (cf. Jn 14,27), mais Il le fait en passant par la douleur et l'humiliation: Il a ainsi prouvé son amour miséricordieux pour l'être humain.

Dans la vie des hommes la souffrance est inévitable depuis le jour où le pêché est entré dans le monde. Parfois c'est la douleur physique; d'autres fois, la douleur morale; d'autres fois encore, il s'agit d'une douleur spirituelle..., et tôt ou tard, nous devons tous mourir. Mais Dieu, dans son amour infini, nous a donné le moyen d'avoir la paix au beau milieu de la douleur: Il a accepté de “s'en aller” de ce monde par un “départ” souffrant et enveloppé de sérénité.

Pourquoi l'a-t-Il voulu ainsi? Parce que, de cette façon, la douleur humaine —unie à celle du Christ— devient un sacrifice qui nous sauve du mal et du pêché. «Sur la Croix du Christ (...), toute souffrance humaine a aussi été rachetée» (Jean Paul II). Jésus-Christ souffre avec sérénité parce que son acte de coûteuse obéissance, par lequel, Il s'offre volontairement pour notre salut, plait au Père célestiel.

Un auteur inconnu du Deuxième Siècle attribue au Christ les paroles suivantes: «Regarde sur mon visage les crachats que j'ai reçus pour toi afin de te replacer dans l'antique paradis. Regarde sur mes joues la trace des soufflets que j'ai subis pour rétablir en mon image ta beauté détruite. Regarde sur mon dos la trace de la flagellation que j'ai reçue afin de te décharger du fardeau de tes péchés qui avait été imposé sur ton dos. Regarde mes mains qui ont été solidement clouées au bois à cause de toi qui autrefois as mal étendu tes mains vers le bois…».

Gospel text

(Jn 14,6-14): 

Jesus said, «I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. If you know me, you will know the Father also; indeed you know him and you have seen him». Philip asked him, «Lord, show us the Father and that is enough». Jesus said to him, «What! I have been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever sees me sees the Father; how can you say: ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?. All that I say to you, I do not say of myself. The Father who dwells in me is doing his own work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; at least believe it on the evidence of these works that I do. Truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will do the same works that I do; and he will even do greater than these, for I am going to the Father. Everything you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. And everything you ask in calling upon my Name, I will do».

The Application

Believing in Jesus as our way, truth and life, is the first step towards welcoming God's dwelling in us. Faith in Jesus Christ helps us to discover the active presence of the Father in Jesus and Jesus in us. We believe that this God is still alive and active in the heart of every individual of good will.  Since we carry the name of Jesus within us and through this commitment, we are asked to live a life that resembles Him. Faithful to the Father just like Jesus and be a faithful disciple of Jesus, by putting in practice all His teachings in our life.

As we celebrate the feast of St. Philip and St. James today, we promise to God to live a life united to God, as Jesus is united to his Father. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us to live this life in a way that is peaceful before men and that it may be worthy and just before God.

Action of the day : Be a force of unity.

«I am the way, the truth and the life. If you know me, you will know the Father also»

Fr. Joan SOLÀ i Triadú

(Girona, Spain)

Today, we celebrate the feast of Philip and James, Apostles. The Gospel refers to those chats Jesus used to have with the Apostles only, with the purpose of giving them a clear idea about himself and his Mission on Earth. For the Apostles were very much imbued with the ideas Jews maintained about the Messiah: they expected a terrestrial and political liberator, whereas Jesus' person did not meet at all with any of those preconceived images.

The first words we read in today's Gospel are in reply to a question by the apostle Thomas. «I am the way, the truth and the life. If you know me, you will know the Father also» (Jn 14:6). This reply to Thomas gives way to Philip request: «Lord, show us the Father and that is enough» (Jn 14:8). Jesus' answer is —in actual fact— a reprimand: «What! I have been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip?» (Jn 14:9).

The Apostles could not quite understand the unity between the Father and Jesus; they did not quite realize Jesus is God and Man in one person. But He does not limit himself to prove his equality with the Father, He also reminds them they are to keep on carrying out his Saving Work: He confers upon them the power to do miracles, He promises them they will forever be with him, and that everything they ask in his name, He will do.

But Jesus' answers to the Apostles are also intended for all of us. Saint Josemaria says, when commenting this text: «‘I am the way, the truth and the life’. With these unmistakable words the Lord has shown us, which is the path that leads to eternal happiness (...). He points it out for all men, but especially He emphasizes it for those who, as you and I, have told him we are decided to take up seriously our Christian vocation».

Texte de l'Évangile

(Jn 14,6-14): 

Jésus lui répond: «Moi, je suis le Chemin, la Vérité et la Vie; personne ne va vers le Père sans passer par moi. Puisque vous me connaissez, vous connaîtrez aussi mon Père. Dès maintenant vous le connaissez, et vous l'avez vu». Philippe lui dit: «Seigneur, montre-nous le Père; cela nous suffit». Jésus lui répond: «Il y a si longtemps que je suis avec vous, et tu ne me connais pas, Philippe! Celui qui m'a vu a vu le Père. Comment peux-tu dire: ‘Montre-nous le Père’? Tu ne crois donc pas que je suis dans le Père et que le Père est en moi! Les paroles que je vous dis, je ne les dis pas de moi-même; mais c'est le Père qui demeure en moi, et qui accomplit ses propres oeuvres. Croyez ce que je vous dis: je suis dans le Père, et le Père est en moi; si vous ne croyez pas ma parole, croyez au moins à cause des oeuvres. Amen, amen, je vous le dis: celui qui croit en moi accomplira les mêmes oeuvres que moi. Il en accomplira même de plus grandes, puisque je pars vers le Père. Tout ce que vous demanderez en invoquant mon nom, je le ferai, afin que le Père soit glorifié dans le Fils. Si vous me demandez quelque chose en invoquant mon nom, moi, je le ferai».

L’Application

Croire en Jésus est le premier pas pour accueillir la demeure de Dieu en nous. La foi en Jésus-Christ nous aide à découvrir la présence du Père en Jésus et de Jésus en nous. Puisque nous portons le nom de Jésus en nous et par cet engagement, il nous est demandé de vivre une vie qui lui ressemble. En célébrant aujourd'hui la fête de saint Philippe et saint Jacques, nous promettons à Dieu de vivre une vie unie à Dieu, comme Jésus est uni à son Père. Demandons à l'Esprit Saint de nous aider à vivre cette vie d'une manière qui soit paisible devant les hommes et qu'elle soit digne et juste devant Dieu.

«Moi, je suis le Chemin, la Vérité et la Vie. Puisque vous me connaissez, vous connaîtrez aussi mon Père»

Abbé Joan SOLÀ i Triadú

(Girona, Espagne)

Aujourd'hui nous célébrons la fête des apôtres Philippe et Jacques. L'Évangile fait référence aux conversations que Jésus avait avec les seuls Apôtres, pour les former en leur offrant des idées claires sur Sa personne et Sa mission. Car les Apôtres étaient fortement influencés par les idées que les Juifs avaient sur la personne du Messie: ils s'attendaient à un libérateur terrestre et politique alors que la personne de Jésus ne correspondait pas du tout à ces images préconçues.

Les premières paroles que nous pouvons lire dans l'Évangile d'aujourd'hui sont la réponse à une question de l'Apôtre Thomas. «Moi, je suis le Chemin, la Vérité et la Vie; personne ne va vers le Père sans passer par moi» (Jn 14,6). Cette réponse à Thomas provoque la demande de Philippe: «Seigneur, montre-nous le Père; cela nous suffit» (Jn 14,8). La réponse de Jésus est —en réalité— une reproche: «Il y a si longtemps que je suis avec vous, et tu ne me connais pas, Philippe?» (Jn 14,9).

Les Apôtres ne comprenaient pas l'unité entre le Père et le Fils, ils n'arrivaient pas à voir le Dieu et l'Homme dans la personne de Jésus. Mais Il ne se contente pas de prouver son égalité avec le Père, il leur rappelle aussi qu'ils devront continuer son œuvre salvifique: Il leur concède le pouvoir de faire des miracles, leur promet d'être toujours à leurs côtés, et que ce qu'ils demanderont en son nom Il le leur accordera.

Ces réponses de Jésus aux Apôtres, c'est à nous aussi qu'Il les adresse. Saint Josemaría, en commentant ce texte, nous dit: «‘Je suis le chemin, la vérité et la vie’. Par ces mots sans équivoque, le Seigneur nous a montré le vrai sentier qui mène au bonheur éternel (...). Il le déclare à tous les hommes. Mais Il le rappelle spécialement à ceux qui, comme toi et moi, Lui ont dit qu'ils sont décidés à prendre au sérieux leur vocation de chrétiens».

The conversion of Saul brought great consolation to the people of God.  All conversion brings us new life, for ourselves and also to others around us. We need this conversion so that evil will disappear and the whole world will feel peace and tranquillity. Conversion is a fruit of the encounter, an encounter of man with truth. This encounter helps us to know ourselves and also to recognise the evil we do to ourselves and to others.

Today the Church invites us to re-read the conversion of Saul to Paul.  What was the real difference between Saul, a soldier of the law, and Paul, a soldier now for the risen Christ? Listening to today's gospel we can easily discover that Saul was those braches that were attached to the vine, like Paul today.  Yet Saul was a branch that did not produce the fruit God intended. His knowledge of the sacred Scriptures and his mastery of the law gave him an arrogance and pride that Saul valued as the important elements of his life as a man who worships the true God.

The encounter with Jesus destroyed the branches that were not producing the fruit God intended, particularly those arrogance and knowledge and helped him to grow the new branches of humility and openness. Once converted, Paul wanted to stay in Jerusalem and continue to proclaim the Good News and be the true witness of the resurrection. This commitment is to be commended. However, God chose another way and he will go from Jerusalem to Tarsus. A faithful and strong jewish man was chosen to peach the pegan community and a weak person of Peter was chosen to teach the strong and learned. I invite you to review our life, so that we too can recognise the branches that attach themselves to the vine without producing any fruit.  Like Paul, who understood the need to put everything before God, and gave up the place of his knowledge, mastery and goodwill, to the fulfilment of God's will, we must voluntarily prune these branches.

I would like to add a very important element to this parable. It is God who is the Vintner who chose and planted these vines that we are. What is this fruit that God desires from us and the fruit that we produce? In both readings we heard two important elements as a fruit desired by God. Forgiveness and love in truth. As the people of God who accepted Paul not only forgave him, but also protected him we must forgive our brothers and sisters and accompany them to grow as children of God. This forgiveness is the true sign of love.  It is lovng God in our weak brothers and sisters. They too need the compasion and love of God.

The parable of the Vine and its branches teach us to recognise the revelation of God's dwelling in the hearts of men and the need for man to abide in God, if he desires to give fruit.  How can we abide in Him? Through the celebration of the sacraments such as the Eucharist, through the readings of the sacred scriptures, through our positive commitments to the fulfilment of the divine will. Abiding in God is a voluntary detachment from the elements that exhaust us like wild branches. We must recognise that this detachment is not easy, yet we must identify it and detach ourselves, for this detachment will help us to attach ourselves to the vine. Let us always remain with the Lord and we will bear fruit. Amen.

Gospel text

(Mt 13,54-58): 

Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, «Where did He get this wisdom and these special powers? Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't Mary his mother and aren't James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren't all his sisters living here? How did he get all this?». And so they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, «The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family». And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

The Application

"Where did he get this wisdom and these miracles? "Everything comes from the Father, certainly not from Joseph. Joseph will accept this in all humility and continue to teach Jesus by his presence, like his mother, in all discretion. We begin the month of May, the month of Mary, with St Joseph, the worker. May this year of St Joseph, the year of the family, be a year of blessing and grace.

Action of the day: Be a person of faith.

«Where did He get this wisdom and these special powers?»

Fr. Xavier PARÉS i Saltor

(La Seu d'Urgell, Lleida, Spain)

Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. It is a holiday to rest from our daily chores, when we also commemorate the International Labor Day. Workers and their unions use to take advantage of this celebration to present their demands in defense of their rights. And the Church, today, offers us the example of Saint Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth, who was a model worker, keeping up his family and developing his profession. This is the normal way to live in this world of ours; by earning one's own bread by the sweat of one's brow. Human rights tell us that each one of us has a right to a decent and well-remunerated job. This is how we fulfill our duties and are paid the salary we deserve. Saint Ambrose says «it is homicidal to deny a man the salary he needs for a living». Today, the Church prays for the working world, so that every worker may fulfill his/her duties and live with dignity.

The same Gospel introduces Jesus as the «carpenter's son» (Mt 13:56), in his own hometown of Nazareth, where He grew up and where He lived most of his terrestrial life. However, Nazareth's people did not really get to know the person of Jesus. They probably thought they knew him well, but they actually knew nothing at all. This is why they could not explain where was He getting his wisdom and special powers from.

But, we Christians, do we know enough about Jesus Christ? We also belong with his people, God's people, Church's people, and yet, it could happen to us the same as it happened to Nazareth's people, that is, that they knew him not. If we can learn good and positive things from any other person, even more so, we can learn out of Jesus of Nazareth. By listening to every day's Gospel is how we can know and learn many good things about Jesus. This is how we can enrich our life and our faith. Let us beg it from Saint Joseph, who did such a good job out of taking care of Jesus and loving him.